Stuart Mathieson

September 06, 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson was swift to throw the United goalkeeping job back in the melting pot by axing David de Gea following his blunder against Fulham.

But Reds’ European Cup-winning goalkeeper Alex Stepney believes the Old Trafford boss was right to make the savage decision after just two matches.

Having ended last term cementing his position as first-choice and being the man in possession for the Premier League opener against Everton this season, it looked like 21-year-old De Gea had won the duel with Anders Lindegaard. But Stepney says the gloves are off again in the battle for the keeper’s job, with the Dane back in pole position after he was selected for Sunday’s win at Southampton.

“I wasn’t expecting it but by dropping De Gea because of his mistake against Fulham the manager has done exactly what he should have done,” Stepney told M.E.N. Sport.

“He did it last Christmas after David’s error against Blackburn. Losing at Old Trafford to a side who were in trouble and were eventually relegated ultimately proved very costly.

“Losing the title on goal difference shows how matches like that were so damaging. United cannot afford to let that happen again.

“David got away with it on the day against Fulham after he messed up for their second goal, but we had been coasting at 3-1 up to that point and then were hanging on because of it.

“You won’t be so fortunate all the time. So sometimes you have to make brutal decisions.

“It was the right thing to do.”

De Gea had produced some eye-catching shot-stopping against Everton and Fulham in the Reds’ opening two games, but he was undone in both matches by crosses.

Marouane Fellaini scored from a corner at Goodison and Fulham’s second from a cross saw De Gea fail to dominate his box and the confusion resulted in Nemanja Vidic inadvertently scoring an own goal.

“Yes, David did make some great saves in the first two matches, but most keepers’ shot-stopping is immaculate. They are all pretty good at it,” added Stepney.

“But it is the basics he has to take on board like controlling his area, making sure the defence know what he wants, and also catching the ball.

“Punching the ball is a continental thing that a lot of keepers seem to prefer these days. I don’t understand it because it does carry some risk. Your connection has to be perfect, otherwise it could go anywhere or not get any distance.

“It’s better to catch the ball and have it in your possession than punch it out and maybe immediately give it back to an opponent.

“I know they weren’t British but Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar were both good catchers of the ball. They only punched on occasions.

“There are not many left like them these days.

“As a keeper I always tried to catch the ball. That’s how we were taught.

“Your defenders need to know that if the ball has gone past them then you are dealing with it and it won’t be fisted back out past them again.

“If you catch all the time they won’t back on to you. They will give you the room to handle it. Then you get the space to deal with it.

“It’s not for me to teach David what to do but that’s what would have been done in my day and it is how I used to coach goalkeepers as well.”

Lindegaard looked to have edged ahead of his younger rival last Christmas after De Gea’s display against Blackburn.

The 28-year-old played in the next four matches before De Gea was given an outing at Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Then the Dane was forced out when he damaged ankle ligaments during training in January.

Ferguson thought Lindegaard looked ‘nervous’ in his first match of the season at St Mary’s against Southampton, but Stepney believes he should be given a shot at the role now.

“The two goals at Southampton were mistakes by our full-backs and Anders didn’t have a lot to do overall, so you can’t say he had a great game,” added Stepney.

“He didn’t suffer the same pressure David de Gea came under against Everton and Fulham, so we don’t know exactly how he’d deal with it.

“But he was the last man in possession and could be given a run now. It is up to him to prove he should have the gloves on a permanent basis.”