Philip Hobbs has his team in fine fettle and his 12-year-old, quoted at 33-1, looks a good bet to win Ayr marathon.
Philip Hobbs has his team firing on all cylinders and the Somerset trainer can win the Coral Scottish Grand National (3.20) at Ayr today with Out The Black.
Hobbs is going to miss out on training 100 winners in a season for the first time in a decade but he has enjoyed 29 successes since the start of March and Out The Black, quoted at 33-1 by Paddy Power, is equipped to keep him riding high.
At first glance, the tip warrants being an outsider — his 29 rivals are all younger and he has not run since November — but he has got few miles on the clock for a 12-year-old and can go well when fresh. Moreover, he has his optimum conditions and is able to race off the same mark as when a fine third to Hello Bud in this race last year. His latest effort, when a close fifth to Any Currency over an inadequate three miles at Ascot, suggests that he has not declined in the interim.
Hobbs has a useful “second string” in Chiaro, but bigger threats may be Mobaasher, not seen to best advantage behind Poker De Sivola at Cheltenham last month, and Dom D’Orgeval, who has been in fine form this spring.
Best bet on the card is Gloucester, who can win the Samsung Electronics Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.45). Nothing was travelling better than him two out in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham a month ago but he faded to finish sixth — the combination of the stiff finish and not having run since September finding him out. This much speedier test should suit him better.
There is no shortage of quality at Newbury, with Canford Cliffs and Arcano, leading hopes for the 2,000 Guineas, crossing swords for a second time in the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes (3.40).
Arcano came out on top when they met in the Prix Morny at Deauville last year but the suspicion is that Canford Cliffs, who had previously won the Coventry Stakes in scintillating style at Royal Ascot, was not at his best that day. With his stable in fabulous form, he can turn the tables.
It will be a surprise if the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (3.05) has a bearing on the 1,000 Guineas but Misheer, who thrashed Habaayib in the Cherry Hinton before finishing in front of Lady Of The Desert and Puff in the Cheveley Park, has obvious form claims.
Manifest, who might have found the ground too quick when disappointing at Newmarket in October, is worth noting in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (2.00), while Huzzah looks a live outsider for the Berry Bros & Rudd Magnum Spring Cup (2.35). He is 6lb lower than when runner-up in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last year and his below-par return in the Lincoln is easily excused as he was slow away from a poor draw.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
No sign of Lee Westwood on Phil Mickelson Channel
I have been in the United States for a week and I had a feeling yesterday morning that I was sent back to the UK to do something special.
You see, God allowed me to sneak home from Las Vegas moments before the Icelandic volcano blew. Why did I make it back? Was I supposed to invade the leaders’ debate in Manchester, perhaps, demanding better grass at Wembley?
Sated with the knowledge by yesterday afternoon that I am neither special nor chosen, just lucky, I stayed at home. But I’d like to share some observations from the other side of the pond, a letter from America, if you will.
Sadly I didn’t see the BBC coverage of the Masters, I watched the Golf Channel in the US, or the Mickelson Channel, as I rechristened it. But we should all feel lucky we have the BBC, Sky, ITV, Five or whatever other channel you choose to view your sport in this country.
As I watched the Golf Channel, I asked myself, ‘Is this bad or just different?’ Then I realised it was neither, it was just biased. “I didn’t realise golf was so tribal,” my sister said as I became more vocally enraged at the lack of Lee Westwood coverage.
“It isn’t normally,” I said. We were in her home and I got the feeling that this was the first time golf had been on her TV. At the very least I expected to see live every tee shot by the leader, Westwood. But, at one point it appeared that the director only showed Westwood because occasionally he walked into shot when they were focusing on Phil Mickelson.
I saw Mickelson’s recovery shot on the 13th a grand total of 20 times. I know it was good but come on, guys, swap one of those replays for one look at Ian Poulter. With the exception of toilet breaks and lunch, I watched the whole day and didn’t see Poulter once. Don’t tell him, he’d be gutted.
Midway through the final round, they did a “get to know the player” feature on Westwood. An image of him popped up and we were told about this man who “grew up in Worksop, England, and still has a farm there, which he has made a putting green on”. And that was it. Time to get back to Mickelson.
Was I emotional because my heart was breaking for Westwood as another major slipped away or because I was not watching the final round at Augusta at all; I was watching a History Channel biopic of Phil Mickelson.
