De Gea is saved again - 7M sport

De Gea is saved again



I have a say

Posted Monday, August 15, 2011 by The Sun

De Gea is saved again
LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT ... David De Gea makes a mess of Shane Long's shot

DAVID DE GEA has been saved again - this time by a superb Ashley Young run which led to a West Brom own-goal.
But Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson defended his blunder keeper after a woeful attempt to stop Shane Long's equaliser.

Fergie, who paid Atletico Madrid £18m for De Gea, said: "Welcome to England. David should have done better with it.

"He took a battering in the second half and should have got more protection from the referee.

"He had to withstand that. It's good experience for him. The boy is 20 and he is a work in progress. You just have to give him a pat on the head."

De Gea's team-mates dug him out of a hole in the Community Shield last week, after he let in a long-ranger from Manchester City's Edin Dzeko.

This time, Young's low 81st-minute cross forced a Stephen Reid own-goal to win it for United following Long's soft 37th-minute leveller.

Ferguson also reminded fans that Red Devils legend Peter Schmeichel had a torrid start in this country, too.

Asked if De Gea was finding it tough to adjust, Ferguson added: "No. My recollection of goalkeepers coming from Europe is it takes time.

"Schmeichel was the same, I think it was at Wimbledon on a Wednesday night. They gave him a torrid time. Then, at home to Leeds, Peter lost a really bad goal. But he went on to be the best goalkeeper ever."

Wayne Rooney had given United a deserved lead on 13 minutes, after they had made a red-hot start.

But they needed a bit of luck to win it in the wake of Long's effort, which slipped under De Gea's outstretched hands.

Young was rewarded for a jinking run when his cross hit first Gabriel Tamas and then Reid before finding the net.

Baggies manager Roy Hodgson said: "I'm a bit frustrated. Before their second goal we looked good value for a point.

"After a blistering United start, we did very well."



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.