Manchester United’s Own Goal Glory

They say you need a bit of luck to win the Premiership. Pure talent alone will take  you a long way but it won’t get you over the finish line. This season Manchester United have bagged a league best 42 goals… but they’ve not all been scored by players in red.

Not only can Sir Alex Ferguson call upon the rich attacking talents of Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Ryan Giggs and Nani, but on eight separate occasions this season Manchester United have thanked generous opposition for gifting them a helping hand in their challenge for honors.

Receiving a Premier League high 9 own goals so far this campaign, Manchester United who lie second in the Premiership, one point behind leaders Chelsea, have yet to lose a game when the opposition has scored an own goal. Even after Nani‘s first half red card at Villa Park, United rode out their luck on the back of James Collins‘ own goal to tie the match and gain a crucial point over rivals Chelsea who lost at Everton.

But James Collins isn’t alone. The Aston Villa defender joins an elite group of undercover Red Devils who’ve kept United‘s challenge for the title on course. Birmingham City‘s Scott Dann, Sunderland‘s Anton Ferdinand and Bolton‘s Zat Knight have all saved points for United at some point during the season.

If Manchester United finish top of the pile come May, Sir Alex Ferguson would do well to request a few more Premiership medals for his unsung heroes.