Such is the power of editorial content that it was some time late on Monday afternoon when I realised that I didn’t dislike Mickelson at all. Mickelson was the antidote for a section of the American public to the embarrassment and shame heaped on them by Tiger Woods, but he didn’t ask to be that. His victory was confirmation for all God-fearing folk that good always triumphs over evil.
Sport on American TV is not interested in being international or unbiased, it’s all about unashamed American dominance. I know we are a tiny island in comparison, but the fact that we do allow ourselves to enjoy events we don’t always win makes us all richer sports voyeurs.
That one of the Champions League semi-finals will be shown free to air without a British team taking place is proof and it’s a match that should still bring in five million viewers on ITV.
However, there is something we need to embrace. Having watched a few hours of “countdown to the NFL draft” shows, I am working on a Premier League “draft”. This is taking time so in the short term we need to incorporate a “watching day”, a bit like an open day when a house is being sold. Prospective buyers view a player jumping, running, catching, throwing, all of it filmed or shown live depending on how exciting a prospect the player is. Then five experts give opinions as to how that player has performed.
If you are going to get hundreds of thousands of pounds a week, it’s the least you should expect. While we’re at it, can we have all mysterious “late fitness tests” and “medicals” filmed, too? I have asked many a player to explain late fitness tests and get varying responses from “a wiggle of the knee” to “running 50 metres”. Show it live and end the mystery.
One more thing: Chad Ochocinco, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, who is on Dancing with the Stars. Ochocinco changed his surname legally from Johnson to reflect the “85” he wears on his shirt. Can you imagine Ryan Giggs becoming Ryan Unouno? Mr 85 has more charisma than your average chat-show host and is built like a Greek God. If you can think of a Premier League player who’d come close, please let me know and I’ll pass it on to the Strictly Come Dancing production staff.
You see, God allowed me to sneak home from Las Vegas moments before the Icelandic volcano blew. Why did I make it back? Was I supposed to invade the leaders’ debate in Manchester, perhaps, demanding better grass at Wembley?
Sated with the knowledge by yesterday afternoon that I am neither special nor chosen, just lucky, I stayed at home. But I’d like to share some observations from the other side of the pond, a letter from America, if you will.
Sadly I didn’t see the BBC coverage of the Masters, I watched the Golf Channel in the US, or the Mickelson Channel, as I rechristened it. But we should all feel lucky we have the BBC, Sky, ITV, Five or whatever other channel you choose to view your sport in this country.
As I watched the Golf Channel, I asked myself, ‘Is this bad or just different?’ Then I realised it was neither, it was just biased. “I didn’t realise golf was so tribal,” my sister said as I became more vocally enraged at the lack of Lee Westwood coverage.
“It isn’t normally,” I said. We were in her home and I got the feeling that this was the first time golf had been on her TV. At the very least I expected to see live every tee shot by the leader, Westwood. But, at one point it appeared that the director only showed Westwood because occasionally he walked into shot when they were focusing on Phil Mickelson.
I saw Mickelson’s recovery shot on the 13th a grand total of 20 times. I know it was good but come on, guys, swap one of those replays for one look at Ian Poulter. With the exception of toilet breaks and lunch, I watched the whole day and didn’t see Poulter once. Don’t tell him, he’d be gutted.
Midway through the final round, they did a “get to know the player” feature on Westwood. An image of him popped up and we were told about this man who “grew up in Worksop, England, and still has a farm there, which he has made a putting green on”. And that was it. Time to get back to Mickelson.
Was I emotional because my heart was breaking for Westwood as another major slipped away or because I was not watching the final round at Augusta at all; I was watching a History Channel biopic of Phil Mickelson.
Such is the power of editorial content that it was some time late on Monday afternoon when I realised that I didn’t dislike Mickelson at all. Mickelson was the antidote for a section of the American public to the embarrassment and shame heaped on them by Tiger Woods, but he didn’t ask to be that. His victory was confirmation for all God-fearing folk that good always triumphs over evil.
Sport on American TV is not interested in being international or unbiased, it’s all about unashamed American dominance. I know we are a tiny island in comparison, but the fact that we do allow ourselves to enjoy events we don’t always win makes us all richer sports voyeurs.
That one of the Champions League semi-finals will be shown free to air without a British team taking place is proof and it’s a match that should still bring in five million viewers on ITV.
