Last gasp wins the Derby

United 3-1 Manchester City
Carling Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg (aggregate 4-3); attendance 74,576

Victory Sing Song from biffadigital on Vimeo.

If this had just been another Carling Cup tie it wouldn't have been an extremely thrilling night of emotions. I recall last season's semi-final against Derby didn't generate this tension. We got to the ground early.

First half 0-0. Not looking good, only Rooney up front and he's looking lost up at the far end. The regular bloke next to me is face-pulling and shaking his head.

Scholes 52 mins - we're ecstatic. Back in it at least, there will be extra time.
Carrick 71 mins - we're over whatever moon is up there. Keep it like this. However some fans tempt the fates and start singing an "Off to Wembley" song. I'm thinking it's a bit premature. I'm right.
Tevez 76 mins chips it in for City. 3-3 aggregate. Looks like extra time, and am dreading a penalty shoot-out.
Three minutes of added time and Valencia comes on a substitute.
Rooney 91 mins heads the winner. We're jumping.
Just hang on for two minutes.

Everybody stayed behind to sing - that's the scrappy phonecam video. One of the all time great games I've seen. The local derby is as big as ever - played 3 won 2 lost 1 this season. Bit tired and drained the next day - might have been the drinks afterwards and the highs and lows of the match. Cherish the good times in football as they don't happen every week.

Carling Cup Derby Thriller

Manchester City 2-1 United
Carling Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg; attendance 46,067
Usually this is a competition you don't get too excited about but this tie had the spice of a big derby night stirred with all the financial implications going on off the pitch.

The football didn't let the evening down either. Given United's poor form and missing players I was hoping we wouldn't be sunk in the first leg and that it would set up the return at Old Trafford.

Nearly bought tickets for the match, very nearly clicked add to basket but the Biffa herself didn't want to be sat with the City fans having to keep her emotions in check. Tickets on open sale, who says you can't get to big games?

Alright we lost, and media story is about Tevez scoring twice but United played their best football for months. Fortunately for City they have Shay Given, a little bit of a World Class goalkeeper, thus keeping United for scoring more than one.

Already fired up for the second leg. Clean up my standing boots 'cos it won't be a polite sit down game passing around the sweets and mints.

Back to the financial implications. City have owners who have brought millions of spending money to the club. You'd think it would pay off with trophies in the next few seasons though they won't make any profits. United have owners who have brought a load of debt It depends on continuing success on the field to sell enough Tv coverage and merchandise just to pay the interest and dividends to themselves. In short they are a liability.

But things will change and in the meantime there is a cup tie to win against the local rivals. After watching tonight's performance it can be achieved.

United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Carling Cup 5th Round; attendance 57,212

You have to take those joyous moments from football when you can. Another wet night, another experimental line-up and another match that was played at a canter. It wasn't that joyous then. When the Spurs line-up was announced over the speakers it sounded like they'd come to mean business. Lots of familiar talent there.

Despite having lots of possession and being on the attack for most of the match Spurs didn't make any chances. They came up against Vidic in defence, he's such a class act at taking the ball off players. Maybe finishing 4th in the Premiership is their priority.

Darren Gibson had a long range low shot well wide early on. Obviously just getting his eye for something on target. Well he did. Two spectacular edge of the penalty area goals from his next two attempts. I was hoping for a third which would have given the big hero story for every sports page in the country.

So not a great match, but I'd be well disappointed if I was a Spurs fan going home after that. Now on to the two-legs of a semi-final. The crowd was the lowest this season, whole sections closed off as in the photo. A wet night, the game is on Tv, its only the Carling Cup, coming up the Xmastide spending - lots of regulars would have been smart enough to keep their credit card in their pocket. Wonder what drives me to keep going?

Walked to this match via the pub, the lure of Guinness on a damp evening. Then back home afterwards in a record 37 minutes.

Still in the Carling Cup

Barnsley 2-0 United
Carling Cup 4th Round; attendance 20,019
There was a shout of relief when the draw revealed an away tie. It saved the cost of two tickets, and we can be lazy and settle in front of SkySports with a plate of dinner on the lap. Give me a break, I attended 70 games last season and sometimes you need to be left on the bench.

