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Man U aims for Leeds Bosnich begins to silence critics after Toyota Cup win
Posted: Thursday December 02, 1999 12:07 PM
LONDON (AP) -- Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich may have finally silenced his critics. The Australian international, given the daunting job of replacing Peter Schmeichel at Man United, was the hero of his team's 1-0 victory over Palmeiras in this week's Intercontinental Cup (Toyota Cup) in Tokyo, allowing the Reds to claim the title of the world's best club. United couldn't have done it without Bosnich, who made a string of acrobatic saves and key blocks to preserve the victory after Roy Keane's winning goal. Bosnich looked unsure in his early games this season, then suffered a hamstring injury and was eventually demoted to No. 3 behind Italian Massimo Taibi and Raimond Van Der Gouw. His kicking game is still suspect, but he has great hands and agility and is fearless in the face of attacking strikers. "Maybe some of the people who don't know me and said some of those things they did beforehand, well obviously they won't eat their words -- but maybe they will have a little think to themselves," Bosnich said. Bosnich's play has improved markedly in just a few months, which he credits to goalkeeping coach Tony Coton. He has also asked for time to prove himself. "It was my best performance for the club," he said. "Peter Schmeichel's reputation was made over eight years. This was just one match. I asked to be judged over a period of time." Manager Alex Ferguson, whose club is home to Everton on Saturday and plays at Valencia next week in the Champions League in a must-win game after losing to 2-0 to Fiorentina, will try to regain first place this weekend in the Premier League. Ferguson said Bosnich "solidified" his job with his game against Palmeiras. Bosnich, waxing poetic like former Man United midfielder Eric Cantona used to do, was already looking ahead. "I've said all along that one swallow does not make a summer, and there are still a lot of games to be played yet this season," he said. "We're not kidding anyone and we've got just as big a game next Wednesday against Valencia and also against Everton on Saturday. It's business as usual, and we will just roll on to the next game." In other Premier League games Saturday: Aston Villa vs. Newcastle; Bradford vs. Middlesbrough; Leicester vs. Arsenal; Southampton vs. Coventry; Sunderland vs. Chelsea; Wimbledon vs. Watford. On Sunday: Derby vs. Leeds; Liverpool vs. Sheffield Wednesday. On Monday: Tottenham vs. West Ham. Leeds tops the league with 35 points followed by Manchester United (33), Arsenal (32), Sunderland (31), Leicester (29) and Liverpool (27). Aston Villa manager John Gregory, whose side won its first match in seven by beating Southampton 4-0 Wednesday to reach the League Cup quarterfinals, knows he's still under pressure as only 17,608 fans showed up for the game. Villa chairman Doug Ellis has yet to back Gregory. "I have not said a word one way or the other. I just have confidence we will turn the corner," he said. Gregory also begins a 28-day ban from the dugout on Dec. 13 for verbally abusing officials. Newcastle striker Duncan Ferguson has ripped former manager Rudd Gullit for benching Alan Shearer, saying it was "crazy, just stupid." "To play anybody instead of Alan in any game is just silly," Ferguson said. "It just showed he had lost the plot." Midfielder Roy Keane's lawyer will meet next week with Manchester United officials trying to hammer out a new contract. Keane's contract expires after this season and he's free to start talks with other clubs beginning Jan. 1. Keane is reported to be asking for 50,000 pounds (US$80,000) a week with Juventus and Inter Milan set to join the bidding war. In England's first division on Saturday: No. 2 Huddersfield is home to Queens Park Rangers, No. 3 Charlton plays at Barnsley. On Sunday: No. 4 Ipswich is at Nottingham Forest. In Scotland on Saturday: Aberdeen vs. Motherwell, Celtic vs. Hibernian, Dundee vs. Kilmarnock, St. Johnstone vs. Rangers. On Sunday: Hearts vs. Dundee United. Defending champ Tottenham out of League CupFirst-dvision Fulham ousted defending champion Tottenham 3-1 on Wednesday from the League Cup on goals from Barry Hayles, Wayne Collins and Geoff Horsfield. Unlike many other Premier League teams that fielded below-strength teams in England's secondary cup competition, Tottenham was at full strength but still was out-played and out-worked by the fellow London club. Tottenham's only goal was from Steffen Iversen in the 43rd. Fulham will face either Leicester or Leeds in the quarterfinals. The win was only the fourth from Fulham in 50 tries against Tottenham. In the other League Cup fourth-round match, Aston Villa hammered Southampton 4-0 on two goals from Dion Dublin with Steve Watson and and Julian Joachim also scoring. The win was the first in seven matches for struggling Villa, which faces West Ham in the quarterfinals. In the Scottish League Cup quarterfinals, Andy Dow scored in the 27th minute of a 30-minute overtime as Aberdeen knocked Rangers from the cup 1-0. Rangers played a back-up team in Scotland's No. 2 cup competition. In two other matches, Celtic defeated Dundee 1-0 and Dundee United won over Motherwell 3-2.
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