When I watched the Anfield game a couple of weeks ago I must admit I felt disconsolate. United simply hadn’t turned up and were well beaten. But yesterday, on the way back from Stamford Bridge, I felt really positive about United’s performance despite a third defeat of the season.
I’m beginning to think Fletcher is the unluckiest player in Europe. On Tuesday he gets outrageously booked for diving and then yesterday he wins the ball from Ashley Cole but is penalised by referee Martin Atkinson and Chelsea score from the resulting free kick. Cole’s reaction to the challenge did Fletcher no favours.
The Chelsea goal tells you he has a point. Firstly, it was never a free kick. Secondly, Wes Brown is fouled by Didier Drogba, and thirdly, Drogba is clearly offside and interfering with play when the ball goes in. Apart from that, the goal was perfectly legitimate.
Three supposedly top officials thought there was nothing wrong with it. That says it all.
If you look deeper, all of the key decisions went against us: Antonio Valencia should have had a penalty after getting hauled down by John Terry, and Wayne Rooney was wrongly flagged for offside when clean through on goal.
But United’s performance was excellent and merited more from the game. I think we saw the real United yesterday; resolute at the back, tigerish in midfield and always dangerous with the magnificent Rooney in attack. And remember, this was a United team with key players missing.
After 12 games last season, we were eight points behind Chelsea and yet still won the title with a bit to spare. The only frustration now is that we all have to sit through yet another interminable international break before being let loose on Everton. But you can bet the lads will be fired up for that one.
