The Sun, really, was it worth the FULL FRONT PAGE

It doesn't take a lot for a newspaper to splash the latest antics of a Premier League footballer across the front page whether its Rio Ferdinands legal fees or the allegations surrounding Titus Bramble. Today however shows it must have been a very slow news day for the editor of The Sun to see fit a whole front page story of David De Gea eating a donuts and not paying for it as a worthy lead story on the front page of his newspaper.


When you see the headline "United Goalie Caught Nicking £1.19 Tesco Doughnut" you vision someone looking around for security and putting a doughnut in his pocket and running off with the swag but what actually happened was David De Gea ate a doughnut in store and left without paying for it.


On my trips to the shops I have seen people unwrapping food and drink plenty of times then leaving the wrapper on the shelf. I'm not saying its right but I don't see these stories splashed across the front page but because De Gea is a Premier League footballer its suddenly an exclusive. With everything going on in the world with recession, unemployment and even the Labour conference surely the talented journo's at The Sun could've had a better exclusive than this. I bet Steve Hawkes and Chris Pollard couldn't believe it when they saw this "story" had made the front page.

Basle brush United aside, United grab draw from the hands of defeat Manchester United 3 (Welbeck 16,17, Young 90) Basle 3 (F.Frei 58, A.Frei 60pen, 76)

Ashley Young scored a late equaliser to rescue a point for Manchester United after Basel threatened a major shock at Old Trafford.

Danny Welbeck's double put United in control at half-time before the Swiss side stunned their hosts with a spectacular spell of three goals in 16 minutes after the break to leave Sir Alex Ferguson's side on the brink of their first home defeat in 17 months.

United's defending was shambolic throughout and Basel looked to have inflicted a serious blow on their Champions League campaign as Fabian Frei pulled one back before Alexander Frei headed the Swiss level, then gave them the lead with a penalty 14 minutes from time.

The shock to the system woke United from the slumbers - but it was only Young's last-minute header from Nani's cross that spared them only their third loss in 54 Champions League games at Old Trafford in the last decade.

Ferguson may clutch at the consolation of salvaging a draw but there was little else to satisfy United or their manager as they were run ragged by Basel's lively attackers.

Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones suffered a torrid time in central defence as Basel striker Marco Streller terrorised the labouring England veteran and his young partner, who was given a rude awakening after winning plaudits for his performances in the Premier League.

Welbeck was selected ahead of Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov and he was one of the few United players to emerge with any credit on a night when a draw was arguably an exaggerated reward for dreadful performance.

While United were grateful to accept the opportunities offered by Basel's defence, they were fortunate not to be punished themselves as the Swiss created chances of their own from the start.

The first came after only four minutes when Streller played in Fabian Frei but he seemed to panic under pressure from Ferdinand and lashed his finish high and wide into the Stretford End.

It set the pattern for a slipshod performance at the back - but Welbeck's finishing provided relief as he scored twice inside 90 seconds to ensure they had a flattering two-goal lead at the interval.

Welbeck's first came after 16 minutes when he beat Basel keeper Yann Sommer with a scuffed finish after he was set up by Fabio and Ryan Giggs - and Giggs was involved again as Welbeck swiftly added his second, this time with a far more convincing strike from the veteran's cross.

Far from being discouraged, Basel continued to fashion opportunities only to let United off the hook. Alexander Frei was the culprit after being set up again by the dangerous Streller and Jacques Zoua shot tamely into the side netting from an angle with United exposed again.

If United thought they had escaped and half-time would interrupt Basel's momentum, they were given a rude awakening as the Swiss were level within 15 minutes of the restart.

Goalkeeper David De Gea, who had been blameless amid the mess of United's performance, blocked crucially from Streller - but the reprieve was brief as Basel's superb comeback started after 58 minutes.

De Gea made another fine stop from Streller's header but the rebound fell invitingly for Fabian Frei to score.

And two minutes later Basel were on terms as Fabian Frei delivered a perfect cross for his namesake Alexander to beat the keeper with a powerful header.

Ferguson's side had lacked rhythm and tempo even when they were ahead and now they were badly unsettled by Basel's continued ambition and ability to create chances with regularity.

And with Old Trafford silenced they took the lead from the penalty spot after 76 minutes. Jones hesitated with dire consequences, forcing Antonio Valencia to fell Streller. Alexander Frei stepped forward to send Basel's travelling fans into ecstasy by giving De Gea no chance.

Dimitar Berbatov was introduced for Anderson with nine minutes left, but it was another substitute Nani who played a part in a trademark Old Trafford grandstand finish that saw Young arrive at the far post to head past Sommer.

Uniteds first dropped points at the BrittaniaStoke City 1 (Crouch 52) Manchester United 1 (Nani 27)

Manchester United relinquished their 100% Premier League record after an absorbing contest at Stoke.

United opened the scoring through Nani, who exchanged passes with Darren Fletcher, before finishing beyond Asmir Begovic with aplomb.

David De Gea pulled off a couple of outstanding saves to keep United ahead but Stoke levelled in the 52nd minute through Peter Crouch's emphatic header.

Ryan Giggs squandered a great late chance as the points were shared.

United remain ahead of Manchester City by virtue of superior goal difference - but this is a game Sir Alex Ferguson's side could easily have lost.

Wave after wave of pulsating attacks had both sides hanging on in an end-to-end second half.

A late United winner would have been harsh on Stoke who acquitted themselves well against a United side that have swept all before them this season.

