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Oldham Athletic have eyes on big boys after Emirates FA Cup win at non-league Maidstone United

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MAIDSTONE UNITED 0, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 2

Oldham Athletic safely negotiated a second non-league hurdle following their Emirates FA Cup victory at non-league Maidstone United.

Goals from captain Peter Clarke and Chris O’Grady booked their passage to the third round for the first time since 2013/14 season and hopefully a lucrative tie.

Winning in Kent was not without its rewards, though, as Latics earned a prize cheque for £54,000 and also extended their unbeaten run to six league and cup games.

And in was far less stressful than in the first-round at Hampton and Richmond where two late goals prevented Latics from becoming victims of a giantkilling act after they had trailed for most of the match.

Latics were forced to make changes from the home draw against Lincoln City with Dan Gardner injured and Ishmael Miller suspended while left-back Andy Taylor refused to play on the 4G pitch for fear of injury.

Manager Frankie Bunn recalled Cameron Dummigan at right-back and switched Rob Hunt to left back to cover for Taylor while Mohamed Maouche replaced Gardner in the middle.

Callum Lang switched from striker wide left to replace Johan Branger-Engone while O’Grady came in for Miller up top.

Indeed, Latics were so short of players they had three trainees and a total of five teenagers on the bench with Giles Coke and Branger-Engone the only two seniors.

After an uninspiring start, Latics went ahead in the 17th minute through the first chance of the game.

Gevaro Nepomuceno fired a free kick into the box and George Edmundson turned the ball into the path of fellow central defender Clarke to stab home.

Surridge was then denied from a brilliant save from Grant Smith who tipped his effort onto the bar.

It was a wet and windy afternoon in Kent as referee Tom Young handed out five yellow cards in the first half.

Maidstone, currently in the National League relegation places, created their first chance on the stroke of half time as former Latics’ striker Jake Cassidy got the better of Edmundson to find Elliot Romain, but his effort was fired straight at Daniel Iversen.

Latics started the second half positively as Maouche curled an effort into Smith’s hands before Surridge hit the post from a corner.

Romain then forced a great save from Iversen, as the Maidstone man found space in the box before the Danish U21 goalkeeper produced a smart stop with his feet.

O’Grady sealed Latics’ victory six minutes from the end as he sold Will De Havilland with a fantastic turn before cutting in from the left and scoring from a tight angle to make it 2-0.

Maidstone hit the bar at the end through Ollie Muldoon, but it was one of the rare moments when they were troubled with Bunn dreaming of a tie at Manchester City where he was once on the coaching staff.

Oldham Athletic (4-4-2): Iversen; Dummigan, Clarke, Edmundson, Hunt; Lang, Maouche, Missilou, Nepomuceno; O’Grady, Surridge. Subs (not used): Coke, Graham, Branger-Engone, Hamer, McFarlane, Norman, Williams.

Attendance 3,516 (426 visitors).

 

Manchester United salvage a point at Southampton as title challenge fades further

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SOUTHAMPTON 2, MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Manchester United’s troubles deepened despite a rousing first half fightback to dig themselves out of a 2-0 deficit within 20 minutes away at Southampton.

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Goals by Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera prevented an embarrassing defeat against Mark Hughes’ Saints who were lingering in the bottom three on Saturday but scored two early goals through Stuart Armstrong and Cedric Soares.

United were short of central defenders after injuries decimated the travelling squad that went to St Marys. 

Phil Jones was the sole recognised central defender and was flanked by Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic in a three man defence with Jose Mourinho making five changes from the side that laboured to victory over Young Boys on Tuesday.

Alongside McTominay, Mourinho also included Ashley Young, Paul Pogba, Herrera, and Lukaku but kept an unfit Marcos Rojo on the bench.

Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Fred, Jesse Lingard, and Anthony Martial missed out.

Fielding defensive minded midfielders alongside Phil Jones meant that the Reds lacked bite in the centre of the park – something that boss Jose Mourinho pointed out afterwards.

