Diego Forlan, so long the butt of jokes about his finishing, had the last laugh against Southampton today when his sweetly struck 85th minute goal gave his side victory. Forlan has had a less than impressive scoring record since his move to Old Trafford, but his first Premiership goal against Aston Villa last week gave United a point, and today he handed them all three.
United's opening goal came from the equally unlikely Phil Neville - after 15 minutes he blasted home from Paul Scholes' cross. However that lead lasted just three minutes, Fabrice Fernandes picked up the ball on the right-side of the United penalty area and unleashed an unstoppable effort which curled past Barthez and into the United goal.
Alex Ferguson's men took control and laid siege to the Southampton goal in search of a winner, but with just five minutes to go it look as if they would have to settle for a point. However Forlan was not prepared to give-up and when Paul Scholes played the ball into his feet, he advanced forward before unleashing a powerful curling shot that flew past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.
United’s local rival’s Manchester City claimed a similar victory over West Brom at the Hawthorns, with Shaun Goater the hero for Kevin Keegan’s men. After a dour, scoreless first half, Nicholas Anelka opened the scoring when Eyal Berkovic cut a low cross back across the face of the Baggies goal to present Anelka with a chance he could not miss.
However, City threw away that lead 15 minutes later when a West Brom free-kick was moved forward 10-yards because of Berkovic breaking early from the wall. That transgression put the ball one the edge of the Man City penalty area and Neil Clement was able to step up a blast a low shot past Carlo Nash.
West Brom fans were delighted as their side looked on course to end their 5-game losing streak, but Shaun Goater left them heart-broken on 76 minutes when he finished off a move started by Nicolas Anelka to give Keegan’s side victory.
Elsewhere Steve Bruce’s Birmingham added to bottom side Bolton’s misery with a 3-1 victory at St Andrews. The game came to life on the hour mark when Darren Purse opened the scoring, before Ricardo Gardner was given his marching orders seven minutes later for two yellow cards.
The ten-men of Bolton managed to draw level and Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha equalised with 20 minutes to go. However, Birmingham made their extra-man pay and re-established their lead only a minute later through Robbie Savage, before Geoff Horsfield wrapped up the game with his goal on 83 minutes.
Filed by Rob Wright
