Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Fletcher the maestro in the middle
UNITED'S midfielders have picked up the gauntlet thrown down after the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo. Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson demanded that the engine room would have to improve their support of the attack and improve their goal return this campaign. The department has answered that call to arms. Never was it better illustrated than in Sunday's outstanding derby performance. Striker Wayne Rooney got the ball rolling in the sensational 4-3 showdown and fellow hitman Michael Owen hit the glorious late winner. But sandwiched between the two goals from the forwards was a brace from midfielder Darren Fletcher. It was the kind of contribution Fergie was looking for having lost the 118 goal Old Trafford career effort of Ronaldo to Real Madrid. United have scored 16 goals this season and nine have come from the senior attacking trio of Rooney, Owen and Dimitar Berbatov. Rooney is leading the charge with six, Owen has hit two and the Bulgarian is on one strike. But the midfield has weighed in six goals between them. Nani is off the mark with one against Wigan, Ryan Giggs scored at Tottenham, Anderson broke his United senior deadlock after two seasons with a hit against Spurs and Paul Scholes headed the Reds' Champions league winner against Besiktas in Turkey last week. Fletcher goals Now Fletcher has come to the party with only his second two-goal effort in his five and a half year United first team career. The previous double for the Scot came against Arsenal in the FA Cup in February 2008 in another classic showdown. Fletcher has become United's big-game talisman and now the 25-year-old hopes his headed double against the Blues will be a launch pad to an increased personal tally. "I was pleased with my derby goals because it finally got me off the mark for the season," Fletcher told M.E.N. Sport. "I had missed a few chances at the start of the campaign. I had a great chance against Birmingham in the opening match at Old Trafford and then another against Wigan at the DW Stadium. "They were two open goals that I didn't take so I was very disappointed with that. "My job is to get back and help the defence but also to get into the opposition penalty box when I can and I will always look to get goals. I know that is expected of me. "I want to build on that every season and see where it can take me. I scored five last season and I want to improve on that. That would be great. "It is important that if you get in there you finish your chances and I will look to score in every game. "If I keep getting chances the way I have been in the first few matches of the season then I will be disappointed if I don't score more. "The most important thing is that I am doing the job for the team and if the goals come that will help. Ronaldo exit "With Cristiano gone everybody needs to chip in with a few more goals. We will all look to do the same and I think you are seeing an improvement. "Different games ask for different things of course and it is not always possible to go marauding into the opposition box. "Sometimes you are asked to hold in midfield and sometimes you are asked to get into the box. "But whenever I get the opportunity I will make the effort and then it is up to me to finish. "We do create a lot of chances at United and so the openings are there if you can get in amongst it like I did against City." Fletcher's double against the Blues came from two Ryan Giggs assists. His first was a floated cross and the second a pinpoint free kick. Michael Owen's dramatic winner was also laid on by a superb threaded Giggs pass and Fletcher paid tribute to the evergreen 35-year-old. "Ryan has re-invented himself and has been absolutely superb," he added. "He creates chances all the time. He is always looking for that killer pass. "Three assists in the derby is magnificent and fortunately we were able to do those assists justice. "He is a credit to the game. He is a real professional and an inspiration to all the young lads. He just gets better and better and long may that continue. "With his kind of service we should all be getting putting a few away." What do you think? Have your say.
