Liverpool 1 – 2 Manchester United – Red Devils Survive Merseyside Onslaught to go top
Manchester United stormed back into the lead in the title race with a blistering performance at Anfield which left Liverpool fearing for their Premier league future. The old Trafford outfit survived half an hour of fierce Liverpool pressure before stealing the lead.
Although Ian Rush emerged with an incredible strike to equalize, United promptly regained the lead and never again looked like surrendering it. The defeat left Liverpool just above the relegation zone having won only twice in 17 matches.
QPR 3 – 1 Norwich – Ferdinand Double Dents Canaries Hopes
Les Ferdinand scored twice and made Rangers’ third to sink title hopefuls, Norwich, at Loftus Road and end a two-month barren run. The £3.5 million rated England striker scored in the 19th minute with a class range header to take his tally to 13 for the season.
He scored again with a superb solo strike and provided an assist for Clive Wilson to put the third past, Gunn. Mark Robins did pull one goal back but it was too little too late.
Wimbledon 1 – 2 Southampton Saints on the up
Southampton secured a place in the top half of the premier league with a 2-1 victory over Wimbledon at Selhurst Park. The visitors enjoyed the early pressure but went behind after 22 minutes when Dons goalkeeper Hans Segers’ long kick was collected by top scorer Dean Holdsworth who lobbed advancing goalkeeper Tim Floyers for his seventh goal of the season.
Southampton was rewarded for their early pressure when they equalized in the 14th minute. In the 75th minute, Kevin Moore powered home a great header to secure three points for the south coast side.
Nottingham Forest Manager Clough calls out England & Manchester United managers
Brian Clough rapped Graham Taylor and Alex Ferguson over the knuckles in his Nottingham Forest programme piece that week.
Brian Clough said “I would like to pass on the experience of a very old football club manager who reckons that by the time English players get to the middle of February they are as fit as they are ever likely to be in the course of a season. Most of them have played 40- odd games and are still looking forward to another 20-odd before they can get their feet up or go to some far-flung place on tour. The last thing players need on a Monday and a Tuesday before a Wednesday game is two two-hour training sessions with somersaults thrown in for good measure. Perhaps I should take a leaf out of other managers’ books. Was I right in seeing Ryan Giggs being pulled out of the Welsh match and three days later running around like a Spring chicken and sticking two smashing and very important goals in for Manchester United?”
