Source: Daily_Mail
It's all in the delivery: Fletcher claims Man United deserve own-goal record
Darren Fletcher claims the glut of own goals favouring Manchester United is more about the quality of delivery than it is about the slice of luck. [LNB]Opposition players have donated 10 goals to United's cause so far this term, with only Wayne Rooney - 23 goals - having found the net more often. Dimitar Berbatov is next with eight. [LNB]Without such interventions the champions would be seven points lesser off than they are now.[LNB] Lady Luck: Opposing players have 'scored' 10 times for United this season, their second highest 'scorer' behing Wayne Rooney[LNB]United's blushes were spared on Wednesday night when they came from behind to earn a point against Aston Villa thanks to James Collins nudging a Ryan Giggs cross beyond his own goalkeeper.[LNB]Fletcher said: 'If you put the ball into the right area it's difficult to defend. If you can whip the ball in between the goalkeeper and the defence there's a chance one of your players can get onto the end of it. [LNB]'If not, it also causes problems for defenders and fortunately they've been knocking them into their own net.[LNB]'But if you look at the own goals this season there's always a United player coming in behind who can easily tap into the net.'[LNB]Lady Luck may be shining on United in one respect but she went missing when Portuguese winger Nani was shown a straight red card for a clumsy two-footed tackle on Stiliyan Petrov midway through the first half.[LNB]Victory at Villa Park would have propelled United to the top of the Premier League table. Nevertheless Fletcher believes it was a point well earned rather than a chance missed.[LNB] Tough task: United had a mountain to climb when Nani was dismissed at Villa [LNB] He said: 'Overall it was a good point and in the second half we had the majority of the ball. We felt comfortable with 10 men.[LNB]'The lads at the back defended well, we kept our shape in midfield and made it difficult for Villa to break us down. [LNB]'Then, when we did get the opportunity to go forward, we tried to play some football and get it up to Wayne.[LNB]'Giggsy was playing some good passes and Valencia was a real problem and a great out-ball for us. We created enough half chances [to win it] but ultimately we're happy with a point.[LNB]'Before the game if you'd said the gap at the top would be one point you would have taken it. We'd have liked to have won but overall it's been a really good night for us.' [LNB] Aston Villa 1 Man Utd 1: Rooney can't work miracles after Nani horror showI can be world's best, claims bullish Nani after turning United form aroundThe story behind the Manchester United protests: Good old days that unite army of fansManchester United launch chase for Roma youngsters Verre and CiprianiRyan Giggs awaits X-ray results over fears star broke his arm in Manchester United's draw at Aston VillaMANCHESTER UNITED FC