A comfortable win. Danny Welbeck was on fire, and liked the look of Obertan making his debut. After Gary Neville got sent off when 2 up it effectively killed off anymore United attacks. As for Barnsley it was very poor finishing that was their undoing for not getting any goals. Chances went begging.

Televisual low lights - a couple of young slightly overweight lads running on the pitch and putting the ball past Ben Foster. Also the volume of the commentary had to be set to low as whoever was doing it either stated the very obvious and his mate kept mentioning the Barcelona game last May.

Alright, the Carling Cup doesn't set the season alight. But let's take the positives - there are only four trophies you can win, it's a good competition for talented young players who are trying to get big match experience, and it doesn't get bigger than a day out at Wembley. Didn't say anything like that after a defeat at Southend United a few years back.

Wolves in that other cup thingy

United 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Carling Cup 3rd Round; attendance 51,160

We take the same route again to the match. Through the public gardens at the Quadrant. It's called the Cliff Cronshaw Memorial Gardens, and if anybody can enlighten me over the name let me know. Then over the bridge with B&Q to our right. But is anybody else going to this game? Not many people about. I guess the attendance will be 54,000 and Biffa is a more conservative 47,000...

Not the most thrilling match but I always like to see some of the younger players given a chance to shine. Fabio is on for a while until he gets a straight red. Fair enough bringing down a player going for goal and no other defender. He's a bit upset by it. But there is a loyalty from the crowd and he gets an applause off the pitch as he trudges to the dressing room.

It changes the game a little. Macheda comes off which is a pity and the defender DeLaet comes on to shore up the back. He plays a good game and contributes to one of the funniest moments at the end. Going for goal, beats one then two and lets fly with a wicked shot. Pity he wasn't facing the right way and it skies up into the North Stand.

A good worked goal from Danny Welbeck. Nice bit of a Robin Hood arrow shooting pose in front of the Stretford End afterwards. We loved it. Up until then I was warning the Biffa herself to be prepared for extra time and penalties. That's the last thing when you've got an early start next day.

As for Wolves. This wasn't their best side, well let's hope not or they will be going back to the Championship next May. Went home and then missed the highlights programme on BBC. The distractions of French organic red after another working day.

Photo is at the end of match. Look how quickly a 2/3rds full stadium can empty. Onward to the 4th round draw on Saturday. Admission £36 (no cheaper prices for this cup as in previous seasons). Weather: dry, 13 degrees, no wind.

Carling chances goes to a shoot-out

Tottenham Hotspurs 0-0 United
1-4 win on penalties after extra time
Carling Cup Final 2009 at Wembley Stadium; attendance 88,217
More than frisson of giddiness in going to Wembley, never been before 'cos I've never wanted to. It would be the disappointment of a long journey home after a defeat that has put me off. But if you win the Carling Cup, it's always nice to win, and if you don't you're not bothered 'cos there is the rest of the season that offers bigger prizes.

Not a great game. Second half I was thinking it's got 1-0 for one of the teams written all over it. Scaled that down to 0-0 during the extra time period. Would the penalty shoot out be at our end? It was. The eye darts around the goal keepers, the ref and the lino looking for signals of nerves and composure. It's all over very quickly, not like watching on Tv which draws out the drama with camera shots cutting between shooter and keeper.

Got a great view, plenty of leg room and litter free. But we all stood up through the match. So much for a £66 seat. At half time I was glad to take the weight off my pins. So we've taken up our position twenty minutes before kick off and watch to warm up session. Then up pops up the bloke two seats down from us at Old Trafford. It's like meeting an old friend. All we need is B & J to come on the other side and it'll be like the Stretford End. The seats remain empty. The match was five minutes old and bloody hell they do turn up. Late as usual with some excuse about wanting a burger. Only just got here two hours before the match.

