Fergie’s Red Devils bitten by the ‘mosquito’

A MAN from Malta made Sir Alex Ferguson very cross indeed as Michael Mifsud struck twice to dump Manchester United out of the Carling Cup.

The 26-year-old finished off Michael Doyle’s low cross to give Coventry a surprise half-time lead, then completed his own hard work by drilling home a superb second 19 minutes from time to send the Sky Blues’ 11,000-strong travelling army into orbit.

Iain Dowie’s men just about deserved their triumph, if only for Mifsud’s determined efforts.

Dubbed ‘mosquito’ by Coventry assistant-boss Tim Flowers, Mifsud certainly gave United a nasty bite and should have emulated legendary Brazilian Ronaldo by netting an Old Trafford hat-trick, only to fire wide of an empty net when Tomasz Kuszczak spilled a free-kick into his path.

United had been the dominant side until Coventry grabbed their opener, yet Sky Blues goalkeeper Andy Marshall was not tested by the hosts who, while completely changed from the side that beat Chelsea on Sunday, still contained six full internationals.

One of them, Nani, a much-trumpeted £17million purchase from Sporting Lisbon, was a particular disappointment. Immediately before Mifsud struck, Nani screwed a shot so badly wide it threatened the corner flag more than the visitors’ goal.

The Coventry fans were still jeering Nani when they were given something far more positive to celebrate as Mifsud put them in front.

Skipper Michael Doyle had already found too much space on the left-hand side of United’s area but when he delivered a low cross to the right, Mifsud was on his own as well and slid the ball home with ease.

Had the former Lillestrom forward’s luck been in when he back-flicked Robbie Simpson’s cross towards Tomasz Kuszczak’s goal on Coventry’s next attack, the visitors really would have been in dreamland.

Instead, the ball bounced agonisingly against a post with Kuszczak totally beaten.

Ferguson delivered his own damning verdict on his side’s performance by introducing Wes Brown and young striker Fraizer Campbell at the break.

But even with the alterations, the second period was halfway through before United carved out anything like an opportunity as David Marshall parried Dong Fangzhou’s shot into the path of Carrick, whose follow-up effort was blocked at close range.

Marshall then produced an outstanding fingertip save to deny Dong, whose header was floating into the top corner.

The value of that stop was proved within a minute as Mifsud doubled his tally.

He picked up possession on the left, then when Jay Tabb overhit his first touch as he tried to collect the winger’s pass, Mifsud raced on and rocketed the ball home.

Mifsud will probably never know how he failed to walk off with the match ball as he darted onto the ball Kuszczak pushed into his path as United disintegrated. Unbelievably, the striker fired wide of an empty goal.

By then Ferguson was slumped back in his seat, resigned to his fate anyway.

MAN UTD: Kuszczak, Bardsley (Brown 45), Evans (Carrick 56), Pique, Simpson, Nani, Martin (Campbell 45), O’Shea, Eagles, Dong, Anderson.

COVENTRY: Marshall, Osbourne (McNamee 88), Ward, Turner, Borrowdale, Simpson, Stephen Hughes, Doyle, Tabb, Mifsud, Best (Adebola 90).