Fergie`s Gamble Didn`t Quite Pay Off

Oh well, Fergies gamble didn`t pay off, but United`s youngsters went down fighting.

Having so many games midweek and at weekends is taking its toll on the top teams, and the Reds had to make some changes to their usual first team to take account of upcoming matches. Some players were rested, one or two were injured, but those who came in for them didn`t really step up to the plate.

Unfortunately, although Everton rarely looked threatening United couldn`t get the goal they so badly needed. They frequently managed to get the ball up to the opposition box, but somehow just couldn`t find a way through to get many shots on target. Without Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs, or Carrick, the Reds lacked the cutting edge.

When it came down to penalties, Tim Cahill took Everton`s first, but when Berbatov took one of the worst penalties I`ve ever seen for United, the writing was on the wall.

So, Manchester United now have to concentrate on the two big ones-the Premiership title, and Europe.