The approach to Wembley is designed to funnel you from Wembley Park Station up onto a high concourse around the ground. It's the same way back but even more controlled by lines of police horses. Stop, wait, move forward in batches. After about four sets of police horses and treading in horse shit you get to the station you've been viewing for the last twenty minutes. It's all a very good natured and patient - the Brits are very good in a crowded situation.

By a miracle of good timing managed not to miss our train back to Mancland. Dragging the Biffa herself into a solid mass of bodies blocking the doors to the tube train. I learnt the techniques watching commuter travel in Italian cities, stocky lady with three bags of shopping gets thru a sea of travellers, taking out three dorky tourists on the way to the doors. Legging it out of breath to the hotel to collect our bags, dismissing the rail official who wanted to check if I was carrying alcohol onto the train, weaving our way to the face of the men checking tickets to get on the platform. There are always people in shops and at check-points who appear a little surprised that you might now have to pay or show a ticket. You can see the light bulb go on in their tiny brain followed by the fumbling for the appropriate card.

Best bits of the day: Anderson doing a little wiggle dance after scoring, stopped by the on rush of players telling him we'd won. A group of United fans singing "we also win shit cups" after the game. Making the train reservation, thus not having to buy a new ticket and getting home to watch the highlights on Tv....

Two penalties change a game

United 4-2 Derby County (aggregate 4-3)
Carling Cup Semi-Final 2nd leg; attendance 73,374

Settle the match from biffadigital on Vimeo
It's a cold dark damp evening. It's not that bad, we're used to it. The bright lights, sat in a big crowd under a roof, what else would I be doing on a Tuesday night. United harried from the start, not letting Derby settle, they meant business. We got it. Nani scores on 17 minutes but I didn't see it clearly. I could make out John O'Shea at the far end for the second. The classic mistake of thinking someone is offside the Derby defence just stopped to check the linesman. Even managed to make out the third, a low header from Tevez.

Half time, and the notion that we could be out until 2230h watching extra time and penalties was dispelled. Cruising on the two goal cushion through the second half. Then Derby get a penalty award, get a goal, and it is now 3-2 on aggregate. Set it up for an interesting ten minutes. United didn't sit back put pressed for a fourth goal. That's the blurry video above of Tevez being fouled by Roy Carroll and Ronaldo taking the penalty after a long delay.

The very early door people who left 85 minutes would have missed all that. The people who left at 90 minutes would have missed a further goal from Derby. The ref only added 4 minutes stoppage time, I thought it should be over six with the substitutions and injuries. Maybe he wanted to get out of the rain.

So a Wembley final on a Sunday in March, thus another game in hand against Portsmouth at home to think about. Good job there is a big squad on the payroll to get through the extra games and injured players.

One down from the 1st Leg

Derby County 1-0 United
Carling Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg; attendance 30,194
It could have been a 3 or 4 nil defeat, and I think Derby will rue those missed opportunities to score when it comes to the second leg in two weeks time. They played a good game, defending and harrying well, so well Roy Carroll in their nets only touched the ball for goal kicks. This is from a team who a few days earlier struggled against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup.

After the poor United display in the first half I thought it would be a turnaround second half. Something like the Spurs v. Burnley game the night before. It wasn't and not even bringing on Rooney and Ronaldo helped. I thought Paul Scholes looked a bit out of sorts, and when he doesn't play well you know there will be problems.

All to play for. Will Derby come to Old Trafford and try and defend that one goal lead? Will it be 80 minutes of frustration looking for the winning goal? Who knows, all set up for a battling re-match. If we win I'm hoping to go to Wembley but not banking on it now.

Tevez and a team effort to the semis

United 5-3 Blackburn Rovers
Carling Cup 5th Round

Tevez v. The Rovers from biffadigital on Vimeo.
If we didn't have tickets we would have stayed in with the radio coverage. A bitter cold night, ice on the side roads surrounding home, traffic chaos in Manchester with two matches on one night. Got a taxi up to Warwick Road with gritted roads, bright lights and crowds sauntering to the stadium. Glad we went.

The match livened up after the first goal, settled down after the second. Tevez showed how he is a class player. Phenomenal work rate, with four goals he deserved to collect the match ball and have it gold plated. Anderson I rated as well with his unselfish play.