Nathan Redmond dribbled through a static United defence before Michael Obafemi found Armstrong after just 13 minutes and opened the scoring with a fine strike beyond David De Gea.

The Saints nippy strikers were causing immense problems to the makeshift United defence and Marcus Rashford mistimed a challenge on Mario Lemina to concede a free kick which Cedric Soares duly found the top corner with a wonderful free kick from 25 yards out.

With just 20 minutes gone things were looking bleak for United but they quickly turned the corner with Lukaku hammering home his first goal in 13 appearances for the Reds after Rashford fed the ball to him.

Herrera levelled things up 6 minutes later when Rashford cut the ball back from the byline with the Spanish midfielder ghosting into the six yard box to divert it home.

Obafemi could have won a penalty before the break after appearing to go down under a clumsy Jones challenge while Redmond’s dipping shot was tipped away by De Gea after half time.

The Reds could not find a winner against the struggling Saints and dropped two more points to slip even further behind in an increasingly hard to catch title chase.

With 14 games gone United are now 16 points behind league leaders Manchester City, six points behind Chelsea in fourth, and five points behind fifth placed Arsenal who are the next visitors to Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Raheem Sterling creates Premier League goalscoring record as Manchester City beat AFC Bournemouth

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MAN CITY 3, AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1

Raheem Sterling created a piece of Premier League goalscoring history in Manchester City’s home victory against AFC Bournemouth.

Sterling became the first player to score in each of his first six games against the same opponents.

Indeed, Sterling’s record against the Cherries is now eight goals and two assists from those six appearances.

City were far from their best, but still had too much for Bournemouth as they extended their record to 20 Premier League games without defeat – 17 wins and three draws.

Goals from Bernardo Silva, Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan earned the point in what was far from a routine victory.

When Callum Wilson scored a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half time to make it 1-1 at the break, the game appeared finely balanced.

City, who have won all seven Premier League games against Bournemouth, scoring 24 goals and conceding three, needed to bring on David Silva for the last 20 minutes to help secure maximum points.

And City, despite enjoying 73-per-cent possession, lacked their usual cohesion without the likes of David Silva and the injured pair of Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero in their starting line-up.

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City manager Pep Guardiola was delighted with the victory given it was not their best performance.

Guardiola was asked if he had a worry after their “flat” end to the second half.

He said: “Not worry, worries. In the last 20 minutes we were flat and didn’t have rhythm and play as normal.

“We have played a lot of games and that is why I am delighted to win that game and everything was so tough.

“My half-time talk was ridiculous and the first five to 10 minutes of the second half were similar so it didn’t work.

“But I was delighted to win and the way we played in the second half was incredible.”

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was frustrated to leave empty handed.

He said: “We believed before the game and just before half time when we scored and our plan was going our way.

“There were a couple of moments that went against us, but that was the closest we have come to our best result here.

“The goals were scrappy from our perspective and avoidable while our last pass was rushed and could have improved.”

City made five changes from the side that started their Champions League game at Olympique Lyonnais.

Sitting out this one were Kyle Walker, John Stones, David Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Sergio Aguero who Guardiola revealed wasn’t fully fit so wasn’t risked.

Into the team came Danilo, Nicolas Otamendi, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus.

Bournemouth had Dan Gosling, Lys Mousset and David Brooks among their substitutes so had plenty of options to change things.

City found the going tough early on against a well-drilled Cherries’ defence.

Leroy Sane made a couple of dangerous runs, that came to nothing before Jesus, sliding in, just failed to convert a cross from Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The breakthrough came in the 16th minute from Bernardo Silva with Zinchenko the provider.

The Ukrainian’s through ball released Sane whose shot was well blocked by keeper Asmir Begovic, but the rebound fell to Silva who shot into an empty net from 12 yards.

Apart from the goal, the Cherries were rarely troubled as their five-man defensive system was successful in keeping City at bay.

Bournemouth had a half chance when Josh King’s cross, that turned into a shot, just eluded Callum Wilson enabling Ederson to make a diving save.

