Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham 0 Manchester United 4: Carrick holds the fort but plays it cool
There could have been no better day for Michael Carrick to make his debut as an emergency defender. [LNB]Back at his first club on a charity day in memory of Bobby Moore, the home crowd applauded him warmly before the game. [LNB]To make him feel at home, West Ham's head chef revealed Carrick's favourite sausage and mash recipe in the matchday programme and recalled how the young Geordie would ask for extra portions to take home and heat up. [LNB] International colleagues: Green saves at the feet of his England team-mate Wayne Rooney[LNB] Green and Kirkland injuries add to Fabio Capello's goalkeeping crisisWest Ham 0 Man Utd 4: Olden wonders Giggs and Scholes run the showMan United boss Ferguson to turn to Carrick as defensive worries pile upManchester United hint at January move for Wolfsburg striker Dzeko As if that were not enough, Gianfranco Zola's strikeforce went easyon him, too. 'I'm not exactly the new Rio Ferdinand,' said Carrick,aware that it might be a different proposition if he is still inManchester United's back four against Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko tomorrow. [LNB]Or on Saturday, when Emile Heskey, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor roll into Old Trafford. [LNB]Makeshift defender: Carrick came on for Gary Neville in the second half[LNB][LNB]'It was the first time I've played there in my life but I really enjoyed it,' he added. [LNB]'It's strange how things go. You go through long periods saying whata strong squad we have and how there's competition for places in everyposition.Then all of a sudden there's a few injuries in one positionand he has to start drafting people in. [LNB]'It's not a normal situation but when I'm called upon, I'm happy toplay in any position. It's different surroundings and a whole differentperspective on the game. You're not involved as much. Maybe it willhelp my defending when I'm back in midfield.' [LNB]Carrick had started among the substitutes but was plunged into hisnew role when Gary Neville pulled up with a groin injury in the firsthalf. [LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson said: 'We put Michael on the bench to cover us inthe event of anything happening to the back four. He has the height,the composure, the pace and experience to play there.' [LNB]To compound Ferguson's defensive problems, Wes Brown limped off inthe final seconds, leaving United to see out the game with a back fourof Darren Fletcher, Carrick, Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs. [LNB]Nemanja Vidic, ruled out with a cold, expects to be back in theChampions League game against Wolfsburg but, with United through to thelast 16 of the competition, Saturday's game against an in-form AstonVilla is of most concern.[LNB] Enlarge 'Losing defenders the way we are at the moment is a bit of aheadache,' said Ferguson. 'I'm hoping Nemanja will be OK for Wolfsburgand I'll probably play Michael Carrick with him in defence.' [LNB]There are knock-on effects from United's casualty list. [LNB]Ferguson was forced to sacrifice Fletcher's midfield presence and italso meant another chance for Darron Gibson, who scored United's secondwith his third long-range strike in five days and must be conjuringmental images of a young Bobby Charlton for older United fans. [LNB]Welsh wizard: Giggs set up Gibson's goal against West Ham [LNB][LNB]The Republic of Ireland international scored twice from distanceagainst Tottenham in the Carling Cup quarter-final and his goal atUpton Park was delightful.[LNB] Ryan Giggs tore at West Ham before rolling a pass to his rightwhere Gibson arrived, stroking the ball with a touch of fade pastRobert Green from 25 yards. [LNB]'It was better than the goals against Spurs and a better celebrationso I'm happy with that,' said Gibson, who hit the corner flag with aneffort in the first half. [LNB]'It was a massive boost for me to start. My two goals in the week got my confidence up and the gaffer's stuck by me.'[LNB]Paul Scholes had made the breakthrough for United just beforehalf-time, collecting a poor headed clearance from Danny Gabbidon,evading a feeble challenge from Radoslav Kovac and lashing ahalf-volley beyond Green. [LNB]FERGIE'S NEXT LINE OF DEFENCE Sir Alex Ferguson's defensive crisis is badly timed because his team go up against highly-rated Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko in the Champions League tomorrow night. If Nemanja Vidic doesn't return, Ritchie de Laet may be given a chance. The 21-year-old Belgian, signed for £100,000 from Stoke, has made just one Premier League appearance. The players missing or forced off through injury at West Ham were: Edwin van der Sar (knee), Gary Neville (groin), Vidic (flu), Rio Ferdinand (calf), Jonny Evans (calf), John O'Shea (thigh), Rafael (leg), Fabio (groin), Wes Brown (leg), Owen Hargreaves (knees). Likely defence against Wolfsburg: Kuszczak; Fletcher, Vidic or De Laet, Carrick, Evra. [LNB][LNB]It was Scholes' 99th Premier League goal and his all-round midfielddisplay made his pre-match comments about possible retirement at theend of the season seem premature. [LNB]Green was sick to the point where he was throwing up on the pitch inthe second half and eventually had to be replaced, but there was nomercy from the champions. Gibson made it two, then Antonio Valencia andWayne Rooney added goals three and four. [LNB]Both of them were crisp, stylish passing moves down the flanks, followed by low crosses and simple finishes. [LNB]Alessandro Diamanti apart, West Ham had surrendered meekly, a serious worry for Zola with his team hovering just above the relegation zone and games at Birmingham and Bolton next. [LNB]'Those are the games that will really make a difference for us,' said Zola. [LNB]'We have to forget quickly about this game because they are on adifferent level to us. We can't compete with them right now. I will notcriticise my players. They played the game the way they were asked andtheir commitment was fantastic.' [LNB]West Ham United(4-4-2):Green 5 (Kurucz 73min, 4); Spector 5, Tomkins 5, Gabbidon 5, Ilunga 5;Collison 5, Kovac 4 (Dyer 67, 4), Parker 6, Stanislas 6; Franco 5,Hines 4 (Diamanti 46, 6).[LNB] Manchester United(4-5-1):Kuszczak 7; Fletcher 6, Neville 6 (Carrick 33, 6), Brown 7, Evra 7;Valencia 7, Gibson 7 (Berbatov 67, 5) , Scholes 7, Anderson 6, Giggs 8;Rooney 7 (Owen 73, 4). Booked: Scholes. [LNB]Man of the Match: Ryan Giggs. [LNB]Referee: Peter Walton. [LNB] Green and Kirkland injuries add to Fabio Capello's goalkeeping crisisWest Ham 0 Man Utd 4: Olden wonders Giggs and Scholes run the showMan United boss Ferguson to turn to Carrick as defensive worries pile upManchester United hint at January move for Wolfsburg striker Dzeko [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Rio Ferdinand, Danny Gabbidon, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Robert Green, John Carew, Emile Heskey, Bobby Moore, Patrice Evra, MICHAEL CARRICK, Edwin Van der Sar, Edin Dzeko, Paul Scholes, Alex Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher, Gianfranco Zola, WES BROWN, Antonio Valencia, John O'Shea, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Owen HargreavesPlaces:Birmingham, Bolton, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Upton Park