At 4-1 you'd have thought the game over. The people in front left, the kids were well over-tired and still twenty minutes to go. Some unfocused defending and it's 4-2, then 4-3. You do not want a late night watching extra time in these temperatures. But up pops Anderson to commit the goalie and pass to Tevez to settle it at 5-3.

Tried some live blogging. Exaggerate it was live score updates from a mobile phone to Twitter and a friend watching the Bitters on the Tv, and uploaded a picture....

Game 54, admission £35, taxi £5.

Tevez v. QPR

United 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
Carling Cup 4th Round : attendance 62,539

Tevez v. QPR from biffadigital on Vimeo.
Not the most thrilling game. In fact the first half was pretty dull for me, and wanted half time to come along so I could eat my confectionary and stand up. The QPR fans were in the Upper East Stand, singing like it was their cup final. Pity their team didn't respond by showing an inclination to attack.

Danny Welback came on in the second half. Thought there might be a goal now. For all the running and work done by Tevez we deserve to win this. Well it was not from open play but a penalty after Danny Welback got brought down in the box. Being a goal down QPR started to do a bit of attacking, about time. So a few late scares, dreading extra time. Bringing on Vidic, and time wasting to protect the one goal lead. There was no way United would get one past Cerny the QPR keeper who had a great game.

Went home tutting and a bit downhearted. A game United dominated but failed to capitalise on their chances. Tevez needs a strike partner and it isn't Nani.

Game 51; admission £35, half time snack a Snicker bar, the Biffa herself had a Crunchie.

Ease Past M'Boro in the Carling

United 3-1 Middlesboro
Carling Cup 3rd Round; att: 53,729

Well clearly the Carling Cup is never a priority, with 23,000 empty seats you could still have got a ticket on the day. Charging full price instead of a few quid less like all the previous seasons is a bit cheeky. But on the plus side it gives supporters without a season ticket a chance to see Giggs, Ronaldo, Vidic, even Stuart Downing on the pitch. For me I wanted to see Possebon, Manucho and Rafael Da Silva - the lads coming through get a game with a big crowd.

The start was nearly all United possession in the first half though with not much to show. Up pops Ronaldo for a corner to make it 1-0 after about 25 minutes. Second half Middlesboro get one back with a powerful shot after a poor clearance.

There was the unfortunate ugly tackle on Rodrigo Possebon. Straight red without doubt, and you know it was serious with medics and stretchers on straight away. Up until then Possebon in my opionion was the best player on the field. The injury marred the evening. There was nine minutes extra time.

We got to see two goals at our end from Giggs and Nani. We'd have seen some more but their goalie Jones was playing well. Manucho came on, he's tall, is he the biggest player out there? Almost scored with his first touch. Can't judge on someone coming on as late sub.

Tried to make a little movie with my new mobile phone using the basic editing software supplied on the device. The idea was to upload it as a rough cut straight after the match. The result is above. Notice the empty seats, the injury bit and I missed the goals as too busy concentrating on the game.

Carling Crash to Coventry

Looking on the bright side, we won't be shelling out anymore money for the Carling Cup for another 12 months. On the down side we basically don't have a second team - John O'Shea was captain and the most experienced player in a red shirt. By half time we could have easily have been 3 goals down. It got colder (7 degrees), the Coventry fans got louder, a second goal all over...last ten minutes was a shambles. At this point I watch the electronic clock and observed when people are going to leave. Massive exodus at 12 mins to go, then the usual departures at 5 minutes left. The Coventry fans cheered it out - savouring every minute. Lost 0-2. Last year it happened at Southend United away. Does it mean anything? It does, but only if you win. Stats : 74,055 official attendance (11,000 from Coventry City), but I reckon that was tickets sold and 5,000 failed to show. Tyrell's Crisps are now on sale, replacing Walker's but I've not bought anything at OT for 2 years. Good full moon shining over the ground tonight. Does it mean anything? It does, but you'll have to ask somebody else.