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Any visiting team to Old Trafford that leaves Ferguson in a volcanic temper can reflect on a job well done and such was the rage burning beneath those mottled cheeks, the intensity of his glare and the growl in his voice, that the United manager might as well have hung a neon sign round his neck: "Did you spill my pint?"Among the words he used to describe his team's failure to take a greater percentage of their chances were "terrible," "ridiculous," "unbelievable" and "embarrassing." Briefly he paused for breath. Then, with a shake of the head, he finished the diatribe with his obligatory complaint about refereeing standards and a wishy-washy argument that winning the FA Cup would represent a triumphant season.
He did not sound as if he really meant it. Ferguson could never have envisaged being 17 points adrift of Chelsea and his antennae will have picked up on the dissatisfaction of the home supporters and, in particular, the voluble dissent when Alan Smith was substituted and the mocking cheers when Kleberson followed.
Kleberson had wafted United's most glaring second-half opportunity into the Stretford End, prompting a former Old Trafford manager, Wilf McGuinness, to shout out in the press box: "Which part of Brazil is he from?"
Ferguson will also be acutely aware that, shortly after Robert Earnshaw's penalty and with the crowd at its most disaffected, Rio Ferdinand was booed when he took a cross-field pass from Paul Scholes. The fans are openly questioning Ferdinand's commitment and Ferguson is too, judging by the fact the defender has temporarily lost his status as vice-captain.
Ferguson was entitled to quibble over the penalty awarded against John O'Shea for grappling with Geoff Horsfield but he conveniently overlooked the fact that the referee should have pointed to the spot for a second time when Ryan Giggs hooked away Nwankwo Kanu's trailing leg 10 minutes from the end.
Such is their affection for Robson that many United followers will hope Kuszczak can maintain this form on Sunday. Yet Old Trafford also witnessed the worst taunting of the Munich air disaster from visiting fans since Leeds were relegated from the Premiership.
Some of Albion's knuckle-draggers clearly need a history lesson. For starters Duncan Edwards, one of the 21 people to die in Munich, was raised a few miles from The Hawthorns. They will have to accept it if many Mancunians wish relegation upon them on Sunday.'