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Beckham dropped for Boavista clash

Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dropped David Beckham to the substitutes’ bench for tonight’s UEFA Champions League Group A clash with Boavista.

Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson has dropped David Beckham to the substitutes’ bench for tonight’s UEFA Champions League Group A clash with Boavista FC at Old Trafford stadium.

Press criticism
The England captain had been heavily criticised in the British press following United’s shock 3-0 domestic defeat at the hands of Chelsea FC at the weekend. Beckham’s absence from the starting lineup may be a surprise, but the fact that Wes Brown and Andy Cole are also missing is not. Cole misses out with an ankle injury while Brown was today facing an anxious wait for the results of a scan on his injured knee. Reports suggest the 22-year-old centre-half has suffered serious ligament damage in his left knee and could be ruled out for the rest of the season.

Three changes
As well as replacing Beckham with Nicky Butt, Ferguson makes an additional three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with European champions FC Bayern München two weeks ago. Dwight Yorke joins Ruud van Nistelrooij in attack, while Philip Neville and Mikaël Silvestre come in for Denis Irwin and Brown at the back.

Domestic despair
But while United continue to suffer in the FA Premiership, Boavista have not exactly been at their best domestically either, taking just one point from their last two games and conceding the leadership of the Portuguese league to FC Porto.

Three changes
Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco makes three changes from the side that beat FC Nantes Atlantique 1-0 a fortnight ago. Captain Erwin Sánchez's goal, midway through the first half, gave the Portuguese side the victory that put them top of Group A, and the Bolivian midfield player will lead his side out again tonight. But Neves de Sousa and Mario Loja are relegated to the bench in favour of Pedro Emanuel and Armando Gonçalves. Jorge Silva also returns to the starting lineup.

Pacheco unsure
It seems Pacheco is uncertain exactly what to expect from United. He said: “Manchester have a great team and they have some of the best players in the world. Just because they are having this blip, it doesn't mean they won't play well tomorrow. It’s difficult to say whether or not this is a good or bad time to be playing them."