Crewe 0 Manchester United 3
Pizza was off the menu at Gresty Road so Manchester United tucked into
the Crewe defence instead as they breezed through their Carling Cup encounter.
Providing he avoided being attacked by more flying food, Sir Alex Ferguson
will have enjoyed a post-match glass of red wine in the company of Dario Gradi,
the only manager in England to have been in a job longer than the Scot, and
reflect on yet another job well done.
Alan Smith's clinically-taken 10th-minute opener ensured the visitors always
had some degree of comfort against a spirited Crewe outfit, who forced returning
'keeper Tim Howard into a series of decent stops, before they were undone by two
goals in as many minutes just before the hour mark.
The home fans were happy to turn out for United's first visit to Gresty Road
no matter who lined up in the famous red shirts. As it turned out, the away side
were far stronger than anyone expected.
While Ferguson stuck by his pledge not to field any of the 11 players who
started Sunday's bruising encounter with Arsenal, he still managed to find nine
full internationals and a team whose combined transfer fee was around
£35million, not counting the value of the four players who have come through the
ranks.
It has been over a month and six matches since Howard last started, a period
of inactivity Ferguson believes the American will benefit from after being
afflicted by a serious case of second-seasonitis.
The American certainly seemed confident enough and the visitors were indebted
to him in the opening stages as Crewe enthusiastically pushed forward.
In England Under-21 international Dean Ashton, the Railwaymen have a player of
true talent and it was one of the striker's blockbuster drives Howard beat away
for his most impressive stop of the opening period.
Howard also rushed to block at Ashton's feet and then saved impressively from
Steve Jones after Kenny Lunt had rolled an intelligent free-kick into the
striker's path.
However, while Crewe played some decent football, it was United who
predictably carried the greater threat.
David Bellion saw an early effort flick off the post before Smith put the
visitors in front.
The former Leeds man was greeted with some scepticism when he strolled
confidently over the hazardous cross-Pennine divide during the summer but no
matter where his childhood loyalties lie, his wholehearted performances have
earned the respect of the Red Devils faithful.
He has found a goal touch many thought he lacked too and produced another
smart finish to slot home Louis Saha's through ball with a first-time shot to
the corner.
It took Smith's tally for the season to seven goals, two clear in the United
scoring charts so Ferguson can look ahead to the next two Barclays Premiership
games without suspended Ruud van Nistelrooy without the trepidation he might
have felt in previous seasons.
Smith still retains a fierce temper though and the Yorkshireman's wild
challenge from behind on Justin Cochrane made referee Matt Messias' notebook
before the first half was over.
Just as they had kept Howard busy at the start of the opening period, so Crewe
repeated the feat after half-time.
Roy Carroll's impressive form may consign the former Major League Soccer star
to the first-team bench for a while yet but his rehabilitation is coming on fine
judging by the excellent saves that denied David Vaughan and Jones, who was even
outperforming Ashton.
Unfortunately for the hosts, they were unable to heed age-old lesson of taking
your chances when on top and two goals in as many minutes consolidated United's
lead.
Bellion, along with Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba, is often cited as one
the poorer buys of Ferguson's illustrious Old Trafford reign. But the former
Sunderland man's statistics are more impressive than his performances appear to
be.
The French forward has already scored four times and tonight added two assists
of vastly contrasting quality.
First, he brilliantly split the Crewe defence to set up Liam Miller for his
first senior goal since his summer move from Celtic, then his complete failure
to control Saha's low cross saw the ball divert straight into the path of
Stephen Foster, who was unable to prevent himself turning the ball into his own
net.
The game petered out after that as United eased off, content to hold the Crewe
attack at bay, although Ferguson was able to hand debuts to Spanish teenager
Gerrard Pique and young striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, proving the League Cup is
still a breeding ground for his budding young talent.
Teams:
Crewe: Williams, Otsemobor, Billy Jones (Walker 85), Foster,
Tonkin, Lunt, Sorvel (Rivers 63), Cochrane, Vaughan, Ashton,
Steve Jones (White 68).
Subs Not Used: Ince, Mark Roberts.
Man Utd: Howard, Richardson, Brown, O'Shea (Gerard Pique 67),
Djemba-Djemba, Miller, Fletcher (Eagles 78), Kleberson,
Bellion (Ebanks-Blake 85), Smith, Saha.
Subs Not Used: Spector, Ricardo.
Booked: Smith.
Goals: Smith 10, Miller 57, Foster 59 og.
Att: 10,103
Ref: M Messias (S Yorkshire).
