Manchester United 1 - 0 Birmingham City

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Tuesday Jan 01 2008 03:00

A far from vintage Manchester United stayed two points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League with Carlos Tevez's tenth goal of the season securing another three points.

After United's lack-lustre display at West Ham on Saturday, the points were more important than the performance of Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

The only goal of the game came from one of its few memorable moments. Michael Carrick's long pass found Tevez in the centre of the Birmingham half.

Tevez played the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo whose glorious back-heel sent the Argentinian racing clear into the Birmingham box. His clinical finish saw him slot the ball beyond goalkeeper Maik Taylor and into the net from 12 yards.

Tevez was United's star man and he should have had more than one goal for his brilliance.

In the sixth minute, a superb move involving Anderson and Ronaldo saw Patrice Evra released on the left side of the Birmingham box and he crossed the ball to the near post where Tevez hit the woodwork with a header from eight yards.

Tevez was denied by the woodwork again 12 minutes after the interval.Ji-Sung Park found the Argentinian on the right side of the Birmingham penalty area.

With Blues skipper Liam Ridgewell behind him, Tevez lost his balance and fell to the ground, but was soon up and into a position where his ten-yard shot hit the post.

Ronaldo tried to tuck home the rebound as he beat two Birmingham defenders before seeing his goalbound shot blocked by Gary McSheffrey.

United had other chances to make it a more convincing scoreline only to find Taylor in outstanding form between the Birmingham posts.

The Northern Ireland international's best save came in the 51st minute. Park, returning for his first start in nine months, produced a good cross from the right byline and Ronaldo powered in with a bullet header from eight yards at the near post which Taylor kept out with his legs.

Taylor went on to keep out further efforts from Tevez and Ronaldo as United searched for a second goal.

Although United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak had a quiet game, the home team had one or two worrying moments in the closing stages after Mikael Forssell had replaced Cameron Jerome.

Forssell went close with two shots on the turn, but for Birmingham, Old Trafford remains a graveyard of hope.

They last won on the ground 30 years ago to the day with their last goal at United coming in 1981.

One worrying point for United was the departure of Tevez in the 71st minute when he hobbled off with what looked like a nasty ankle injury.

Live Commentary

90
The final whistle goes and Birmingham's search for a victory at Old Trafford will enter its 31st year.

90
Ronaldo is brought down cheaply by Palacios and the late substitute picks up a booking.

90
The hosts work the ball into the corner every time they get the ball here but Birmingham have not given up yet.

90
The fourth official has indicated that there will be a minimum of FOUR minutes added on in this second half.

90
Sub Brown picks up a yellow card for a foul on fellow substitute De Ridder.

90
Queudrue sends in a great ball from the right hand side but the ball works its way out of the box.

89
Birmingham are working really hard to force an equaliser late on here and could well nick a point if they manage to get a little bit of luck.

88
The game moves into the closing stages and it appears that the match will finish one-nil to United, just as it did in the reverse fixture in September 2007.

87
Forssell received the ball in acres of space in the United box and hit a rocket of a shot unfortunately into the side netting for the travelling Birmingham fans.

86
Evra comes off for Wes Brown who could well be playing his final season for United after turning down a new contract offer as he wants to play more regularly.

85
Wilson Palacios comes on for Nafti in a somewhat like for like swap as Alex McLeish makes his third and final substitution.

84
Nafti gives the ball away cheaply to Ronaldo who comes forward and finds Nani in the box but the midfielder is crowded out by the Birmingham.

83
Ronaldo races clear of the midfield and lets off a shot but it is hit straight at the keeper.

82
Nafti picks up the third yellow of the afternoon for Birmingham and the third in total in this game after a trip on Nani.

81
United make a defensive substitution by bringing on Owen Hargreaves for Park.

80
Forssell has a chance on the edge of the box but his effort is sent just wide of Kuszczak's goal.

79
Tevez comes off to be replaced by Luis Saha.

78
After Forssell has come on the visitors have looked much more lively, the Finnish international setting up a shot but United clear only as far as Muamba but his effort is hit off balance and sent over the bar.

