Champions League: Stop drifting and start dominating

GROUP A

MAN UNITED 1

(Phil Jones 67)

SHAKHTAR DONETSK 0

It was not pretty, it was not assured, it was not entirely deserved, but it was, at least, a win for David Moyes.

After two consecutive defeats at home, Manchester United wobbled and swayed under assault from an exciting Shakhtar Donetsk side, but held their nerve, took their chance and came away with a crucial victory on Wednesday morning (Singapore time).

There have been too many false dawns away in Europe to consider the possibility that this may be a turning point at home, but at least it alleviates the pressure on Moyes.

It was a half-time hairdryer of the sort favoured by his predecessor that enabled the former Everton boss to coax a better second-half performance out of his team.

Moyes was furious at his players for their inability to keep possession and their sloppiness in both attack and defence.

He was not the only one. In the TV studios, former United captain Roy Keane raged at what he had seen, telling viewers that it was not good enough and that Rio Ferdinand looked "like he was making his debut". Neither man was over-reacting.

United were utterly wretched. The arguments of those who believe that Moyes has inherited a decaying team were strengthened by the sight of their midfield.

Phil Jones, bought as a centre back for the future, was paired with Ryan Giggs, very much a winger of the past.

They are Manchester United. They are a club whose only natural rivals on the planet are Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

And this is what they have to serve up in the Champions League? How has it been allowed to come to this?

Jones, for his part, grafted well and grew in strength as the game progressed.

Giggs offered touches of finesse and craft, but was unable to provide any help when dealing with the ferocious counter-attacks of the Ukrainian side.

United needed more. They needed help from out wide, but they got it from only one side. Adnan Januzaj, still only 18, was a bright and tricky presence.

Ashley Young, bought for nearly £20 million ($40m) from Aston Villa, was largely ineffectual. Young actually started reasonably well, darting in from the left flank to support attacks, but he soon hit the skids.

PROFLIGACY

An easy chance to either score or tee up Wayne Rooney ended with a lob that drifted wide. A one-on-one opportunity shortly afterwards was spurned with equal profligacy, the shot bent awkwardly wide.

He was withdrawn midway through the second half, unable to do anything to change the minds of the United supporters who were already tired of him.

Those United supporters had as much to do with the recovery as many of the players. Out in cyberspace, the "Moyes Out" bandwagon may be gaining momentum, but inside Old Trafford there was nothing but fervent support.

There are United fans who have seen far worse football than this in the past.

There are United fans who used to watch their team play in the second division.

They want no part of the hysteria of modern football and they could not be doing anything more to help their new manager.

But Moyes must act next month, preferably before the Christmas decorations have come down. It is understandable that he wanted to give the existing squad a chance to impress, but it is a chance that too many of them have spurned.

He must now draw on this club's vast resources and rebuild the team.

Moyes said afterwards that there was little difference between the performances against Everton and Newcastle and this win in the Champions League, only the rather crucial bit about scoring a goal and not conceding one.

That may be true, but it is still not good enough for this club. United should not be drifting, hoping that things go their way. They should be dominating.

A place in the Champions League knockout stages has been secured, and a place in the right end of the draw at that, but it is not enough.

Much more work lies ahead.

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