Manchester United 0 Glasgow Rangers 0

United kicked off their Champions League group this evening with an enticing fixture against the Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers in a game that ended in a 0-0 draw.

After the debacle of the last few minutes at Goodison Park, Sir Alex chose to make 10 changes for the fixture, starting with the following line-up,

Team - Kuszczak, Brown, Ferdinand, Smalling, Fabio Da Silva, Valencia, Fletcher, Gibson, Park, Rooney, Hernandez.

Subs - Van der Sar, Owen, Anderson, Giggs, O'Shea, Jonathan Evans, Macheda.

Meaning that only Darren Fletcher remained from the Everton eleven and there were welcome returns to the starting eleven for Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney with Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez making their Champions League debuts.

United started the first half well, camping in the Rangers half against a side that were determined to defend resolutely. Rangers threatened briefly when Davis curled in a free kick that Weir headed on only for Kuszczak to claim whilst, at the opposite end of the pitch Hernandez headed just wide after a decent cross from Fabio.

Rooney was the next to try his luck but his cross deflected off Weir when a shot might have been a better option and the chance was gone. United Continued to press Rangers back but a sheer weight of numbers continued to frustrate the home side.

Gibson then unleashed a shot from twenty-five yards that flew just wide as United continued to dominate but without getting on the score-sheet. The two banks of four employed by Walter Smith were doing the job. Fears were raised about Rooney lasting the ninety minutes when he appeared to turn his ankle and started limping badly.

Rooney looked able to soldier on but United were still not making any headway against a resolute United defence and with the half time whistle blown it was stalemate.

Half Time - Manchester United 0 Glasgow Rangers 0

United started the second half on the offensive with Gibson unleashing a shot that flew just wide. Rangers continued to defend with vigor a tactic that appeared to be working. Matters went from bad to worse when Valencia appeared to suffer a broken ankle and required oxygen before being carried away on a stretcher. Ryan Giggs was brought on to replace him.

The incident stunned the players who offered no thoughts that Broadfoot had committed a bad tackle but the acceptance that something unfortunate had happened.

Rangers despite being under pressure had a penalty claim turned down when Broadfoot tumbled under a challenge from Smalling. Sir Alex shuffled his pack bringing on Michael Owen for Ji-Sung Park, but still the deadlock couldn`t be broken.

Gibson tried his luck again but his shot flew over the bar. With six minutes of added time to play there was still hope that United could snatch a win from the fixture. Although possession was unequivocally United`s that vital chance just would not come their way and that was the way it stayed.



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