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Two red cards in the last 5 minutes of the game apparently did not draw any immediate impact to either team in a contest slightly balanced between the spirited Redknapp led team and the winless defending champ at Fratton Park.

No doubt Muntari deserved his red card, especially considering he was lucky enough to only get it on the 83rd minute given his flying tackles all over the place since the very first minutes. I can’t see what Ronaldo did though from the replay although as SAF said, the referee Bennett would take delight in showing the door again for the Portuguese wizard as he he’s done exactly the same thing last year when we played our nemesis brother at home. I’ll leave the comment at that, but I do notice that games at Fratton Park is normally being let go in terms of high and tough tackle, where some of them would’ve earnt a straight yellow card in continental European match (namely the Champions’ League or definitely the Serie A).

As normally I’d do with post-game review, I don’t think reporting what happened in the game would make this blog interesting as everyone cares about Manchester United would’ve known better what happened during a game on a given minute.  So, rather, here’s my list of 11 musings on this game:

1. Given the tough nature of the game at Fratton Park (we lost 3 of the last 4 games there), why can’t SAF put in O’Shea in to slot in defensively after half time (especially with the changes that Portsmouth put in)?

2. Nani showed us what he can do with the balls, cutting in, and getting by defenders, which is awesome. BUT, I think Quieroz needs to discuss with him his shot selection, especially from outside the area, as well as his corner selection (when Vidic and Ferdinand throws themselves ready up there). His crossings needs a little more extra touch as well.

3. Character, and character. Has we lost our “habits’ of scoring late in the game? It seems to me once we get into 75th minute, and the scoreline is level, the panic is too obvious on the players’ movement. Come on lad, we’re the champs. We’ve got to start putting the habits of scoring late back!

4. Where’s Anderson?

5. It looks to me Eagles will start for Ronaldo for the next 3 matches, given his role late in the game at Fratton Park. Well, he’s an encouraging lad, given his ability to run up an down the flanks and his scoring ability.

6. I think O’Shea should play right flank rather than Brown. I meant Brown has great coverages, but from attack point of view, all the run at the right flanks went back to the middle of the park most of the times when it involves Brown.

7. David James made a lot of saves, but none of them are impressive. It was Man Utd’s lack of real shot at the goal (except Scholes’ beauty) that caused us to score more than once at Fratton Park. Remember how many goals we scored last year at this point of time?

8. I think we do need a center forward who’s tall and strong with headers. All of our plethora of corners ended in nothing. Brian McBride, anyone?

9. Where’s Hargreaves? I didn’t see any injury news of him, but he’s been out from these two openers!

10. The only encouraging statistics from these first 2 draws is we’ve got draws from our first 3 games during our Treble season!!!

11. We need to remember though that was like close to 10 years ago!! And things have changed somewhat somehow these days. Lads, come one!! GO RED DEVILS!!!

Corner-kick: Scholes has become the most prolific scorer for United in Premier League with his latest ‘thunderbolt’ earning him his 96th goal for United, taking over the man whom SAF once called the most profilic finisher that the club has ever had, van Nistelrooy.