However, there is something we need to embrace. Having watched a few hours of “countdown to the NFL draft” shows, I am working on a Premier League “draft”. This is taking time so in the short term we need to incorporate a “watching day”, a bit like an open day when a house is being sold. Prospective buyers view a player jumping, running, catching, throwing, all of it filmed or shown live depending on how exciting a prospect the player is. Then five experts give opinions as to how that player has performed.
If you are going to get hundreds of thousands of pounds a week, it’s the least you should expect. While we’re at it, can we have all mysterious “late fitness tests” and “medicals” filmed, too? I have asked many a player to explain late fitness tests and get varying responses from “a wiggle of the knee” to “running 50 metres”. Show it live and end the mystery.
One more thing: Chad Ochocinco, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, who is on Dancing with the Stars. Ochocinco changed his surname legally from Johnson to reflect the “85” he wears on his shirt. Can you imagine Ryan Giggs becoming Ryan Unouno? Mr 85 has more charisma than your average chat-show host and is built like a Greek God. If you can think of a Premier League player who’d come close, please let me know and I’ll pass it on to the Strictly Come Dancing production staff.
Success of Red Bull in Chinese Grand Prix qualifying ends conspiracy theories
THE RESOUNDING way in which Red Bull wrapped up the front row for today’s Chinese Grand Prix — despite a new technical ruling — finally brought an end to conspiracy theories that the team had previously been using a secret system of ride height control to enhance their cars’ aerodynamics.
Between the previous race in Malaysia and this one, the sport’s governing body, the FIA, issued a statement to the teams outlining that any devices or systems that altered the set-up of the cars between qualifying and race were illegal. Red Bull’s rivals believed the team had been using such a system before its ban and that the new ruling would clip their wings. Red Bull insisted they had no such device. Before the clarification McLaren had been developing a system of ride height control, which was due to have been fitted to the cars of Lewis Hamilton, inset, and Jenson Button for today’s race.
The Red Bull RB6 has set pole position for all four races of the season so far. Although it was affected by reliability issues in the opening two races, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber delivered the team an impressive 1-2 in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago. Fears that the RB6 might dominate the season seem realistic, especially now that the new ruling seems to have left Red Bull’s advantage unaffected.
An F1 car’s aerodynamic performance is enhanced the lower to the ground the car can run. As the carefully sculpted underbody runs close to the ground, so it creates low-pressure areas that essentially suck the car down to the track’s surface, increasing its cornering and braking grip. Therefore, teams set the suspensions to run the car as low as possible. For this season cars are allowed to qualify with enough fuel on board just to complete the qualifying laps. Before the race the fuel load required to complete the distance — typically about 150kg — is then pumped into the tanks. This pushes the car closer to the ground and so allowance has to be made for this when setting the ride height for qualifying, as no changes are allowed to be made to the suspension set-up in between qualifying and race. A system that automatically compensated for fuel loads and kept the ride height at its minimum on low fuel loads and on high loads would give a performance advantage in qualifying estimated by engineers at about half a second per lap.
Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, said of the China qualifying result: “I think this just confirms that we have a very quick car and that it’s nothing to do with any supposed trick ride height control. We have not got and have never had such a system.”
The rumours began when it was noted the car apparently scraped its floor along the ground during qualifying for the opening race in Bahrain. If it was doing that before 150kg of fuel was added, reasoned the rivals, there must be a compensating system. Red Bull insist the low ride height was caused by nothing more than under-pressured tyres.
The team have been cheekily delighting in the confusion sowed by the rumours. “I’m just glad we’ve been able to lose the others some nights’ sleep,” said Webber. “All that time chasing that means time they’ve lost chasing what they should have been.”
Vettel talked with a smile about a lever in his cockpit “that the team tell me to move up and down — I don’t know what it does, but it seems to work”.
FIA scrutineers have inspected the car and declared themselves completely satisfied with its legality. So the race is now on among rivals of the the Milton Keynes-based team to catch up.
Mark Hughes writes for Autosport magazine
Between the previous race in Malaysia and this one, the sport’s governing body, the FIA, issued a statement to the teams outlining that any devices or systems that altered the set-up of the cars between qualifying and race were illegal. Red Bull’s rivals believed the team had been using such a system before its ban and that the new ruling would clip their wings. Red Bull insisted they had no such device. Before the clarification McLaren had been developing a system of ride height control, which was due to have been fitted to the cars of Lewis Hamilton, inset, and Jenson Button for today’s race.
