Sport 04-12-2003 Man Utd Exit Carling Cup who: Manchester United what: Lose 2-0 to West Bromwich Albion in Carling Cup where: The Hawthorns, WEST BROMWICH when: Last night snippet: "Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes from the team he put out against Chelsea on Sunday," says The Guardian`s Richard Rae from The Hawthorns, where Manchester United took on West Bromwich Albion in the Carling Cup last night. But goal-scorers Bernt Haas and Scott Dobie saw to it that the team of United youngsters will not be playing in the quarter-finals. After just six minutes, "Neil Clement`s left-wing cross was diverted into the path of Haas who, from just inside the United box, sent a volley crashing into the corner of the net," says the BBC. After 24 minutes West Brom, who had scored just once in their last five home league games, won a penalty and Man Utd`s Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Roy Carroll saved it. But the Baggies sealed their victory about ten minutes into the second half when "Scott Dobie was introduced for Rob Hulse and with his first touch of the ball headed Neil Clement`s cross past Carroll". "Albion had further chances to increase their advantage," says The Independent`s Phil Shaw. "Carroll again excelled to block a close-range header by Danny Dichio, while Hulse, allowed a free shot, skied the ball on to the Smethwick End roof, which even Jonny Wilkinson might find difficult to do." West Brom will play Arsenal in the quarter-finals the week after next. Meanwhile, The Mirror says that Manchester United chief executive David Gill has earned the ire of FIFA`s president Sepp Blatter in a war of words over the England defender Rio Ferdinand. Blatter has "threatened to strip United of the Premiership and Champions League points they have earned with Ferdinand in the side since his missed drugs test on September 23," says Martin Lipton. "Gill told Blatter it was none of his business and his comments were `incomprehensible`." [... more]

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