Source: Daily_Mail
Man United 5 Portsmouth 0: Even the gods have it in for Pompey
As ever, the chant began in the upper reaches of the Stretford End, where the most fanatical Manchester United supporters congregate. Soon it enveloped the whole ground, as even the more restrained members of the crowd took up its chorus: 'Love United, Hate Glazer.'[LNB] But what made this now-familiar refrain such a powerful protest against the Glazers, the family who have burdened the club with borrowings of £719million, was to see almost all the stadium draped in gold and green, the colours of the club's original incarnation, Newton Heath, and now the symbols of protest against the Americans. [LNB]As huge swathes of the stadium sang in unison, they twirled those green-and-gold scarves above their heads, a moving sign of peaceful defiance to the new order of football club ownership. [LNB] Red hot: Wayne Rooney fires his 21st league goal of the campaign[LNB]And here is a curious thing: among the small yet vocal band of Portsmouth followers, there were several green-and-gold scarves being sported by opposition fans. They are supporters who truly know a thing or two about being taken for a ride by greedy or inept owners.[LNB] Portsmouth last week inherited their fourth owner of the year in Balram Chainrai, another with no interest in the club beyond the financial gain he might be able to extract. [LNB]And they remain on the verge of extinction, with 112 years of history in jeopardy, because of financial mismanagement. [LNB]United will merely see their standing diminished if the Glazer family's gamble on their future goes wrong but, despite the chasm in difference between the relative status of these clubs, amply illustrated on the pitch, their cause is a common one. [LNB] [LNB] Sit down: David James reflects on another lamentable afternoon[LNB]The day, or more precisely the date, February 6, was already infused with emotion. In the directors' box, Sir Bobby Charlton stood with 74,684 others in silence before the game, recalling the Munich air crash exactly 52 years earlier which claimed eight of his team-mates among the 23 who perished. [LNB]It was the disaster from which the club emerged as one of the world's greatest.[LNB] Those memories are from a distant era yet at least some of the values forged by Sir Matt Busby in rebuilding the club persist at Old Trafford. For the team sit on top of the league again and are chasing a record fourth successive Premier League title. [LNB]More pertinently, they possess the finest English footballer for a generation in Wayne Rooney. Yesterday he scored his 23rd goal of the campaign, equalling his previous highest tally for a season, and he created two more. He left the field on 67 minutes to a standing ovation, by which time Portsmouth had been utterly eviscerated.[LNB] In fact, the only chant which competes with the anti-Glazer anthem at present is the guttural roar of Rooney's name in celebration of another of his goals.[LNB] What a waste of money? Dimitar Berbatov finally makes Portsmouth pay on a profligate afternoon for the £31m Bulgarian[LNB] It would be fair to point out that his goal was all but presented to him, Portsmouth electing to leave him unmarked in the 40th minute. They compounded their error by allowing a short corner to be worked to Darren Fletcher, who delivered his cross on to Rooney's head.[LNB] It should also be reported that Pompey had the best early chances. Edwin van der Sar was forced into a smart save when Anthony Vanden Borre struck from eight yards, and Jonny Evans was required to clear Nadir Belhadj's angled strike off the line in desperate fashion.[LNB] It also must be recorded that the misfortune which Portsmouth encountered for the second and third goals might have convinced them spiteful deities were toying with them for their sport. [LNB]Nevertheless, Rooney stands peerless at present, an immense presence in any team. His was the pass which swept the ball out to Nani on the stroke of half-time, allowing the Portuguese to attack Vanden Borre down the left. The defender stayed on his feet but dared not get too close, such is the form of Nani. But when the winger dinked in a cross, it struck Vanden Borre and deflected past David James. [LNB] Top and bottom clash: Jamie O'Hara and Antonio Valencia collide[LNB]Few come back from such reverses, certainly not a side bottom of the table and close to bankruptcy. 'We showed good spirit, good character,' insisted Avram Grant, their permanently beleaguered manager. 'But, of course, it is easier to break you when things are not going so well.' [LNB]Those malign gods had not finished tormenting Pompey. Approaching the hour-mark, Michael Carrick sized up a shot from 25 yards after a knock-back from Rooney. Richard Hughes tried to block but only succeeded in helping the strike loop over James. [LNB]With fate conspiring against them, Portsmouth capitulated. When Dimitar Berbatov received the ball in a crowded box with his back to goal on 62 minutes, he was permitted to work his way to the edge of the area, turn without a challenge and strike into the bottom corner of the net. [LNB]To their credit, Pompey conceded only one more but the denouement was to be suitably bleak. On 69 minutes Patrice Evra hit a hopeful cross for substitute Mame Biram Diouf, but before the striker could reach the ball, Marc Wilson sliced it into his own net.[LNB] On and off the pitch they are a club in the self-destruct mode.[LNB] [LNB] Manchester United boss Ferguson backs troubled Pompey manager GrantRolls-Royce Rio: He's the captain players respect, says Jamie RedknappMANCHESTER UNITED FC
