December 4 – Ruel Foxes United
AS Sir Alex Ferguson prepares to start his latest touchline ban we thought it’s time to look at a long-standing officiating myth that hangs around Old Trafford like Wayne Rooney at your local old folks home. Is it true that referees never give penalties against Manchester United at Old Trafford? Well, today in 1993 Norwich’s Ruel Fox scored from the spot and it was to be last scored against United there for twelve years, so we’ll let you be the judge of that.
It was the early days of the Premiership and the high-flying Canaries were busy beating the likes of Bayern Munich and setting the pace in Rupert Murdoch’s new plaything. When Ruel Fox tucked the ball past Peter Schmeichel he secured a 2-2 draw as Norwich were trying to build on their success from the previous season when they finished in third place. The draw provided United with another point that as they sought to defend their first league title in 26 years.
Almost twelve years of tackles, dives, penalty shouts and refs bottling decisions under the duress of Roy Keane and friends came and went before Danny Murphy stepped up and blasted the winner from 12 yards in Liverpool’s 1-0 win in April 2004. In between Fox and Murphy four spot kicks were awarded, but John Sheridan, Juninho, Muzzy Izzet and David Dunn all felt the pressure of the Old Trafford crowd and went all Gareth Southgate on us.
United however, have never really had problems winning penalties in front of the Stretford End, but they don’t always end happily, as Martin Keown will be only too happy to tell you. See the most famous miss at Old Trafford since Beckham started dating Posh Spice below and there’s more officiating action tomorrow as we go way, way back in time for your daily dose of football history.
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April 24 - Murphy’s Peno and Other Stories | On This Football Day on April 24th, 2009
[...] Ruel Fox had scored a peno for Norwich City in December 1993, giving the Canaries a 2-2 draw, but no other player would do likewise until Murphy all those years later. [...]