Bench for Keane, Giggs
10/09/2005 - 14:39:36Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs were consigned to the bench by Alex Ferguson as Manchester United looked to emphasise their Old Trafford derby-day superiority over City.
Not since Denis Law’s backheeled winner sent the Red Devils tumbling into the Second Division 31 years ago have the Blues tasted victory on enemy territory.
And, despite Stuart Pearce’s side collecting an impressive 10 points from their opening four games, Ferguson still felt able to do without his captain and Giggs, who lost out to Park Ji-sung in the battle to replace absent winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Alan Smith took Keane’s central midfield berth as United looked to maintain their 100% start to the season.
United old-boy Andy Cole was in the visitors’ line-up, which showed one change from the side that defeated Portsmouth a fortnight ago, skipper Sylvain Distin returning in central defence in place of Nedum Onuoha.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Fletcher, Smith, Scholes, Rooney, van Nistelrooy, Park. Subs: Howard, Giggs, Keane, Richardson, Bardsley.
Man City: James, Mills, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Sinclair, Barton, Reyna, Musampa, Vassell, Cole. Subs: Fowler, Sibierski, Weaver, Onuoha, Jihai.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)
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