0-0 against Reading
1-1 against Portsmouth
0-1 to Manchester City
Starting the new season with two draws and a loss was certainly not the way Sir Alex would have envisaged United’s defence of the Premiership. They were second from bottom going into their fourth game of the season, against Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs have not had a great start to the season either, for a team expected to challenge for a Champions League spot. An opening day shock loss to Sunderland, followed by another defeat at the hands of Everton and a win against Derby saw them walk into this game with 3 points from four games. And after yesterday’s pulsating clash at Old Trafford, 3 was where their points tally stood.
United’s saviour in this game was their Portuguese summer signing Nani. The lad, making his home debut, produced a stunning strike from 25 yards out in the 68th minute. Spurs were probably the better team in the second half, and Sir Alex would have had some very anxious moments before the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the game.
Spurs had a valid penalty claim turned down, and had that been awarded, who knows how the game would have turned out.
And speaking of Spurs, Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov has said that he will stay at White Hart Lane, despite the rumour mills being agog about Manchester United’s interest in him. If United had Berbatov upfront playing for them yesterday, their margin of victory could well have been greater than one goal.