Chico shines as Roo left in the cold
As if being rested wasn’t frustrating enough, being overlooked by Alex Ferguson when the Manchester United manager needed to make changes or risk an embarrassing FA Cup exit at the hands of League One opponents will have cut Rooney to the core.
The striker was once the go to man when United’s fringe players were in trouble on occasions like this, a guarantee of a nerve-settling goal. Not any more. A return of three goals since March tells you all you need to know about Rooney’s diminished goal threat and at least partly explains why Ferguson kept faith with starting forwards Michael Owen and Javier Hernandez in the final half hour.
The pair repaid his faith with Owen levelling in the 64th minute before Hernandez completed the turnaround 12 minutes later to bolster his growing reputation as a striker of real talent.
The Mexico international, 22, has now scored 11 goals in his debut season in England and it is the quality, not simply the quantity, of his finishes that have generated excitement that he is the genuine article.
Hernandez, along with fellow substitute Ryan Giggs, had scored to help United recover from two down at Blackpool last week and this was another accomplished effort, an unerring strike from his only real opening of the tie and one that revived memories of Owen in his Liverpool and England pomp.
There is a growing body of evidence, it would appear, to suggest Hernandez will soon be ready to challenge Rooney for a more regular starting spot in the more demanding environment of the Premier League.
Not so, according to Owen, who has forgotten more about the art of goalscoring than most strikers can ever wish to know. Owen had himself demonstrated his value as a squad player with the 64th minute header that cancelled out Richard Chaplow’s 44th minute opening goal. But he then showed why Ferguson is so happy to have him around, injuries and diminished form and all, by offering a level-headed assessment of Hernandez’s progress.
“At the moment he is a really good impact player,” said the experienced forward. “Every time he comes off the bench he looks lively. Maybe he doesn’t score all the time but he always looks a threat.
“But there is a difference between starting and coming off the bench. I know as well as anyone it is much easier coming off the bench. Look at our last two games. We had a strong team out at Blackpool, we are 2-0 down after an hour. You put on a couple of substitutes and people think they changed the game. Obviously Giggsy was unbelievable and Chicho (Hernandez) was unbelievable. But it is easier to come on.
“Everyone else is knackered with 20 minutes to go. People will probably go away and think the team that started didn’t do great and the subs changed it. Obviously, that is what they are there for. It is more difficult starting. Chicho will grow into that over time. He is still young. I am sure he will be a regular starter in the future.”
It could have been Ferguson himself talking and Owen was equally balanced when assessing his own, peripheral role. “I played 35 minutes the other day,” he said. “It is frustrating obviously, because you always want to play a bit more.
“But I am old enough and wise enough to know the manager’s problems and the amount of players he has to keep happy. You could look at me and say the same for a dozen players in the squad.”
At least Hernandez and Owen did largely what was asked of them which was more than could be said for most of their team-mates who failed to make the most of a rare starting opportunity.
Keeper Anders Lindegaard could be spared criticism on a steady debut he hopes will lead to a regular job as Edwin van der Sar’s full time successor when the Dutchman retires next summer, hinting he has the quirky mindset traditionally regarded as essential to the job.
“Everyone wants to play at this club. I am no different,” he said. “I dream of playing. I am not here just to sit and pick my nose. I want to play.” Adding: “I never want to be number one. My lucky number is 13 and I would like to wear that shirt but unfortunately Park (Ji-Sung) has it at the moment. Maybe next year.”
Southampton were unfortunate but all of Nigel Adkins’ players, including 17-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who is a target for United and Arsenal, acquitted themselves well and will return to their League One promotion campaign with increased confidence.
“I thought we gave a good account of ourselves which was what we wanted to do,” said Chaplow. “We played some good football, but unfortunately it did not come out for us on the day. However, I think we showed we can give anyone a game on our day.”
Subs for Southampton: Dickson for Barnard 73, N’Guessan for Do Prado 79, Gobern for Chaplow 84.
Subs for Man Utd: Brown for Fabio 46, Nani for Anderson 58, Giggs 58.
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