At half-time, Ferguson gave psychological counselling to the players, and he told the players with more than 40 years of professional experience that it is useless to complain when the referee is biased and the opponent is rough, and you must play more calmly and intelligently to win.

After the start of the second half, Manchester United reduced the passing and cutting cooperation in the midfield, and Gao Xiaodong was more of a transfer station in the middle, distributing the ball to the side, crossing from the side, and then going to the goal.

It was a simpler tactic, but it didn't work badly, with United opening the game with a succession of chances on goal.

In the second minute of the second half, Ryan Giggs crossed from the flank, Rooney grabbed the spot, but he barely managed to head the ball high over the crossbar under the interference of the opponent's defenders.

In the 55th minute, Hernandez crossed to the front of the penalty area on the side, Gao Xiaodong volleyed angrily against the defender, but unfortunately the ball hit the left post and bounced off the bottom line.

This is the second time Manchester United hit the post, although there was no goal, but Gao Xiaodong's kick beat Birmingham directly changed the style of play, did not dare to rush in the midfield, the lineup shrank slightly, to suppress Manchester United's attack from the side, and at the same time replaced the 2.02-meter-tall Serbian and Montenegro center Zhikic as a bridgehead, using the tactics of long pass rushing to play a quick counterattack.

Birmingham manager McClee's adjustment is very effective, especially when the referee favors the home team, Birmingham's simple and rough counterattack is a great threat to Manchester United, often after Manchester United's attack fails, Birmingham immediately kicks the front, finds his striker Zhikic, and then Zhikic headers back to form a wave of counterattacks.

Although Birmingham don't have a lot of troops to fight back in this kind of counter-attack, and the potential threat is not much, Manchester United have to go back to their own box from the opponent's penalty area, and the physical consumption is very high, so if you continue to play, there will be problems with fitness in the last 15 minutes.

In this situation, it is better for Manchester United to score first, and after scoring the goal, shrink the formation, and wait for Birmingham to attack, and then the initiative is in the hands of Manchester United.

After 65 minutes of the game, Ferguson took the initiative to change the formation, replacing Hernandez and replacing Berbatov to strengthen the forward line's ability to handle the ball and improve the quality of his shots.

Ferguson's substitutions worked very well, and after Berbatov came on the pitch, he used his skills and awareness to constantly make balls for Gao Xiaodong and Carrick in the midfield, giving full play to Manchester United's attacking power.

In the 68th minute of the game, Berbatov knocked on his heel in the middle, Gao Xiaodong knocked the ball horizontally after taking the ball, Beba stopped the ball with his left foot, and shot low with his right foot into the near corner from 15 meters.

Birmingham's former Manchester United goalkeeper Forster, despite his excellent form, was unable to do anything about such a shot, but Berbatov's effort was again denied by the post.

Counting this goalpost, Manchester United has hit three goalposts today, which made Manchester United fans who came to watch the game all hold their heads and sigh, scolding Birmingham for the unnatural performance of the goalpost.

After Berbatov hit the post, Manchester United players and fans alike had a bad feeling that in football matches, they were unable to score goals despite successive chances, and in this case, it was often the opponent who scored on a counter-attack.

The United had a good hunch, and in the 71st minute, Roger Johnson crossed diagonally from the right down the middle, substitute Zikic jumped up to head the ball, and Bowyer suddenly rushed into the box from outside the box and flew to shoot.

Gao Xiaodong had returned to the front of his penalty area when he attacked at Birmingham, and when Bowyer stepped forward, Gao Xiaodong was also chasing after him, and when Bowyer grabbed the shot, Gao Xiaodong ignored the direct kick to block Bowyer's shot.

Manchester United's luck was also back home, Bowyer's shot hit Gao Xiaodong's foot and deflected, and the ball flew in a direction into the corner of the goal.

The distance was too close, or the change of direction, goalkeeper Van der Sar had no time to react, and could only watch the ball fly into the goal.

1:0

The St Andrews Stadium was in full swing after the goal, with nearly 30,000 fans cheering and cheering in celebration of their unstoppable lead at Manchester United.

