[EPL] Birmingham 1-1 Man Utd

[rondwisan]

Birmingham City1 - Manchester United1, Player Rating
MEN, James Robson - Tuesday 28 December

Star man: Dimitar Berbatov

Edwin van der Sar - 7
In his last game before his position comes under threat from Anders Lindegaard, it was an easy night's work for the veteran until Bowyer's strike

Rio Ferdinand - 7
Strolled through proceedings as Birmingham stuck to a limited system of only Jerome up front - until Zigic's entrance changed everything

Rafael - 7
Much of Birmingham's best play came down United's right, which prevented Rafael from getting forward as often as he'd like - but looked solid at the back

Nemanja Vidic - 7
Left red-faced when caught out by Jerome in the first half. In the end he had to bring down the Birmingham forward - earning a yellow card when the crowd were baying for red. Other than that, solid

Patrice Evra - 7
Birmingham rarely looked like getting at the Frenchman - still he seldom took the opportunity get down the left

Anderson - 6
United's stand out performer in recent weeks, but in a congested midfield the Brazilian wasn't at his creative best

Michael Carrick - 6
Struggled as much as anyone to assert himself in a packed out midfield battle - but stuck doggedly to his task as a buffer in front of the back four

Ryan Giggs - 7
Might have scored with a first half cross that hit the post. Got stuck in the midfield drudgery in the first 45 minutes, but had more of an impact after the break

Darron Gibson - 7
Showed plenty of energy to ensure United weren't overrun by Birmingham's five-man midfield and it was his ball that set up Berbatov's opener

Wayne Rooney - 7
Went into the game without a goal in open play all season and never looked likely to change that stat. Earned more than one ear-bashing from Berbatov for some slack touches. How times have changed

Dimitar Berbatov - 8
The red hot Bulgarian is in the form of his life. Scored a brilliant and crucial goal and should have had another, but for the width of the post


Substitutes

Darren Fletcher - 6
(Anderson 73) Brought on to see out the win, but could do nothing as Birmingham shared the points

Javier Hernandez - 6
(Gibson 90) No dramatic entrance on this occasion