Night belongs to Dale heroes
IN the end it all boiled down to the save made by Sergio Romero from a spot kick struck by Jimmy Keohane, the makeshift centre-half who had performed like a hero all night in the Rochdale rearguard.
Keohane, who has played second fiddle so far this season to teenage prodigy Luke Matheson in competing for Dale’s rightback role, filled in gamely for Eoghan O’Connell in the middle and barely put a foot wrong in prolonging an evening of frustration for United’s frontline.
Not that the disappointment of penalty shoot-out defeat stopped the League One side celebrating a memorable night in front of their supporters long after the United players had left the field. The Reds took the tie, but the night belonged to Rochdale.
Five-and-a-half thousand Dale fans made the short trip and were treated to an occasion arguably more enjoyable than their FA Cup adventure to Wembley two years ago, where Spurs eventually ran out comfortable winners.
United never looked like running away with this game.
Young Matheson’s goal, which cancelled out Mason Greenwood’s opener, is destined to become the stuff of legend in the Ratcliffe Bar, The Cemetery… wherever Dale fans gather to reminisce about the night they held mighty United at Old Trafford.
Manager Brian BarryMurphy had called for the best the Reds had to offer and, even if they put out a side missing some notable star names, the Dale chief was not disappointed.
BBM had hailed Paul Pogba the best player he’d ever faced having met at a windswept Tameside Stadium several years ago, expressing his eagerness for the World Cup winning Frenchman to face his side.
It was a wish granted by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who included Pogba as the stand-out name among the Reds ranks. He was joined by Brazilian and England internationals and youngsters heralded as the club’s next generation.
But how United were made to struggle. This, remember, a Rochdale side who shipped six goals against Peterborough just 10days previous. If that was the lowest point so far in BBM’s fledgling managerial career, it was quickly overridden by the heroic, stoical effort of last night.
Said BBM: “We generally create chances in every game and we did that. With regards to winning the game, you are in the lap of the gods when you have the likes of Pogba and Lingard facing you. But I was confident we would create chances.
“There were passages of play where I felt we represented ourselves very well and that was credit to the lads. Our lads are very passionate about the way we play and I was very proud to see them put it into action at a venue such as this.”