The Red Bull RB6 has set pole position for all four races of the season so far. Although it was affected by reliability issues in the opening two races, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber delivered the team an impressive 1-2 in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago. Fears that the RB6 might dominate the season seem realistic, especially now that the new ruling seems to have left Red Bull’s advantage unaffected.
An F1 car’s aerodynamic performance is enhanced the lower to the ground the car can run. As the carefully sculpted underbody runs close to the ground, so it creates low-pressure areas that essentially suck the car down to the track’s surface, increasing its cornering and braking grip. Therefore, teams set the suspensions to run the car as low as possible. For this season cars are allowed to qualify with enough fuel on board just to complete the qualifying laps. Before the race the fuel load required to complete the distance — typically about 150kg — is then pumped into the tanks. This pushes the car closer to the ground and so allowance has to be made for this when setting the ride height for qualifying, as no changes are allowed to be made to the suspension set-up in between qualifying and race. A system that automatically compensated for fuel loads and kept the ride height at its minimum on low fuel loads and on high loads would give a performance advantage in qualifying estimated by engineers at about half a second per lap.
Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, said of the China qualifying result: “I think this just confirms that we have a very quick car and that it’s nothing to do with any supposed trick ride height control. We have not got and have never had such a system.”
The rumours began when it was noted the car apparently scraped its floor along the ground during qualifying for the opening race in Bahrain. If it was doing that before 150kg of fuel was added, reasoned the rivals, there must be a compensating system. Red Bull insist the low ride height was caused by nothing more than under-pressured tyres.
The team have been cheekily delighting in the confusion sowed by the rumours. “I’m just glad we’ve been able to lose the others some nights’ sleep,” said Webber. “All that time chasing that means time they’ve lost chasing what they should have been.”
Vettel talked with a smile about a lever in his cockpit “that the team tell me to move up and down — I don’t know what it does, but it seems to work”.
FIA scrutineers have inspected the car and declared themselves completely satisfied with its legality. So the race is now on among rivals of the the Milton Keynes-based team to catch up.
Mark Hughes writes for Autosport magazine
Glamorgan in sight of historic victory at Lord’s
Lord’s (second day of four): Glamorgan, with four second-innings wickets in hand, are 274 runs ahead of Middlesex
Glamorgan are well-placed to secure their first championship victory at Lord’s since 1954 after 17 wickets fell on the day. David Harrison bowled excellently on a sporting pitch to claim his first five-wicket haul for four years, getting strong support from James Allenby, who took four for 29, as Middlesex were bundled out for 160. Andrew Strauss top-scored with 44, timing the ball well until he chopped on, trying to force Allenby off the back foot.
After declining to enforce the follow-on, Glamorgan soon lost Mark Cosgrove retired hurt when the Australian was hit on the head by a Steve Finn bouncer. But, after reaching 57 without loss, the Welsh county fell to 117 for six to give Middlesex a glimmer of hope.
After Harrison had taken two quick wickets, Scott Newman being held in the slips and Sam Robson yorked, Strauss played several vintage strokes. Having driven James Harris imperiously through extra cover for four, he later played the shot of the innings, an exquisitely timed clip off his legs off the same bowler that beat the fielder on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Strauss got out, however, to one of a number of loose shots from batsmen on both sides.
Middlesex’s callow middle order looked ill-equipped for what was a testing examination on a greenish pitch that offered regular seam movement and good carry. After Dawid Malan was bowled by a beauty from Allenby that came back down the slope, Adam London played across a full-length ball to be castled by Harrison. John Simpson looked untroubled until he was leg-before trying to sweep Dean Cosker, the only batsman so far in the match to fall to a spinner.
Cosgrove almost suffered the ignominy of a pair at Lord’s, but a fast-travelling edge at catchable height off Finn eluded the slip cordon. Finn was a handful with his bounce and hostility, returning later to claim the important wicket of Allenby, leg-efore.
Mike Powell made his second important contribution of the match before chopping on, as Middlesex’s bowlers at last found the right length for this seamer-friendly pitch. They were too short in the Glamorgan first innings, which still looks like being the key part of the match unless Middlesex’s fragile batting line-up can atone in the second innings.
Glamorgan: First Innings†M A Wallace not out 79H T Waters c Robson b Finn 5Extras (lb 13, w 1, nb 6) 20Total (97.2 overs) 315
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-84, 3-105, 4-131, 5-147, 6-258, 7-274, 8-291, 9-300.
