COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Man Utd (H)

A game to remember down Goodison way as the Blues gain a point in the most unlikeliest of circumstances from a game that had a bit of everything: great saves, missed chances and a fair slice of good joined-up stuff. A Rooney no-show left the inflatable dolls, condoms and ribald songs redundant although the sight of a steward carrying an inflatable doll under his arm whilst it writhed to and fro brought a smile to many faces.

The team text to the faithful seemed to suggest the manager had gone with the best and fit eleven that in his opinion he could muster and, for 20 minutes, you could not argue with his selection. We played some neat and tidy stuff but at the back of many a Blue's mind was the fact that, if our cutting edge was better, then United would have been punished early doors as our possession was creditable up to that vital third where our approach work kept breaking down.

This was bourne out by the fact that, when United did break, they indeed had the better of the chances and, on the 15-min mark, O?Shea hit the outside of a post... but, at the other end shortly after, Hibbert put in a superb cross that invited Baines to pick his spot but he fluffed the chance by mis-cueing. Tim Howard made two great saves one after another ? first by deflecting a Scholes shot away with his leg... and then a great one-handed save from Giggs when a goal looked a certainty.

It was end-to-end until 6 mins from the break when the United rearguard failed to deal with a through-ball and Arteta was clear, he advanced on goal and tried a shot under the keeper's dive but the keeper parried the ball and the quick-thinking Osman, who had followed up, somehow spotted Pienaar and left him with an easy shot into the net; the old lady erupted.

As the clock was running down to the break, I thought going in one-up would be ideal but this is Everton and, with just a couple of minutes to see out, Nani broke down the right with Baines nowhere and delivered a great pullback cross that that found the untracked Fletcher sprinting in and smashing home to send us into the break on a bit of a downer.

The half-time chat suggested we were playing well and more than matching a very good United side and hopes high for the second half.  However, our hopes were dented within two minutes as we went 2-1 down when again the unattended Nani was allowed to cross and Vidic headed powerfully down to the ground and up into the net giving Howard no chance.
 
United now seemed more in control and it took another good save from Howard to thwart the raiding Nani... then Berbatov screwed wide when well placed. Then, after the hour mark, Scholes, who had been influential all afternoon, put in a peach of a diagonal pass that left Distin blowing for tugs and Berbatov to control superbly, take a few paces forward and majestically curl the ball past Howard and find the corner of the net. 3-1 down, Oh dear...

The Blues never gave up and the manager introduced Yak and Coleman in place of Heitinga and Hibbert and I thought that the Yak, resplendent with mini ?afro?, started to make a difference with his hold-up play and intelligent running. In one foray forward the ball found Osman but his shot was one of placement when a bit of power was called for and the long frame of the 'keeper saved.

The board went up showing 3 mins extra to play; many left and many muttered as our worst start in 16 years beckoned, but wait a minute ? Baines crosses from the left and, with the Yak occupying the centre half?s mind, Cahill ghosted in and his header was sublime. "That makes the scoreline look better," many thought...

But wait another minute ? Baines puts another cross in and Cahill again finds space but this time heads away from goal and into the path of the lurking Arteta who smashes it goalwards and although, seeming to take a deflection, it's 3-3 and those left rock the old lady.

Into the last minute and United come forward and a cross sees Howard and Distin not talking to each other and, as Howard flies over, the big centre back heads for a corner. Seconds tick away, the corner is cleared, the Blues break, and Arteta puts the ball into the path of Jags doing an Usain Bolt impression bearing down on goal, Pienaar busts a gut to offer him the square pass and victory... but the Ref, Martin Atkinson, blowing up for time. Moyes charges from the dugout as fast as Jags's break to remonstrate with the aforementioned ref but 3-3 it was leaving us all more breathless than an England striker in a Manchester hotel.

Overall what can you say. In the many years I have followed this team I can?t recall coming from 3-1 down in injury time. I can?t recall a set of bile belching away fans being reduced to total silence in just 2mins and for once in my time a draw did seem a little bit like a win.

Fans have many and varied opinions on games and my bet is the last 2 mins changed thousands of opinions and like me left wondering if those late late goals really will kick start our season ? they should.

In looking for a MotM today, I offer two: Tim Howard for his crucial saves and Pienaar for his non-stop workrate and promptings.

Rooney was on everyone?s lips pre-game and I think many were disappointed when he failed to show... yet I find this episode rather sad as, in a few short days, he has all but written his own epitaph. Great footballer ? Rubbish person, husband and dad. It really does sadden me and I feel sorry for all concerned.

Newcastle at home next week and I hope we can now go on and at last get 3 points in a game. See you there.

UP THE BLUES
 

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