Sky Sports commentator Martin sighed: "Football is round, anything can happen, who would have thought that third-to-last Birmingham would be able to score Manchester United on their doorstep, with enough luck and hard work, Birmingham may be able to create even greater miracles." ”

Birmingham's owner Yang Ka-shing finally breathed a sigh of relief, he has been worried that Manchester United will score first, then Birmingham will be in danger, now Birmingham has scored, the initiative is in his hands, Yang Ka-shing believes that Maxcles will find a way to keep the win.

Seeing Birmingham score, Ferguson immediately made substitution adjustments, veteran Scholes came on the field, replaced Anderson in the midfield, increased midfield passes and ball handlers, and liberated Gao Xiaodong to attack.

Ferguson's substitution had an immediate effect, and five minutes later, United crossed from the wing, Paul Scholes leaked the ball, Gao Xiaodong wiped a volley, the ball flew lightning into the top right corner of the goal, goalkeeper Foster could not react, only to watch the ball into the net.

1:1

Gao Xiaodong made up for it and equalized for Manchester United.

In the VIP box, Yang Ka-shing's secretary said dissatisfiedly: "Boss, Gao Xiaodong really doesn't give you face at all." ”

Yang Ka-shing's face was calm and said: "This is Manchester United, and one point is also a good result." ”

The secretary said: "But if Gao Xiaodong doesn't score, we have hope to get three points." ”

Yang Jiacheng said coldly: "Melon Tian Lixia, if you are Gao Xiaodong, will you be merciful?"

The secretary stopped talking.

After Manchester United's equaliser, morale was high and they launched a fierce counterattack against Birmingham, at this point, Birmingham were clearly satisfied with the point, manager McClee gave the order to shrink the defence, and Birmingham began to retreat into the half, only to leave high school striker Zikic in front to press down Manchester United's defenders.

In the face of a dense defence, especially when the referee is biased and they do not have a strong central striker, it is very difficult to break down the Birmingham goal, and the United can only continue to threaten the Birmingham goal with long-range shots.

In the 85th minute of the game, Dahn deliberately blocked Gao Xiaodong's side breakthrough and received a yellow card. Wayne Rooney's quick free-kick was sent wide by Paul Scholes from the top of the box.

In the 88th minute, Gao Xiaodong fired at 30 meters, the ball hit the defender and popped up the bottom line, Manchester United got a corner kick opportunity, in the face of intensive defense, the set-piece was a good opportunity to break the goal, Vidic and Ferdinand came to the penalty area to fight for the top, Scholes passed the ball to the penalty spot, Vidic shook his head and was punched by Foster's double fist, Gao Xiaodong hit the door with a heavy kick on the periphery of the penalty area, and Foster held the ball out of the lintel with both hands.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Manchester United continued to send a corner kick, Scholes directly hit the ball to the periphery of the big penalty area to find Gao Xiaodong, the Birmingham players quickly came out to force, Gao Xiaodong took advantage of the situation to distribute the ball to the side to Giggs, and quickly inserted himself into the penalty area.

Ryan Giggs is cunning, and receiving the ball is a quick low flat ball cross, looking for Gao Xiaodong to insert this point.

Gao Xiaodong stepped forward very quickly, and no one in Birmingham could keep up, so he could only watch Gao Xiaodong rush to the penalty area to head the goal.

This is a chance to kill, such a close-range header, the goalkeeper has no time to react, but Gao Xiaodong pushed the ball to the post.

Gao Xiaodong watched the ball pop up on the bottom line, wanting to cry without tears, he really didn't plan to show mercy to his subordinates, but luck was biased in Birmingham's favor, and now it seems that his subordinates have shown mercy.

The header scared the Birminghames so much that their hearts almost jumped out of their chests, and then the whole of Birmingham shrank into the 30-metre area, and set up a bucket formation to hold on to the point.

Facing Birmingham's iron bucket formation, Manchester United could no longer create a chance to score, and could only draw with Birmingham City away from home.