77
Muamba sends in O'Connor who has a great chance just inside the box but his effort is weak but this is better from Birmingham.

75
Nani gets into room and gets a shot off at goal which doesn't really test Taylor.

73
Mikael Forssell enters the fray in place of McSheffrey.

73
Jerome comes off to be replaced by Daniel de Ridder as Birmingham look to build an attacking threat here.

71
Nani chases Ridgewell and pushes the defender for bringing him down but surely that is his job, if the inexperienced midfielder keeps this up he'll be booked surely.

70
Nani twists and turns and gets the shot off at goal but Taylor picks the ball up.

68
The ball is whipped into the box and Taylor flings himself at the ball to flick the ball away from the feet of Tevez and Brummies scoop the ball out.

67
Tevez gets down the flank and plays the ball to Ronaldo who feeds it back to the Argentine but the striker is robbed by Jaidi who saves a goal there.

65
Larsson sends a cross in but the chance of a good delivery is wasted as the ball flies over the bar for a goal kick.

64
Nani tried a back heel towards goal but his effort was weak, if that was on target it would have been a clever finish.

62
Tevez beats Ridgewell with ease and lets off a shot which is saved brilliantly down low by Taylor once more.

60
Tevez manages to stay on his feet and gets past three defenders hitting a fierce shot against the post, the ball comes out for Ronaldo who engineers a shot but Birmingham defend for their lives and clear the ball out for a throw-in.

59
Evra appeals for a penalty after going down dramatically in the area but Peter Walton waives away his calls but does not book the defender.

58
Anderson gets past Jaidi and sends a ball into the box for Ronaldo but Birmingham somehow scramble the ball away.

56
Kuszczak thrwos the ball out quickly and Ronaldo gets from on end of the pitch to another in what appears to be five strides before firing in a shot but the ever reliable Ridgewell blocks the shot.

55
McSheffrey sends a dangerous curling cross intot the box but Kuszczak comes out well to collect the ball.

54
The ball comes in from the right and Ronaldo only four yards out powers a header at goal and somehow Taylor flies across his goal to pull of what could possibly be a match winning save.

52
O'Connor sends in a shot from 35 yards but he can't do what Nani almost did in the first half and the ball flies high over the bar.

51
Queudrue picks up a soft yellow card for a foul on Ronaldo who really milked the fall.

49
John O'Shea tries to send the ball into the box but Ridgewell is there once more and sends the ball back to his keeper.

48
United fans are very quiet here at the moment, perhaps they are waiting for their players to do something to raise their spirits.

46
Queudrue sends the ball into the box up towards the head of Ridgewell but Vidic comes from nowhere to thump the ball away with his head.

45
United get the second half underr way here.

45
The half time whistle goes and United have totally dominated the opening half as Birmingham fail to convert small number of chances.

45
Sebastian Larsson steps up and sends in the free-kick, it is on target but straight into the arms of Kuszczak.

45
Queudrue finds himself 25 yards out and in space, he fires in a shot but is clipped by Nani and Birmingham have a free-kick right at the death of the first half.

45
The fourth official indicates a minimum of ONE minute of added time at the end of the first half.

44
Carrick gives the ball away in the middle of the park and it eventually finds its way to McSheffrey via Muamba and and the winger has a great chance from just inside the box but his driven shot is sent wide of goal.

42
The ball is sent in by O'Connor who finds Jerome in the air, the strikers header on target but Tomasz Kuszczak gets up to pluck the ball out of the air.

41
McSheffrey works down the right with Kelly and Vidic has to come out of defence to send the ball out for a throw-in.

39
Evra ran forward quickly and sent the ball towards Ronaldo who was beating by a brilliant challenge by Medhi Nafti.

37
Ridgewell picks up the first booking of the game for a clumsy foul on Tevez.

36
Ronaldo sends a perfect ball out wide to Park who charges forward and gives it to Carrick who feeds the ball in but Ridgewell gets the ball clear.

35
Ronaldo is 40 yards out with a free-kick and goes for goal but even he is never going to beat Taylor from their and the goalie holds on with ease.

