2011/12 Season Review: February 2012

The Reds began and ended the month with the kind of late drama only United could conspire to craft.

Having brilliantly navigated a tricky trip to North London two weeks previously, recording a 2-1 win over the Gunners, the Reds headed to the southern part of the capital to take on Chelsea, a team they had not beaten on their own patch for almost a decade. Another defeat looked on the cards after the Blues took a 3-0 lead after just 51 minutes, before the Reds fashioned a comeback of the highest order with three goals in just under half an hour to earn a remarkable and vital point.

While Wayne Rooney, twice, and Javier Hernandez netted the important goals, high praise was duly awarded to David De Gea for two sublime injury-time saves that gave United tangible reward for the fightback and kept the Reds within two points of league leaders City who had soundly beaten Fulham 24 hours earlier.

Two games in the Europa League were definitely not in the script when we resumed European duties midway through the month. A 2-0 win at Ajax kicked things off on a positive note, but the Reds only just squeaked through to the last 16 after a late scare at Old Trafford from the impressive Dutch side who ran out 2-1 winners on the night, but 3-2 losers overall.

Liverpool at Old Trafford came next in the league amid the backdrop of the Evra/Suarez affair which was stirred up once more when the latter refused to shake the former’s hand in the pre-match line-up. The United defender would have the last laugh, however, as Rooney fired the Reds to a 2-1 win. Suarez, of all people, found the net for the visitors, but Sir Alex’s men held out for what Rio Ferdinand described as “massive” result.

Another of those followed in United’s final league game in February, away at Norwich. Again, De Gea was at his brilliant best, but was powerless to prevent Grant Holt from cancelling out Paul Scholes’s early opener seven minutes from time. Two vital points looked to be disappearing out of sight until milestone man Ryan Giggs, looking lively in his 900th game for the club, stepped up to flick the ball home from close range in the dying seconds and ensure United’s title bid stayed well and truly on track.

Goal of the month - Giggs v Norwich
“Who writes his scripts?” asked MUTV’s Stewart Gardner as Giggsy’s scored a late winner on his 900th appearance. There were few bigger goals than this in 2011/12 on a day the title race took a slight tilt in the Red half of Manchester's favour.

Player of the month - David De Gea
Fans and pundits alike were falling over themselves to dish out the plaudits to the Spanish keeper after his stunning points-winning saves throughout February, the best of which was an incredible fingertip stop from Juan Mata in the dying seconds at Stamford Bridge.

Quote of the month
“We just have to take care of our own results. If we continue doing that we’ve got a chance. We’re not worried about what everyone else is doing." - Rio Ferdinand

February 2012 Results

FEATURESPL: Chelsea 3 United 3
PL: United 2 Liverpool 1
EL: Ajax 0 United 2
CL: United 1 Ajax 2
PL: Norwich 1 United 2

Rooney celebrating his strike against Liverpool at Old Trafford