They finished the half strongly and it was no surprise when Wilson equalised in the 44th minute looping in a header from 10 yards following a Simon Francis cross.

And the Cherries came close to taking the lead immediately from the restart when King’s looping cross fell just short of Charlie Daniels at the far post.

City came close to regaining the lead in the 54th minute when Raheem Sterling cut in from the right following a weaving run past five players only to see his shot deflect off Andrew Surman on to the post.

Guardiola’s first change was enforced through injury and Zinchenko was forced off after busting his nose after being caught by the elbow of team-mate Fernandinho. He was replaced by Fabian Delph.

City regained the lead in the 57th minute through Sterling who also played a part in the build-up.

Sterling supplied a pass to Danilo whose fierce drive was parried by Begovic and rebounded to Sterling who shot into the roof of the net.

City had two great chances in quick succession to add a third goal.

Begovic saved well from Jesus’ glanced header from Gundogan’s free kick and then Jesus set up Fernandinho who shot narrowly wide.

Bournemouth had shouts for a penalty rejected after Fernandinho appeared to push Tyrone Mings in the back.

City, who had lost their grip in midfield, were forced to bring on David Silva for Jesus to try and regain control.

David Silva made an immediate impact helping set up City’s third and match-clinching goal in the 79th minute.

Sane and Silva worked a well-rehearsed routine from a short corner with Sane cutting the ball back for Gundogan to convert from six yards.

City made their third and final change with three minutes left when Bernardo Silva made way for Mahrez.

Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1 – Player Ratings

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MANCHESTER CITY 3, BOURNEMOUTH 1

Manchestester City recovered from a slow start to beat Bournemouth with a flourish after it seemed like Eddie Howe’s men could get something from the game.

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Bernardo Silva’s opening goal had been cancelled out by Callum Wilson’s equaliser before Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan handed City the winning margin in the second half after Sterling turned on the style with an eyecatching run. 

Record breaking Sterling became the first player in Premier League history to score in each of his first six games against a single opponent as he went top of the Premier League goalscoring charts with eight so far.

Bournemouth will be sick of the sight of him after eight goals and two assists during that time.

Sergio Aguero was omitted from from Manchester City squad as Pep Guardiola made five changes from the side that drew with Lyon in the Champions League.

Guardiola admitted that Aguero had a ‘muscular disturbance’ and was not being risked in the squad against Bournemouth with important games to come in a packed December and January fixture list.

Kyle Walker, John Stones, David Silva and Riyad Mahrez stepped down to the bench as Danilo, Nicolas Otamendi, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus returned from injury to start.

After a cagey start, Leroy Sane tried his luck with Oleksandr Zinchenko’s through ball at point blank range from Asmir Begovic.

The Bournemouth keeper could only parry the ball and it fell nicely for Bernardo Silva who reacted first to stab it home from 12 yards after 16 minutes.

City rested on their laurels after the goal after a tough week and that proved to be a wake-up call. 

Complacency almost let Bournemouth in towards the end of the first half with Josh King’s cross for Callum Wilson rousing the casual City defence before Ederson came off his line to touch it away.

The warning was not heeded though and the Cherries were level just before the break when Simon Francis’ lofted cross was headed in by Callum Wilson.

Oleksandr Zinchenko had to go off with a bloody nose after taking Fernandinho’s elbow in his face.

City finally took inspiration from a Sterling run into the area past five players, but his shot was deflected by Andrew Surman and onto the post where it was cleared less than ten minutes after the restart.

City played better after Sterling’s moment of magic and retook the lead after the England winger poached another goal – his ninth of the season – after Danilo’s shot had been spilled by Begovic in the 57th minute.

Gundogan made sure of the result 11 minutes from time when Leroy Sane’s cutback was converted by the German.

PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1

Ederson: 6. Tipped away Josh King’s curling cross for Callum Wilson after a long period of boredom.

Danilo: 7. Grew into the game after long layoff. Made one mistake but tracked back and redeemed himself. His shot was spilled by Asmir Begovic but Raheem Sterling was there to make sure it counted.

