Match Review: Shhh I’m Reading

I had the busiest of match days I’ve had for a long time at Old Trafford. I arrived at the Bishops for my usual sing song at the ridiculous early time of 11:30 and to my surprise the pub was already filling up. A good two hours of rallying the troops before I nipped up to Red Square to do an hour on stage with my red mate Rob and top guitarist. We seemed to go down really well with a selection of old and new united classics. Barely 10 minutes after finishing the united ‘red flag’ at Red Square, I was back on the podium at the bishops whittling through ‘Eric the King’.

After blowing the title this time last season with a decent lead, many reds – myself included – were hoping this game may provide a few goals and all round confident performance to get belief back after the Madrid and Chelsea second half hangovers. At the end of the day we got three points and moved fifteen points clear at the top of the league, which is amazing in itself. It was hardly a match people will recite as a classic in years to come, but teams who win titles can’t play breathtaking football every single game and that has always been the case.

It’s a shame the atmosphere of the pre-match pubs can’t be repeated inside all stadiums. “We support our local team” sung the replica clad visiting fans. I could cut and paste that last line for every match review at Old Trafford such is the predictability and unoriginality of visiting fans to Old Trafford. Our fans were average at best it has to be said, which is disappointing considering City had lost already and a win would see us open such a commanding lead. Sometimes we need to carry the team especially at the business end of the season. City lost, Liverpool lost, Leeds Lost and we won. I wasn’t going to let the M60 closure spoil my long day as I walked down Warwick Road wearily for the tram home.