EPL 2006 - 2007: Last-gasp O'Shea Silences The Kop, March 3, 2007

John O'Shea plundered a dramatic stoppage-time goal as 10-man Manchester United won 1-0 at Liverpool to go 12 points clear in the Premiership. United produced a smash and grab victory at Anfield that could well see them clinch the title. They had been second best to Liverpool for long periods, and when they had Paul Scholes sent off with four minutes left, a point was surely the best they could have hoped for. But in injury time O'Shea scored in the six-yard box with what was only United's second shot on target in the whole match. Another Smash-and-Grab That, ladies and gentlemen, is a lesson in how to win a championship. United were thoroughly outplayed for most of the afternoon, and Liverpool will feel hard done by (though questions should be asked over their failure to convert dominance into many clear-cut chances), but champions win games they don't deserve to and that is exactly what United are doing at the moment. Chelsea should, realistically, close the gap back to nine points this afternoon against free-falling Portsmouth, but it's getting harder every week to see where United are going to drop points, even with Scholes likely to be suspended and Rooney's new injury. "Liverpool fell for SAF's masterplan hook, line and sinker. Tell Rooney to get injured so that super-sub O'Shea can come on and score the winner, after the ginger prince has got himself sent off to lull the scousers into a false sense of security. That's why he's the Premiership's best manager!" And to think that I saw it as a defensive manoeuvre - Paolo Bandini, Guardian Unlimited. Sources: football.guardian, teamtalk.com