Nicolas Otamendi: 6. Dealt with most of the physical stuff from Bournemouth.

Aymeric Laporte: 6. Caught out a bit when Josh King’s cross came in – otherwise a solid game.

Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7. Good passes into dangerous areas – set up City’s first goal. Got accidentally elbowed in the face by Fernandinho at a Bournemouth set piece and had to come off early in the second half.

Fernandinho: 7. Good link play as usual, had a couple of pot shots on goal too and started the move that Sterling scored from.

Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Quiet first half but might have had an assist in the second half had Asmir Begovic not tipped away Gabriel Jesus’ header from his free kick. He was there to score City’s third goal from Leroy Sane’s cutback late on.

Bernardo Silva: 7. In mercurial form. Was first to react for a tap in when Asmir Begovic couldn’t keep hold of Leroy Sane’s shot after Zinchenko’s through ball found him.

Raheem Sterling: 8. Posed a danger whenever he got on the ball. Some of his crossing could have done with a taller striker to get on the end of them but he was lethal from the rebound after Danilo’s shot was spilled by Asmir Begovic.

Gabriel Jesus: 6. Unlucky with an early cross from Zinchenko which was a little too far in front of him and an inventive header in the second half which Begovic saved.

Leroy Sane: 8. Dangerous down the left flank. He hit Zinchenko’s through ball straight at Begovic forcing the goalkeeper to parry which left Bernardo Silva an easy goal. His cutback handed City a comfortable lead late on after it was converted by Ilkay Gundogan.

Fabian Delph (for Oleksandr Zinchenko 54): 6. Steadied the ship with the game poised.

David Silva (for Gabriel Jesus 77): 7. Released Sane to run to the touchline and his cut back handed Ilkay Gundogan a goal to extend City’s winning margin.

Riyad Mahrez (for Bernardo Silva 87): Too late to mark.

GOALS – Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1

Man City 1, Bournemouth 0: 16. Bernardo Silva stabbed in the rebound from 12 yards after Asmir Begovic had got to Oleksandr Zinchenko’s through ball before Leroy Sane. #mcfc #afcb

Man City 1, Bournemouth 1: 44. Callum Wilson’s header from 10 yards out levels the scores before the break following Simon Francis’ cross from the right.

Man City 2, Bournemouth 1: 57. Raheem Sterling fires City back into the lead after stabbing in the rebound from 6 yards out after Danilo’s shot was spilled by Asmir Begovic.

Man City 3, Bournemouth 1: 79. David Silva released Leroy Sane to run to the touchline, his cutback was stabbed in from 6 yards out by Ilkay Gundogan 

MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, Bournemouth 1

Man City: Ederson, Danilo, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko (Delph 54), Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva (Mahrez 87), Sterling, Jesus (David Silva 77), Sane 

Man City Subs not used: Muric, Walker, Kompany, Foden

Goals: Bernardo Silva 16, Sterling 57, Gundogan 79

Bournemouth: Begovic, Francis, Steve Cook, Ake, Mings, Daniels, King (Stanislas 85), Surman, Lewis Cook, Fraser (Brooks 72), Wilson (Mousset 85) 

Bournemouth Subs not used: Boruc, Gosling, Mousset, Defoe, Rico

Goal: Wilson 44

Manchester United’s late show as they beat Young Boys to book last 16 place in Champions League

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MAN UNITED 1, YOUNG BOYS 0

Marouane Fellaini’s stoppage-time winner enabled nervy Manchester United to claim a place in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League.

On another massively frustrating night at Old Trafford, the Reds laboured until Fellaini scored a hugely important goal.

It spared United having to avoid defeat at Valencia in their final game in group H to proceed to the last 16.

And Fellaini’s goal helped United avoid an unwanted record – four home games in the Champions League without a goal.

After firing blanks against Valencia and Juventus, United could ill afford another against the group’s bottom club whose display was anything like whipping boys as they were a threat with their rapid counter attacks.

