BBC Sport - Football - Man Utd 0-0 Rangers (original) (raw)
Wayne Rooney endured a frustrating return to United's starting line-up
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Old Trafford
Wayne Rooney's return failed to inspire Manchester United as they were frustrated by the defensive defiance of Rangers in the Champions League at Old Trafford.
Rooney was back in action after being left out at Everton on Saturday in the aftermath of allegations about his private life as United manager Sir Alex Ferguson surprisingly made 10 changes from the team that drew at Goodison Park.
And he was a subdued figure as United ran into the massed ranks of a Rangers rearguard action, with the Scottish champions sticking doggedly to the gameplan devised by boss Walter Smith.
United, with Ryan Giggs a substitute and Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov not even on the bench, rarely looked like piercing the Rangers defence and were eventually reliant on the long-range efforts of Darron Gibson as their only serious source of threat.
Ferguson will at least be able to reflect on the positive note of Rio Ferdinand playing his first 90 minutes of senior action since sustaining a knee injury at the World Cup - but a serious ankle injury suffered by Antonio Valencia in the second half cast a further shadow over a subdued Old Trafford evening.
Rangers did not mount a serious threat to Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak, deputising for the rested Edwin van der Sar, preferring instead to concentrate on securing a crucial point from their opening group game.
And it was a ploy met with total satisfaction by the Rangers fans as they celebrated the draw after six tense minutes of stoppage time as a result of Valencia's injury.
Ferguson will be left to reflect on a disappointing opening result and on a team selection that resulted in United running out of ideas long before the final whistle sounded.
Ferguson's wholesale reshuffle of resources did not persuade Rangers to depart from their trademark European gameplan of blanket defence - and the opening period soon became a war of attrition between attack and defence.
Ferguson laments lack of creativity
Rangers striker Kenny Miller cut a lonely figure as goalkeeper Allan McGregor was protected by the massed ranks of Smith's well-drilled rearguard.
Javier Hernandez almost broke through with a header that flashed just wide early on before Rooney failed to find him in the area with an opportunity he may have been better accepting himself.
Gibson's powerful shooting was offering United's best hope as he was narrowly off target from distance either side of the interval.
There was an anxious moment for United late in the first half when Rooney pulled up after appearing to turn his ankle but he was able to shrug off the problem and resume after the break as the familiar pattern continued.
United then suffered a blow when Valencia sustained a serious ankle injury after a challenge with Kirk Broadfoot. Valencia's colleagues appeared to place no blame whatsoever on the Rangers defender, who also looked distressed after the incident.
Giggs replaced Valencia after a lengthy break in play while he was placed on to a stretcher by medical staff and taken away to sympathetic applause.
Smith blames cash gap for bore draw
Rangers had shown rare signs of ambition in the second half and they were furious when referee Olegario Benquerenca ignored claims for a penalty as Broadfoot went down in the area under Chris Smalling's awkward challenge.
Ferguson had seen enough of United's struggles to break down the Rangers defence and decided on a double change with less than 20 minutes left, sending on Michael Owen and Jonny Evans for Ji-Sung Park and Fabio.
Rangers made a change of their own as the clock ticked down, replacing the tireless Miller, who had fought against the odds all evening, with Kyle Lafferty.
And he simply took on the role of workhorse Miller as Rangers survived in comfort to earn a well-deserved draw.
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Champions League
Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Man Utd | 0-0 | Rangers | FT |
(HT 0-0) | |||
MAN UTD
RANGERS
Possession
- Man Utd 54%
- Rangers 46%
Attempts on target
- Man Utd 7
- Rangers 3
Attempts off target
- Man Utd 8
- Rangers 0
Corners
- Man Utd 3
- Rangers 0
Fouls
Man Utd 16
Rangers 10
Final Result
96:30 The referee gets the game started.
Full Time
90:00+5:38 Free kick taken by Darren Fletcher.
90:00+5:38 Booking The referee shows Lee McCulloch a yellow card.
90:00+5:31 Unfair challenge on Darren Fletcher by Lee McCulloch results in a free kick.
90:00+4:39 Allan McGregor takes the direct free kick.
90:00+4:11 Booking Ryan Giggs booked for dissent.
90:00+3:46 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ryan Giggs, Madjid Bougherra manages to make a clearance.
90:00+3:40 Ryan Giggs delivers the ball, clearance by Kirk Broadfoot.
90:00+1:02 Ryan Giggs takes the inswinging corner, Javier Hernandez concedes a free kick for a foul on Allan McGregor. Free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
90:00 The referee brings the game to a close.
89:48 Foul by Madjid Bougherra on Jonathan Evans, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.
84:56 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Giggs.
84:38 Darron Gibson takes a shot. David Weir gets a block in.
84:10 Maurice Edu challenges Wes Brown unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Wes Brown.
83:14 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kirk Broadfoot by Darron Gibson. Allan McGregor takes the free kick.
81:57 Darron Gibson takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.