Bowling: Murtagh 24-7-57-2; Finn 22.2-5-69-2; O’Brien 20-2-59-2; Berg 17-4-59-3; Udal 10-2-33-0; Malan 4-0-25-1.
Second InningsG P Rees c Malan b Berg 20M J Cosgrove retired hurt 17M J Powell b Murtagh 47B J Wright lbw b O’Brien 4*J W M Dalrymple c Malan b Berg 0J Allenby lbw b Finn 15†M A Wallace not out 12J A R Harris lbw b Murtagh 2D A Cosker not out 0Extras (lb 2) 2Total (6 wkts, 40 overs) 119
H T Waters and D S Harrison to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-72, 3-73, 4-101, 5-107, 6-117.
Bowling: Murtagh 11-2-31-2; Finn 12-2-27-1; O’Brien 9-1-24-1; Berg 8-1-35-2.
Middlesex: First InningsS A Newman c Cosgrove b Harrison 7A J Strauss b Allenby 44S D Robson lbw b Harrison 0D J Malan b Allenby 17A B London b Harrison 6†J A Simpson lbw b Cosker 32G K Berg lbw b Harrison 14*S D Udal lbw b Allenby 15T J Murtagh c Cosgrove b Allenby 13I E O’Brien c Wallace b Harrison 0S T Finn not out 0Extras (lb 12) 12Total (51.2 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-21, 3-71, 4-72, 5-80, 6-103, 7-141, 8-153, 9-160.
Bowling: Harris 7-1-21-0; Harrison 18-2-62-5; Waters 10-1-28-0; Allenby 13.2-3-29-4; Cosker 3-1-8-1.
Umpires: R J Bailey and S A Garratt.
Source:The Times
Glamorgan are well-placed to secure their first championship victory at Lord’s since 1954 after 17 wickets fell on the day. David Harrison bowled excellently on a sporting pitch to claim his first five-wicket haul for four years, getting strong support from James Allenby, who took four for 29, as Middlesex were bundled out for 160. Andrew Strauss top-scored with 44, timing the ball well until he chopped on, trying to force Allenby off the back foot.
After declining to enforce the follow-on, Glamorgan soon lost Mark Cosgrove retired hurt when the Australian was hit on the head by a Steve Finn bouncer. But, after reaching 57 without loss, the Welsh county fell to 117 for six to give Middlesex a glimmer of hope.
After Harrison had taken two quick wickets, Scott Newman being held in the slips and Sam Robson yorked, Strauss played several vintage strokes. Having driven James Harris imperiously through extra cover for four, he later played the shot of the innings, an exquisitely timed clip off his legs off the same bowler that beat the fielder on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Strauss got out, however, to one of a number of loose shots from batsmen on both sides.
Middlesex’s callow middle order looked ill-equipped for what was a testing examination on a greenish pitch that offered regular seam movement and good carry. After Dawid Malan was bowled by a beauty from Allenby that came back down the slope, Adam London played across a full-length ball to be castled by Harrison. John Simpson looked untroubled until he was leg-before trying to sweep Dean Cosker, the only batsman so far in the match to fall to a spinner.
Cosgrove almost suffered the ignominy of a pair at Lord’s, but a fast-travelling edge at catchable height off Finn eluded the slip cordon. Finn was a handful with his bounce and hostility, returning later to claim the important wicket of Allenby, leg-efore.
Mike Powell made his second important contribution of the match before chopping on, as Middlesex’s bowlers at last found the right length for this seamer-friendly pitch. They were too short in the Glamorgan first innings, which still looks like being the key part of the match unless Middlesex’s fragile batting line-up can atone in the second innings.
Glamorgan: First Innings†M A Wallace not out 79H T Waters c Robson b Finn 5Extras (lb 13, w 1, nb 6) 20Total (97.2 overs) 315
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-84, 3-105, 4-131, 5-147, 6-258, 7-274, 8-291, 9-300.
Bowling: Murtagh 24-7-57-2; Finn 22.2-5-69-2; O’Brien 20-2-59-2; Berg 17-4-59-3; Udal 10-2-33-0; Malan 4-0-25-1.
Second InningsG P Rees c Malan b Berg 20M J Cosgrove retired hurt 17M J Powell b Murtagh 47B J Wright lbw b O’Brien 4*J W M Dalrymple c Malan b Berg 0J Allenby lbw b Finn 15†M A Wallace not out 12J A R Harris lbw b Murtagh 2D A Cosker not out 0Extras (lb 2) 2Total (6 wkts, 40 overs) 119
H T Waters and D S Harrison to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-72, 3-73, 4-101, 5-107, 6-117.
