Sport 13-12-2001 Derby Thrashed As United Keep Hopes Alive who: Manchester United what: Get back to winning ways in 5-0 victory over Derby where: Old Trafford, MANCHESTER when: Last night snippet: "Even if Manchester United`s championship ambitions have been dealt a mortal wound, there will still be nights like these," says the Independent`s Tim Rich, "when their dominance appears total and you wonder how they could have lost one Premiership match, let alone six." Driven on by the outstanding Roy Keane, United proved that, in the words of their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, "even though we may reluctantly lose our championship, it won`t be without a fight". Ferguson had called for fighting spirit among his players in his programme notes, and was rewarded with a performance "that mixed passion and composure", notes an admiring Henry Winter in the Telegraph, "all spiced by well-taken goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer twice, Keane, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes." Derby manager Colin Todd could not hide his frustration at watching his side`s impressive recent record at Old Trafford so disdainfully wrecked. "I am bitterly disappointed with the way we succumbed to them," he said, quoted in the Independent. "They did not roll up their sleeves and when that happens you find their minds go and they stop doing the things you think they are good at." For his part Sir Alex refused to give up hope on a late title challenge: "It is only a start but we have to say that 5-0 at home is a fair result," he said. "We have to keep the momentum going. We could do with another 15 games like this. There is still a long way to go." [... more]

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