80:05 Substitution Kyle Lafferty comes on in place of Kenny Miller.
78:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Giggs by Lee McCulloch. Free kick taken by Ryan Giggs.
77:43 Lee McCulloch takes a shot. Rio Ferdinand gets a block in.
76:41 Wayne Rooney has a lobbed shot. Comfortable save by Allan McGregor.
74:34 Allan McGregor takes the direct free kick.
74:34 Substitution Fabio Da Silva goes off and Jonathan Evans comes on.
74:34 Substitution Michael Owen on for Ji-Sung Park.
74:34 Wayne Rooney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Allan McGregor.
73:15 The official flags Javier Hernandez offside. Free kick taken by David Weir.
72:50 Foul by Wes Brown on Kirk Broadfoot, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Kirk Broadfoot.
72:02 Maurice Edu fouled by Wayne Rooney, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
69:52 Centre by Ryan Giggs, Headed effort from inside the area by Wayne Rooney misses to the left of the goal.
69:31 Fabio Da Silva crosses the ball, Kirk Broadfoot manages to make a clearance.
67:17 Fabio Da Silva concedes a free kick for a foul on Madjid Bougherra. Steven Whittaker delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.
66:54 Handball by Ji-Sung Park. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 65:53 The offside flag is raised against Kenny Miller. Direct free kick taken by Wes Brown.
65:53 The assistant referee flags for offside against Kenny Miller. Direct free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.
63:48 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Blocked by Madjid Bougherra.
62:40 Substitution (Man Utd) makes a substitution, with Ryan Giggs coming on for Antonio Valencia.
56:52 Steven Naismith takes a shot. Tomasz Kuszczak makes a save.
55:16 A cross is delivered by Steven Whittaker.
52:33 A cross is delivered by Steven Naismith, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.
49:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kirk Broadfoot by Antonio Valencia. Sasa Papac restarts play with the free kick.
46:05 Darron Gibson has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+0:22 Booking Allan McGregor is cautioned.
45:00+0:08 A cross is delivered by Antonio Valencia.
45:00 It is the end of the first-half.
42:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ji-Sung Park by Maurice Edu. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Darron Gibson.
40:20 Unfair challenge on Steven Naismith by Wes Brown results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Sasa Papac.
40:10 Foul by Javier Hernandez on Maurice Edu, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Maurice Edu.
38:51 Effort on goal by Darren Fletcher from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
37:30 Wayne Rooney takes a shot. Allan McGregor makes a comfortable save.
36:23 Darron Gibson takes a shot. Save by Allan McGregor.
34:51 Antonio Valencia fouled by Kenny Miller, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Wes Brown.
33:13 Darron Gibson produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.
32:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Wes Brown by Maurice Edu. Wes Brown restarts play with the free kick.
30:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Wes Brown on Kirk Broadfoot. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick.
30:41 Antonio Valencia takes a shot. Blocked by David Weir.
27:28 Javier Hernandez crosses the ball, Madjid Bougherra manages to make a clearance.
23:32 Unfair challenge on Steven Naismith by Javier Hernandez results in a free kick. David Weir restarts play with the free kick.
22:45 Fabio Da Silva has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
21:22 Wes Brown concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Naismith. Free kick crossed right-footed by Steven Davis from left channel, save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.
20:22 Kirk Broadfoot fouled by Antonio Valencia, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Sasa Papac.
14:48 Foul by Fabio Da Silva on Steven Whittaker, free kick awarded. Madjid Bougherra takes the direct free kick.
13:24 Centre by Antonio Valencia, clearance made by Sasa Papac.
12:12 Foul by Sasa Papac on Antonio Valencia, free kick awarded. Darren Fletcher crosses the ball in from the free kick.
11:45 Foul by Kenny Miller on Rio Ferdinand, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Rio Ferdinand.
11:13 Fabio Da Silva crosses the ball, Header by Javier Hernandez from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
10:48 Darren Fletcher takes a shot. Blocked by Lee McCulloch.
9:32 Unfair challenge on Steven Naismith by Wes Brown results in a free kick. Steven Davis produces a cross, David Weir takes a shot. Tomasz Kuszczak makes a save.
6:45 Chris Smalling challenges Kenny Miller unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Madjid Bougherra.
3:53 The assistant referee flags for offside against Steven Naismith. Direct free kick taken by Tomasz Kuszczak.
1:38 Kirk Broadfoot gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rio Ferdinand. Wes Brown restarts play with the free kick.
1:04 Javier Hernandez is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
Champions League results
14 Sep 2010 23:59 UK
- Barcelona5-1Panathinaikos
FT - Benfica2-0Hapoel Tel-Aviv
FT - Bursaspor0-4Valencia
FT - FC Copenhagen1-0Rubin Kazan
FT - FC Twente2-2Inter Milan
FT - Lyon1-0Schalke 04
FT - Man Utd0-0RangersFT
- Werder Bremen2-2TottenhamFT
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