One can not help feeling Pleat would have appreciated his potential impact rather more readily.One of the few faces Cantona would have remembered from Hillsborough, David Hirst, miscued horribly when he had the chance to put Wednesday ahead after 12 minutes. Another, Kevin Pressman, belied his appearance as a podgy sixth-former to keep the score down as Wednesday’s third game in seven days caught up with them.Pleat has confounded the limited expectations of supporters this season without, one senses, winning them over. If there was a criticism of Wednesday on Saturday it was that they offered a negligible physical challenge to Cantona and company. This was a game of only four fouls, no bookings and hardly any bodily contact – ideal for United’s preparations.Talking of matters Merseyside, the watching Spice Girls may have been surprised to receive a less than rapturous reception at half-time.
“You’re Scouse and you know you are” reasoned one section of the crowd in what was hardly a song for Europe. Old Spice himself, Cantona, soon refocused minds on less parochial concerns.Goals: Cole (19) 1-0; Poborsky (61) 2-0.Manchester United (4-3-1-2): Schmeichel; G Neville, May, Pallister, Irwin; Beckham, Butt, Giggs; Cantona; Solskjaer (Scholes, 83), Cole (Poborsky, 23). Substitutes not used: P Neville, Cruyff, Van der Gouw (gk).Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-1-1): Pressman; Nolan, Walker, Stefanovic, Nicol (Booth, 63); Whittingham, Atherton, Humphreys (Trustfull, 83), Blinker (Briscoe, 63); Carbone; Hirst. Substitutes not used: Collins, Clarke (gk).Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset)Attendance: 55,267 Man of the match: Cantona..
It takes more than talent to win championships: it takes desire and nerve as well. Watching Liverpool throw away victory on Saturday at the City Ground, where they were held 1-1 by Nottingham Forest, the mind went back to Wembley in August. Manchester United had just beaten Newcastle United 4-0 and Alex Ferguson was holding forth. “The thing that really pleased me about this performance,” he said, “was that it showed the players are still hungry.”
Liverpool’s players have everything young men could want. Fame, riches, fast cars, adoring supporters (both male and female) – everything except concrete evidence of achievement.
