Almost Perfect Day - Reaction To Hull

The only way today could have gone any better would have been if Robbie Keane scored a late winner at Anfield. I suppose we’ll have to settle for our Reserves beating a team that will be in the Premiership next season, a record points total for Manchester United, and Shearer’s Newcastle going down!

It’s fairly shocking to think we’ve accumulated 90 points this season given that the team haven’t really played at the level we’ve been expecting them to. We scored 12 fewer goals but won one more and lost one less than last season!

Darron Gibson has proven on several occasions now what a good eye he has for goal from distance. In the past I have questioned his all-round game but it appears as though he is improving. The story of Darren Fletcher has taught me I need to a lot more patient when it comes to players coming through the system. So far, Gibson seems to be like a harder version of Carrick, but with a better shot on him. Obviously not as good as Carrick in other areas yet, but getting there certainly.

It was great to see him confidently strike the ball against Hull and in that one moment totally vindicate Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to play the young lads. It didn’t matter if we went on to draw or lose because we had shown what quality we had on the pitch. The fact that we went on to win and keep a clean sheet was brilliant! Lest we forget, our first team conceded three goals at home to this team!

Hull showed why they were in the relegation fight with this display. What should have been a desperate charge to keep them in the Premiership turned out to be a generally lacklustre and passionless approach to the game. They knew they were just one goal away from pretty much sealing their Premiership future but for the last ten minutes of the game or so, allowed us to pass the ball around freely. They saw just 33% of the ball at home against our bloody Reserves! Shocking. I’m not complaining though, I’d far rather they escaped relegation with Sunderland, and for Newcastle and Boro to go down.

Nick Barmby, who did nothing and was subbed off after 68 minutes, was hilariously named man of the match, robbing Ritchie de Laet. This young lad who we know hardly anything about put in a storming display, owning his side of the pitch and showing potential when going forward. Fabio should be looking over his shoulder!

Another great bonus was the return of Wes Brown, who was supposed to have missed all the remaining games this season. Probably too late for him to get a spot on the bench for Rome but it was good to see him back in the team.

It was great getting to enjoy the relegation fight without having any nerves of our own. After all the fuss made over Sir Alex Ferguson’s team selection, it was great to see our young lads put in a great performance against a team desperate for a result, and now we can look forward to Wednesday without any worries, knowing our team are fully rested.