Fabio’s QPR held City to a goalless draw at Loftus Road which helped reestablish the seven-point advantage we have over the Blues. He played on the left of a back five as Harry Redknapp looked to contain City’s attacking threat of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero. Fabio’s natural instinct to bomb forward was curbed by Redknapp who did not want to allow City an opportunity to have one man over on the right where Pablo Zabaleta was getting joy.
Fabio’s positioning was good and he kept his concentration; following Zabaleta’s runs but for one instance where the Argentinian got in on the blind side. Thankfully, he didn’t capitalise. Fabio also scored his first goal for QPR but it came in a shock home defeat to MK Dons in the FA Cup fourth round.
The Brazilian helped restore some respectability to the scoreline as the west London side were 4-0 down at home before DJ Campbell got one back and then Fabio’s powerful shot deflected in as the game ended 4-2. Fabio did receive some criticism from his new boss after the poor showing and said he’d expected better from “a Man United player”. Still, he did get the reaction he wanted in Tuesday’s draw with second-placed City.
Leicester City have confirmed that Michael Keane has extended his loan spell until the end of the season.
Keane has impressed since joining the Foxes and has been keen to help the East Midlands club in their promotion bid.
City boss Nigel Pearson revealed recently that he hoped to retain the central defender’s services and an agreement has been reached with United on Wednesday.
Leicester are in second place in the Championship table and have only conceded two goals in the six games that Keane has played since initially arriving in November, with injury keeping him sidelined until the New Year.
Despite their league priorities, Leicester are also still involved in the FA Cup and, if Pearson’s side are successful in a home replay against Huddersfield, Keane should line up against Wigan in the fifth round of the competition.
“Michael Keane’s done great but the whole team is flying and it helps with Ritchie De Laet playing well, while Danny Drinkwater and Matty James are also impressing,” Reserves boss Warren Joyce told ManUtd.com.
“Even the lad Ben Marshall was at United at youth level as well. It helps having those guys around.”Michael Keane was also in FA Cup action as his solid defensive display aided Leicester City’s cause in a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town. The England Under-19 international was booked for a foul but picked out Ritchie De Laet with a fine pass in the build-up to Chris Wood’s equaliser.
If the Foxes win the home replay, they will face Wigan Athletic in the fifth round and Keane could come face-to-face with United team-mate Angelo Henriquez. The Chilean was given a taste of the other end of English football as he started in the tricky away tie at non-league Macclesfield Town, giantkillers of Cardiff City in the previous round. The teenager must have noticed the difference between Santiago and Macclesfield as the cold, bumpy surface made for an uncomfortable afternoon – and he was booked for failing to retreat at a free-kick late on – but he persevered for the full 90 minutes, helping the Latics to win 1-0 through Jordi Gomez’s early penalty. He was an unused substitute in Wigan’s comeback at the Britannia where Stoke led 2-0 before capitulating and allowing the Latics to equalise.
Kiko Macheda was watching from the stands as Bayern Munich took on his new side Stuttgart, with coach Bruno Labbadia not including the Italian in the matchday squad.
Luke McCullough was an unused substitute on Friday night after joining Cheltenham Town in time for the goalless home draw with Rochdale.
Bebe started in Rio Ave’s 1-1 draw at Maritimo but was substituted 13 minutes from time as his side seeked a late winner, and Luke Giverin, Davide Petrucci and Scott Wootton did not have a fixture.