Wolves — a match United lost 1-0 — having agreed to start
his eight-month suspension three days later, he left behind
a team that had the joint best defensive record in the
Premiership, having conceded just 11 goals in the previous
17½ matches with him at the heart of the defence — on
average, a goal every 143 minutes. Since then, United have
played 1,030 minutes of football in all competitions and
conceded no fewer than 21 goals — on average, one every 49
minutes.
‘That disastrous run — admittedly compounded by injury and
suspension to Gary Neville — has ended United’s interest in
both the Premiership title and in the European Cup, from
which they were eliminated by FC Porto last week.’