Bowling: Murtagh 11-2-31-2; Finn 12-2-27-1; O’Brien 9-1-24-1; Berg 8-1-35-2.
Middlesex: First InningsS A Newman c Cosgrove b Harrison 7A J Strauss b Allenby 44S D Robson lbw b Harrison 0D J Malan b Allenby 17A B London b Harrison 6†J A Simpson lbw b Cosker 32G K Berg lbw b Harrison 14*S D Udal lbw b Allenby 15T J Murtagh c Cosgrove b Allenby 13I E O’Brien c Wallace b Harrison 0S T Finn not out 0Extras (lb 12) 12Total (51.2 overs) 160
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-21, 3-71, 4-72, 5-80, 6-103, 7-141, 8-153, 9-160.
Bowling: Harris 7-1-21-0; Harrison 18-2-62-5; Waters 10-1-28-0; Allenby 13.2-3-29-4; Cosker 3-1-8-1.
Umpires: R J Bailey and S A Garratt.
Source:The Times
Paul Scholes's late goal keeps title race alive
Paul Scholes' last-gasp goal stunned Manchester City as Manchester United caused their neighbours more injury-time heartbreak at Eastlands.
After Michael Owen's winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time at Old Trafford in September, there were just 20 seconds of the three additional minutes left this time around as Scholes rose unchallenged to head home Patrice Evra's left-wing cross from 10 yards and take United to within a point of leaders Chelsea ahead of their game at Spurs.
It was an amazing finish to a game that seemed destined to end goalless.
For Scholes, who signed a one-year contract extension on Friday, it was his 149th Red Devils' goal and the perfect way to retain the outside title hopes United still cherish, although with just three games to go, Chelsea remain favourites.
Yet again after a meeting with the team they are so desperate to usurp, City must lift themselves off the floor after suffering the most shattering of blows, still believing a Champions League place can be theirs. The defeat left them just a point ahead of Spurs ahead of their clash with Chelsea.
After his appearance against Bayern Munich 10 days ago, it was hardly a surprise that Wayne Rooney should declare himself fit after just a single day's training.
But the prospective PFA player-of-the-year looked ill at ease, repeated rants at referee Martin Atkinson and a petulant kick at Nigel de Jong belied his mood.
Rooney appeared tentative, he declined to set up Ryan Giggs when he had the chance to do so, and there was no real conviction behind his only decent opportunity of the opening period, when Antonio Valencia forced the ball into the area.
Having beaten Kolo Toure with a deft piece of skill, the goal opened up for striker, who had scored 34 times before his unfortunate ankle injury.
He dragged the effort wide though, which only increased his frustration, his contribution eventually brought to an end 15 minutes from time when he was replaced by Dimitar Berbatov.
Rooney's attack on De Jong might have been revenge for a thunderous challenge from the Dutchman on Patrice Evra, which set the tone for an opening period high on energy but low on goalmouth incident.
A bulldog of a midfielder, De Jong gave United little time to settle on the ball, and though the visitors had plenty of possession, much of their passing was of a sideways variety. Only Antonio Valencia looked as though he could cause the Blues significant problems.
Having escaped a penalty-box handball that went unseen by Atkinson and, apparently, the entire United team, returning full-back Wayne Bridge was undone by the Ecuador man just before the break.
Valencia squeezed a cross through to the near post where Giggs was alert enough to make contact, but lacked the power to beat Shay Given with a low flick.
Against his old club, Carlos Tevez curled an early free-kick towards the top corner only for Edwin van der Sar to make an excellent save.
It turned out to be the sum total of first-half efforts on goal from Roberto Mancini's men, a fizzing low cross from Craig Bellamy not much to enthuse about considering his team had scored 11 times in their last two outings.
The was no discernable improvement - either in the overall quality or Rooney's temper - in the opening minutes of the second-half.
It did Rooney no credit at all that when he was kicked by Vincent Kompany, he rolled around in apparent agony then jumped to his feet and ran off without a problem once the yellow card had been brandished.
The problem for United was that with their bulwark at less than full throttle and Valencia their only source of pace, they were reliant on guile alone to open City up.
City had more speed and a flowing move, started by Emmanuel Adebayor and inevitably involving Tevez, ended when Craig Bellamy crashed a shot into the side-netting.