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United manager Jose Mourinho admitted it was a combination of “frustration and relief” that prompted him to pick up a crate of water bottles and fling them to the ground following Fellaini’s goal.

He said: “I didn’t play for that, 0-0 and be in trouble in the last minute which was so frustrating.

“I was not unhappy with the players, but frustrated we didn’t score.

“My players were tired at the end which I loved as that shows they gave everything.

“There were moments of quality and beautiful football , but there was also a lack of confidence which frustrated us.”

While Fellaini won the plaudits, Mourinho pointed out without Dave De Gea’s incredible late save, there would have been no winning goal.

He described De Gea as “a world-class keeper and the best in the world” adding it is important he stays at Old Trafford as his contract winds down.

Mourinho said: If our ambitions are to be a big club, a winning club, we need the best goalkeeper in the world and best other players.

“I know he wants to stay and his agent is happy to do what the player wants.. The board wants him to stay and hopefully sooner rather than later it will be concluded.”

Mourinho also had a “little curiosity for my lovers and lovers of stats”.

He pointed out he has qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League for all 14 seasons he has been in the competition.

And in the two seasons, he wasn’t in it, his teams won the Europa League,

Mourinho added it was “an achievement, but not a fantastic one” to be in the last 16 as it was a difficult group in which they could easily have finished third.

United’s manager refused to comment on further criticisms on television by pundit and former Reds’ legend Paul Scholes.

Mourinho made six changes from the side that started Saturday’s home goalless draw against Crystal Palace.

Losing their places were Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata, Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian and the injured Victor Lindelof.

Elevated to the starting line up were Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Fred, Fellaini and Marcus Rashford.

Pogba, Lukaku and Mata were, however, on the bench as back-up, but there was no place in the squad for out-of-favour Alexis Sanchez.

There was a sea of yellow at Old Trafford with Young Boys having a boisterous following of 3,500, all wearing yellow rain tops

United missed a glaring change to take a fifth minute lead when Shaw’s long through ball released Rashford who shot over from 18 yards with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Mourinho shook his head in disbelief as United surely won’t get many better openings all night.

Fred then saw a drive narrowly clear the crossbar in a positive opening by the Reds.

Rashford had another two chances, shooting low and straight at keeper David von Ballmoos  and then dragging a drive just wide after being set up by Jesse Lingard.

Lingard then had a shot deflected narrowly wide with claims for handball waved away as the breakthrough remained elusive.

Shortly before half time Fred curled a delightful effort narrowly wide following a break by Rashford down the left flank.

In stoppage time Young Boys might have stolen ahead with their first chance of the night as Miralem Sulejmani’s cheeky near-post back-heeled shot flew wide.

Young Boys gained in confidence as the game continued and Kevin Mbabu fired into the side netting as they again went close.

United ought to have taken the lead when keeper Ballmoos failed to claim a high ball, but Fellaini blazed over from nine yards with the goal at his mercy.

The Reds were in need of a lift and mid-half made a double change as Lingard and Fred made way for Lukaku and Pogba, £164 million of talent.

Young Boys were desperately unlucky not to take the lead with 20 minutes  left when a shot from substitute Ulisses Garcia took a wicked deflection and forced an unbelievable save from David De Gea to claw out the ball.

Goalline technology showed the ball was inches from being a goal.

United made their third and final change in the 72nd minute when Valencia was replaced by Mata.

Young Boys sensed an upset as Djibril Sow and Christian Fassnacht both fired narrowly over.

Lukaku headed wide, Mata fired over and Chris Smalling headed over, three lukewarm efforts from the mis-firing Reds.

Young Boys had another great chance on the break when substitute Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu curled a decent goal attempt not far wide.

United’s 91st minute winner was route one and hit and hope as Shaw fired a long ball forward, Lukaku headed it on to Fellaini who produced a neat turn before firing home a low shot from 12 yards.

It brought a huge collective sigh of relief as United had somehow managed to find a way to win a hugely important game. It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the result was all that mattered.