Manchester Uinted vs Portsmouth (Premier League ) 2007/08/15

Match Stats

Portsmouth - Man Utd

Shots (on Goal):

c7(6) - 21(12)

Fouls:

13 - 5

Corner Kicks:

6 - 12

Offsides:

1 - 4

Time of Possession:

42% - 58%

Yellow Cards:

2 - 1

Red Cards:

1 - 1

Saves:

10 - 5

Portsmouth 1 - 1 Man Utd

Benjani Mwaruwari (53) - Paul Scholes (15)

Portsmouth (4-4-2)

1 David James (G)

20 Martin Cranie (D) 25 Sylvain Distin (D) 7 Hermann Hreidarsson (D) 16 Noe Pamarot (D)

28 Sean Davis (M) 11 Sulley Muntari (M) 30 Miguel Pedro Mendes (M) 7 John Utaka (M)

25 Benjani Mwaruwari (S) 10 David Nugent (S)

Man Utd(4-4-2)

(G) Edwin Van der Sar 1

(D) Wes Brown 6 (D) Patrice Evra 3 (D) Rio Ferdinand 5 (D) Nemanja Vidic 15

(M) Michael Carrick 16 (M) Ryan Giggs 11 (M) Luis Nani 17 (M) Cristiano Ronaldo 7

(M) Paul Scholes 18 (S) Carlos Tevez 32

Match Analysis

"A second frustrating draw in four days; this 1-1 result against Portsmouth followed a similar script to Sunday’s 0-0 stalemate with Reading, as United dominated possession and created a glut of chances but couldn't make them count."

"He was absolutely terrific. He made a great contribution, hopefully he's fit and ready for Sunday."

- Sir Alex on Tevez

"Ronaldo was provoked and he fell for it. He's only himself to blame. Steve Bennett sent him off at City [in January 2006] and he will have loved the opportunity to send him off again."

- Sir Alex Ferguson

Ronny fell into Pompey trap
15/08/2007 20:44, Report by Gemma Thompson

Sir Alex Ferguson admits Cristiano Ronaldo fell for Portsmouth's intimidation tactics at Fratton Park after seeing the winger dismissed late on in United's 1-1 draw, but says the Portuguese international has only himself to blame.Ronaldo was sent off by referee Steve Bennett five minutes from time after a scuffle in the area. Bennett wasted no time in showing Ronaldo a straight red much to Sir Alex's annoyance."I've looked at the replay a few times now and there's nothing conclusive - you can't really see anything," he told MUTV. "I believe he was provoked and he fell for it. Steve Bennett sent him off at City [in January 2006] and he will have loved the opportunity to send him off again. "Cristiano was simply responsible for falling into a trap of intimidation. He was surprised about the decision but really he's only himself to blame. It left us with ten men and now we're going to miss him for three games. It's a big blow."The United boss urged the 22-year-old winger to have a wider awareness of the approach Portsmouth had taken towards him all evening."You get provoked and you have got to have the calmness to just remind yourself you're a better player than these players and that is why they are doing it," he said. "He has fallen into the trap and paid the penalty for it."[If you react] you have no recourse. For instance, Paul Scholes last season against Liverpool raised his hands, he didn't touch the player, but he was given three matches for that."