Shortly afterwards, the Blues had a penalty appeal turned down.
Gareth Barry could be accused of making too much of minimal contact by Gary Neville. There was certainly contact though, and not with the ball on Neville's part.
The crowd were still digesting that incident when Giggs got on the end of a long ball beyond the City defence and would have been clean through if he had not been confronted immediately by Given, whose goal was threatened by Berbatov with a deft header shortly afterwards.
It then took the interventions of Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher to ensure a goalmouth scramble caused by Van der Sar's ill-advised charge to meet a cross did not ended in disaster for the visitors.
This flurry of activity gave the impression of a game finally heading somewhere. It took Scholes to find the map.
Source:The Times
After Michael Owen's winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time at Old Trafford in September, there were just 20 seconds of the three additional minutes left this time around as Scholes rose unchallenged to head home Patrice Evra's left-wing cross from 10 yards and take United to within a point of leaders Chelsea ahead of their game at Spurs.
It was an amazing finish to a game that seemed destined to end goalless.
For Scholes, who signed a one-year contract extension on Friday, it was his 149th Red Devils' goal and the perfect way to retain the outside title hopes United still cherish, although with just three games to go, Chelsea remain favourites.
Yet again after a meeting with the team they are so desperate to usurp, City must lift themselves off the floor after suffering the most shattering of blows, still believing a Champions League place can be theirs. The defeat left them just a point ahead of Spurs ahead of their clash with Chelsea.
After his appearance against Bayern Munich 10 days ago, it was hardly a surprise that Wayne Rooney should declare himself fit after just a single day's training.
But the prospective PFA player-of-the-year looked ill at ease, repeated rants at referee Martin Atkinson and a petulant kick at Nigel de Jong belied his mood.
Rooney appeared tentative, he declined to set up Ryan Giggs when he had the chance to do so, and there was no real conviction behind his only decent opportunity of the opening period, when Antonio Valencia forced the ball into the area.
Having beaten Kolo Toure with a deft piece of skill, the goal opened up for striker, who had scored 34 times before his unfortunate ankle injury.
He dragged the effort wide though, which only increased his frustration, his contribution eventually brought to an end 15 minutes from time when he was replaced by Dimitar Berbatov.
Rooney's attack on De Jong might have been revenge for a thunderous challenge from the Dutchman on Patrice Evra, which set the tone for an opening period high on energy but low on goalmouth incident.
A bulldog of a midfielder, De Jong gave United little time to settle on the ball, and though the visitors had plenty of possession, much of their passing was of a sideways variety. Only Antonio Valencia looked as though he could cause the Blues significant problems.
Having escaped a penalty-box handball that went unseen by Atkinson and, apparently, the entire United team, returning full-back Wayne Bridge was undone by the Ecuador man just before the break.
Valencia squeezed a cross through to the near post where Giggs was alert enough to make contact, but lacked the power to beat Shay Given with a low flick.
Against his old club, Carlos Tevez curled an early free-kick towards the top corner only for Edwin van der Sar to make an excellent save.
It turned out to be the sum total of first-half efforts on goal from Roberto Mancini's men, a fizzing low cross from Craig Bellamy not much to enthuse about considering his team had scored 11 times in their last two outings.
The was no discernable improvement - either in the overall quality or Rooney's temper - in the opening minutes of the second-half.
It did Rooney no credit at all that when he was kicked by Vincent Kompany, he rolled around in apparent agony then jumped to his feet and ran off without a problem once the yellow card had been brandished.
The problem for United was that with their bulwark at less than full throttle and Valencia their only source of pace, they were reliant on guile alone to open City up.
City had more speed and a flowing move, started by Emmanuel Adebayor and inevitably involving Tevez, ended when Craig Bellamy crashed a shot into the side-netting.
Shortly afterwards, the Blues had a penalty appeal turned down.
Gareth Barry could be accused of making too much of minimal contact by Gary Neville. There was certainly contact though, and not with the ball on Neville's part.
The crowd were still digesting that incident when Giggs got on the end of a long ball beyond the City defence and would have been clean through if he had not been confronted immediately by Given, whose goal was threatened by Berbatov with a deft header shortly afterwards.
It then took the interventions of Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher to ensure a goalmouth scramble caused by Van der Sar's ill-advised charge to meet a cross did not ended in disaster for the visitors.
This flurry of activity gave the impression of a game finally heading somewhere. It took Scholes to find the map.
Source:The Times
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