February 2013 Results
Although the highlight of February will be the Capital One Cup Final, there are some other key games in the month. United are yet to lose in 2013, and won't want it to end now. FA Cup games are to be played, and a game against Barcelona in the Champions League will be massive!
Manchester United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 2nd February 2013 - Barclays Premier League - Old Trafford - Att. 74,913
United Starting XI - De Gea, Baines, Evans, Jones, Smalling, Kagawa, Daehli, Carrick, Rooney, Lewandowski, Hernandez
SUBS - Lindegaard, Fellaini, Ferdinand, Januzaj, Pereira, Vidic, Rafael
SUBS - None
GOALS - Hernandez (25, 28, 62)
MOTM - Javier Hernandez
Three points against a great side, with a good margin of victory. Hernandez had a brilliant game, getting a hattrick after having a tough season. However, his missed penalty on the 42nd minute made him nervous at half-time, and when Rooney missed a penalty on the 74th minute, I thought it could all go wrong. A good, solid win for the boys.
Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester United
Saturday 9th February 2013 - Barclays Premier League - Villa Park - Att. 41,692
United Starting XI - De Gea, Baines, Vidic, Ferdinand, Smalling, Fellaini, Kagawa, Januzaj, Rooney, Lewandowski, Hernandex
SUBS - Lindegaard, Carrick, Jones, Daehli, Evans, Pereira, Rafael
SUBS - None
GOALS - Rooney (57) Vidic (77)
MOTM - Nemanja Vidic
An easy win away from home, helped by Villa's Chris Herd getting a red card in the build up to Vidic's goal which secured the win. A good performance by the whole team, especially Adnan Januzaj, who I certainly hope can make more often soon for the Red Devils. The three points can help us build up the lead on City, which our goal difference also getting better.
Manchester United 1-0 FC Barcelona
Tuesday 12th February 2013 - UCL 1st Knockout Leg 1 - Old Trafford - Att. 75,765
United Starting XI - De Gea, Baines, Vidic, Ferdinand, Rafael, Jones, Kagawa, Fellaini, Carrick, Giggs, Lewandowski, Hernandez
SUBS - Lindegaard, Januzaj, Rooney, Pereira, Evans, Smalling
SUBS - Rooney, Pereira
GOALS - Hernandez (34)
MOTM - Phil Jones
A brilliant result! Taking a 1-0 advantage to the Nou Camp will be vital, and we kept a clean sheet which will help so much. A clean sheet against Barcelona is always good, but especially in this case. Phil Jones played brilliantly as a defensive-midfielder, so I may play him there more. The injury of RVP has really helped Hernandez shine!
Manchester United 2-0 Huddersfield Town
Saturday 16th February 2013 - FA Cup Fifth Round - Old Trafford - Att. 60,291
United Starting XI - De Gea, Baines, Vidic, Ferdinand, Smalling, Januzaj, Daehli, Fellaini, Rooney, Lewandowski, Hernandez
SUBS - ;indegaard, Jones, Tunicliffe, Kagawa, Pereira, Evans, Rafael
SUBS - None
GOALS - Rooney (10) Vidic (73)
MOTM - Nemanja Vidic
We're through to the sixth round, and I can feel us edging closer to the trophy! It was a game we should have won, and maybe a game we should have won by more. But still, we won the game, and that's all that matters. Vidic had another brilliant game leading the team, becoming man of the match and scoring a vital goal to secure the victory over the championship side.
Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
Wednesday 27th February 2013 - Barclays Premier League - Craven Cottage - Att. 24,723
United Starting XI - De Gea, Baines, Jones, Evans, Rafael, Fellaini, Scholes, Kagawa, Januzaj, Powell, Giggs
SUBS - Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Vidic, Hernandez, Carrick, Daehli, Rooney
SUBS - Daehli
GOALS - Kagawa (7)
MOTM - Shinji Kagawa
Due to fixture congestion, with the Capital One Cup Final played before this game, we had to rest some big players. Having both Ferdinand and Vidic out could have been an issue, although Jones and Evans showed they are experienced enough, and good replacements for the defenders. Starting Powell and Giggs up front was a risk, but all three strikers needed a rest. We managed a win though, which is great!
League Table
I didn't even realise how far ahead we are now. 7 points above City is great, and we're now equal on goal difference. Both Newcastle and Tottenham are really pushing at City which is good for us, I feel we could go all the way now with 10 games remaining.
Player of the Month
Phil Jones. Although he may not seem like the player of the month, not scoring and getting seen every week, Jones had some great games this month, and played some key roles. Against Spurs he lead the defense with Vidic and Ferdinand absent, and when playing a role he wasn't used to against a side like Barcelona, he came out Man of the Match! He also had a solid performance against Fulham, meaning he is the player of the month.