Ronaldo Suffers

It hasn’t been the best of weeks for Christiano Ronaldo. First there was the straight red card from referee Steve Bennett and the pain of a 3-1 defeat in the Manchester derby. Then a training ground bust-up with striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, followed by a visit to the manager’s office. And finally, news that Manchester United’s appeal against the dismissal had not been upheld, so the lad sometimes dubbed ‘The Portuguese Pony’ will serve an immediate 3 match suspension, starting with the F.A. Cup third round replay against Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion at Old Trafford, followed by two more home games – the key premiership clash with Liverpool and the Carling Cup semi-final against Mark Hughes’ Blackburn Rovers.