Birmingham, Dec 29: Manchester United beat Birmingham 2-0 at home in the English Premiership on Saturday (December 28). Apart from one chance which fell to Roy Keane after eight minutes, the game started quietly. United began to take control and had a flurry of chances midway through the first half. But, with their most consistent striker Ruud van Nistelrooy out with an injured toe, the home side failed to capitalise on their superiority. Diego Folan failed to connect with his head in front of goal and then moments later Nico Vaesen saved well from Mickael Silvestre. Just as Birmingham appeared to have weathered the storm, United took the lead in the 37th minute. Silvestre crossed from the left, David Beckham headed the ball back across the goal and Diego Forlan hammered it home.
United continued to dominate after the break. But Birmingham came close to scoring a surprise equaliser after 55th minutes when Fabian Barthez was forced to make a fine save from Jovan Kirovski's powerful header. Rio Ferdinand cleared off the line as Clinton Morrison pounced on the rebound. Thirteen minutes later Bartez made an even better save when he dived to his left to palm away Aliou Cisse's close range header.


Manchester United finally sealed victory in the 73rd minute when Beckham cooly chipped the ball over Nico Vaesen after being put through by Juan Sebastian Veron. Ferdinand should have added another in the closing stages.


But the England defender contrived to shoot over just inches from the line with the goal at his mercy.


Bureau Report