Pompey lost once more at home, this time to a Utd side who seemed to up their game once the wet conditions arrived.
The game was not without controversy, Mike Dean was in the centre of it all, giving 3 penalties in total, and in my opinion you would be hard pushed to find one clear one out of the lot.
Avram Grant sent out a familiar looking side, Yebda replaced Mullins who disappeared from the squad completely, while Piquionne came in for Kanu, the only other change was Begovic for Ashdown.
Utd were first on the attack, Rooney getting goalside a couple of times without getting anything off, but Pompey had the first goal chance, Dindane getting between Brown and Vidic, but stand-in ‘keeper Kuszczak blocked with his legs and he was denied.
Pompey came closest again, Dindane firing wide, the O’Hara hit a left footer which Kuszczak did brilliantly to tip over the bar, Pompey were on top, but the Utd keeper was winning the battle.
On 23 minutes though Pompey were undone, Rooney went down easier than a brothel madame and then followed up by hitting home the penalty. Watch match of the day tonight, and Lawrenson will no doubt say he went down ‘cleverly’ for me football is a contact sport, if you get a foul every time makes contact without winning the ball, we may as well start bouncing it and chucking it through hoops, for ‘clever’ read ‘dive’.
Pompey should of been level straight away though, O’Hara floated in a great free-kick and Kaboul swung and missed before Piquionne scuffed wide, another gilt-edged chance gone.
Pompey were gifted just as soft a penalty ourselves though, the lino flagged for the dearest little shirt pull and up stepped Boateng. Got to admit that Buster showed balls bigger than King Kong’s by taking another one, this time he found a bit more power and beat the ‘keepr’s dive, 1-1 and all to play for.
Dindane had another couple of good chances to get us in front, but like before he had no killer touch and Utd were being let off.
On the stroke of half-time and I could see just what Wenger had a whinge about recently, a Utd player who shall not be named, but is Scottish and hollow cheeked, fouled Boateng about 3 times in a second, either challenge would of been yellow normally, but after a little cuddle he was let off, good spot Arsene.
During half-time the incesant rain returned, and as the conditions became more tricky, one side found them easier to cope with, unfortunatelty is wasn’t Pompey.
Utd were straight out of the blocks, and after slipping a behind play lino flag, Rooney was almost straight in, his touch was heavy though and the ball ran away. Pompey not one to learn a lesson though lost him again, Giggs slipped him in and from 10 yards he slotted home the first decent goal of the game.
Mike Dean was obviously enjoying the spotlight though, and after Piquionne first won, then lost possesion to Giggs, he gave another soft pen, Rooney smashed home and had the easiest of hat-tricks.
Utd were dominating play now, and Begovic was keeping them at bay, but Kuszczak was having a blinder also, keeping out Boateng twice in quick succession.
Dean decide to book anyone that moved now, even booking O’Hara for making no contact and giving a free-kick against him when he clearly won the ball, a bigger turd you will not see officiating a Premiership match this season.
The killer 4th came 3 minutes from full-time Utaka gave away a silly free-kick on the D, and Giggs curled home his 100th Premiership goal.
Utaka decided to try and make amends, but hit a volley into the deck that Kuszczak then reacted brilliantly to turn onto the bar, we may have lost 4-1, but the Utd ‘keeper had a blinder.
Player Ratings
Begovic
Had little chance with any of the goals
Ben Haim
Couple of big tackles, found Giggs in fine form
Wilson
Top Man
Kaboul
Solid in the air and made one great lunging tackle to deny another goal.
Hreidarsson
Won’t miss seeing Valencia
Brown
Captain was unlucky with penalty, and amazingly didn’t get booked when everyone else did!
Boateng
Buster scored this time and fired in a few others.
O’Hara
Puts in a lovely delivery, need someone to make them count.
Piquionne
Quiet game, biggest moment came in the wrong box.
Dindane
Had more chances than Defoe did against Wigan, spot the difference.
Yebda
Solid enough
Utaka
Went close, got booked and gave away goal conceding kick, all in 12 minutes!
Smith
Little time, nice to see him back though
Little action
Mike Dean
Gave away 3 of the softest penalties you will see, booked about 9 players without a bad foul in the match, and let of the biggest fouler of the lot! Absolutely dire!