Frustrated Ferguson
The pressure on Manchester United is mounting, and it shows. After the defeat to Manchester City in the Premiership last Saturday, ManU manager Sir Alex Ferguson got stuck into referee Steve Bennett and his linesmen for allowing Manchester City's first goal, as he commented on a poor performance by his team against their local rivals.
The pressure also got to Wayne Rooney, as he turned the air blue at City's Eastlands stadium in the Manchester derby. Nothing too remarkable about that, you might think. He lost the plot late in the first half after ManU slipped to a two-goal deficit.
What is remarkable is that his offensive outburst was delivered right in front of Bennett, and all that the young England striker received was a yellow card. City manager Stuart Pearce was quick to praise his side's effort and show of character in their eventual 3-1 win over ManU. His side had gained just a single point from a solitary draw from their four previous Premiership games.
The former England defender said: "We looked like a team who were up for a derby match, up for a scrap."
"People were talking about us as if we were Burton Albion but we're not Burton Albion."
The next seven days are a highly significant time for the Red Devils. The outcome of yesterday's third round FA cup replay against Burton Albion will go a long way in determining their mood for the two games to come. Things could look pretty rotten if the Reds are out of the FA Cup.
First up for ManU is the top-of-the-table clash against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday (SS2 from 3.30pm, with kick-off at 4.00pm).
Every match between these two titans is fiercely contested, and so far this season, neither team can claim to have the upper hand, following the 0-0 draw at Anfield back in September. A win for Liverpool will see them leap-frog over ManU into second spot behind Chelsea.
On Wednesday, Blackburn Rovers visit Old Trafford to battle for a place in the Carling Cup Final, to be held in Cardiff at the end of February (SS1 7.00pm, kick-off 7.45pm.)
The second leg of the semi-final should draw in crowds as there's no love lost between the two teams. The first leg ended 1-1, after eight players were booked in an ugly game.
The winners of Wednesday's game will play the victors of the match between Wigan and Arsenal the day before.
Wigan take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of their semi-final to be played at Arsenal (SS1, 7.00pm, kick-off 7.45pm).
High-flyers Chelsea will be in action against Charlton on Sunday (SS1, 1.00pm, kick-off 1.30pm). Charlton made the early running in the Premiership at the start of the season, but have fallen away recently.
Sky's Monday night match is between West Ham and Fulham. (SS1, 7.30pm, kick-off 8.00pm). West Ham need a result to make up for a poor recent run. One bright spark is the Hammers' Anton Ferdinand, who was singled-out for praise by a certain Sven-Goran Eriksson.