33
A short lapse in action in the match as United slow the pace down in the closing 12 minutes.

32
Birmingham enjoy a short spell of possession passing about in midfield but throw their good work away by going long ball and Garry O'Connor is offside.

30
Ronaldo finds his way to the edge of the Birmingham area and lets off a shot but he gets his footing wrong for once and the shot although on target is weak and easy for Taylor.

28
You can tell that the visiting team are still incensed that Mr. Walton did not stop the game in the build up to United's goal as Jerome was down injured but it was not a head injury and the game could continue.

27
Nani flashes a pass across the face of goal but Park fails to reach the ball at the back post.

26
Nani picks up the ball and makes his way forward, from 30 yards out the Portugal man sends an absolute rocket towards goal which appears to clip the side netting, what a goal that would have been.

25
Ronaldo feeds a delightful ball into the path of TEVEZ who gives the keeper the eyes and slots home so cooly to give United the lead.

24
The corner comes to nothing and Birmingham get the ball away to the half way line.

23
Nani gets past two Birmingham men, first Radhi Jaidi then Kelly and wins a corner for the home side.

22
Luis de Abreu Anderson sends in Tevez who bursts through clear on goal but the assistant is there and flags for offside, the Brummies are really holding on at the minute.

21
Birmingham are having to defend deeply here and Liam Ridgewell manages to head the ball out but only as far as Ronaldo who lets off a driven dipping shot which flashes just over the bar.

20
Tevez receives the ball on the edge of the area and as he turns Queudrue goes in hard to smack the ball away.

19
Park drives forward and sedns a low driven shot searching out the bottom corner but Kelly clears.

18
Nani dusts himself down and sends in the free-kick for the head of a team-mate, Nemanja Vidic gets up but the Serbian sends his header just wide.

17
Franck Queudrue slides in on Luis Carlos Nani and the latter draws the foul for United.

16
McSheffrey is sent away down the wing and is chased all the way by Evra; he manages to get a ball into the ball but the pass is just a few yards in front of Jerome.

15
Gary McSheffrey works his way into the area and tries to bring the ball onto his left for a shot on goal and goes to pull the trigger but Rio Ferdinand does well to get across and nick the ball away.

14
Michael Carrick plays a brilliant ball out wide to Tevez from all of 50 yards but Stephen Kelly comes across to make the interception.

12
Evra plays a nice little one-two with Ronaldo in the middle of the park before the Portuguese international clips the ball out wide to Ji-Sung Park.

10
A real lively start from both sides but it just feels that United are beginning to assert their authority on the match.

9
Patrice Evra cut inside and then plays a perfect ball for Tevez and the Argentine heads the ball against the post.

8
Birmingham make a mistake and almost let Carlos Tevez in but the visitors scramble the ball clear.

6
A bad touch from Fabrice Muamba lets United in but Birmingham work hard and force a Man United throw-in.

5
Birmingham have a chance to break away but Jerome's first touch lets him down and United race forward.

4
Cristiano Ronaldo shows the first delicate silky touches of the afteroon and makes himself some space before firing in a shot on target but Maik Taylor makes the save.

2
Cameron Jerome sees an opportunity to fire in a shot on goal and lets rip but the ball just flies over the bar.

1
Birmingham spray the ball back to their defence looking to build from the back.

0
After a minutes applause at Old Trafford the match gets underway.

0
Today's referee will be Peter Walton, the official has handed out two red and 41 yellow cards in his 12 league outings this season.

0
Birmingham on the other hand are looking for their 50th ever top-flight victory but have failed to beat United away in 30 years.

0
Manchester United have finished the season in the same position they entered the year in all three previous campaigns, this time they go into 2008 two points behind Arsenal but have only ever lost one New Years day fixture.

0
Birmingham XI: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Queudrue, McSheffrey, Nafti, Muamba, Larsson, Jerome, O'Connor

0
Man Utd XI: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Anderson, Carrick, Nani, Park, Tevez

Statistics

Manchester United

Shots on target	13
Shots off target	3
Shots off bar/post	2
Fouls	11
Offsides	1
Corners	2

Birmingham City

Shots on target	4
Shots off target	7
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	8
Offsides	1
Corners	0

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