But the miss will disappoint Giggs, who sliced his side-foot volley wide after Nani's floated cross had picked him out.

United were without Wayne Rooney due to a hamstring injury, and then lost Jonny Evans in the warm-up, meaning Antonio Valencia was drafted in to play at right-back.

A feisty start at the Britannia Stadium resulted in an early blow for Javier Hernandez, scorer of three goals in his previous two games against Stoke, who was forced off with an injury.

The incident also should have resulted in United being awarded a penalty after Hernandez, who was clean through on goal, was nudged in the back by Jonathan Woodgate, sending him clattering into Begovic.

Having suffered a head injury on United's summer tour of the United States and a knock to his shin against Chelsea last week, Hernandez is now back on the treatment table with a dead leg.

Tackles were flying in from all angles and referee Peter Walton showed Glenn Whelan a yellow card for a reckless lunge on Patrice Evra - with Ferguson barking for further punishment.

But a patched up United scored with their first clear-cut chance in the 27th minute.

A one-two with Fletcher allowed Nani to shift the ball onto his left foot before caressing his shot beyond Begovic.

Within a minute of Nani's goal United had David de Gea to thank for preserving their lead, with the Spaniard making a stunning reflex save from Andy Wilkinson's rasping drive, tipping the ball on to the bar.

Stoke continued to dictate in the minutes before half-time but another outstanding stop from the £18m goalkeeper denied Walters, getting down low to make a fingertip save to his right.

The cut and thrust of the first half dissolved as Stoke pinned United back during the opening minutes of the match and made their pressure pay in the 51st minute.

Matthew Etherington whipped in an unplayable corner from the right, Crouch darted between Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand and leapt high to head in.

Two minutes later United's flaky defence was exposed by Jermaine Pennant, whose flighted cross found Crouch unmarked six yards out, with De Gea making a crucial save with his right elbow.

United were rocking and a Mark Wilson piledriver in the 68th minute stung the palms of De Gea.

A breathless second half saw the pendulum swing one way then the other before United were claiming handball against Ryan Shawcross, who appeared to block Evra's shot with the back of his upper arm - but the appeals proved in vain.

Crouch could have clinched the winner when he chested down Pennant's cross from the right, but dragged his shot wide.

Giggs' late miss left him staring to the heavens in despair as United surrendered what was the last remaining 100% record in England.

AVB beaten by 1-2-3Manchester United 3 (Smalling 8, Nani 37, Rooney 45) Chelsea 1 (Torres 46)

Manchester United went two points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Chelsea in a highly eventful encounter at Old Trafford.

The scoreline barely starts to tell the story of a game that was a mixture of madcap moments, missed opportunities and high quality that ended with Sir Alex Ferguson's champions maintaining their 100% league record.

United were three up at half-time with goals from Chris Smalling, Nani and Wayne Rooney as Chelsea contributed to their own downfall courtesy of poor defending and a dismal failure to take the chances that came their way.

Fernando Torres, lively throughout, scored his first goal of the season with a fine finish just after half-time but his improved performance will be scarred by his astonishing late miss at the Stretford End when he shot wide of an open goal after skipping around United goalkeeper David de Gea.

It spared some embarrassment for Rooney, who earlier missed a penalty in farcical circumstances when he slipped haplessly as he ran up to take his kick.

Rooney's misfortune did not prove costly though as United took advantage of another slip-up which came 200 miles away, when neighbours Manchester City blew a two-goal lead at Fulham.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas suffered his first defeat since his arrival at Stamford Bridge - and his first league loss since his Academica side went down 3-2 at home to Benfica in Portugal in April 2010. He may take some comfort from the fact Chelsea held their own for long periods but were ultimately let down by moments of weakness at both ends.

United have been devastating when offered opportunities this season. And so it proved when poor marking from Ashley Young's free-kick left Smalling unattended to head powerfully past Petr Cech, although the visitors felt he was offside.

Chelsea were not discouraged by the early setback though and wasted two chances to equalise before the game was taken out of their reach in the closing stages of the first half.

Torres scuffed an angled finish after Anderson carelessly conceded possession and another culprit was Ramires, who was guilty of an awful miss in the 25th minute. The impressive Juan Mata played in Torres, who unselfishly squared the ball for Ramires in front of an open goal, but his weak finish allowed De Gea to make a scrambling save.

Chelsea paid a huge price for Ramires' generosity as United struck twice before half-time to put themselves firmly in control.

Nani scored the second with a spectacular rising drive from the edge of the area nine minutes before the interval and Rooney, inevitably, was the man on the spot as United increased their lead in the closing seconds of the half. John Terry's clearance struck Nani and rolled invitingly into Rooney's path for the simplest of finishes.

It prompted Villas-Boas into making a change with Nicolas Anelka coming on to replace Frank Lampard - a switch that had an instant impact as the Frenchman played in Torres within a minute of the restart for the sort of finish that was his trademark at the height of his powers.

Chelsea suddenly had hope but it looked to have been snatched away when United were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute. Nani struck the bar after cutting inside and was then hauled down by Bosingwa as he chased the rebound.

Rooney exchanged smiles with England colleague Terry as he waited to run up but Chelsea's captain had the last laugh as the striker slipped as he took the kick and missed the target.

Torres was showing real signs of sharpness, meanwhile, as he brought another save from De Gea, but Rooney was also in the mood and rolled an effort against the foot of the post with Cech beaten.

Javier Hernandez's attempts to turn in the rebound were foiled by Ashley Cole's reckless late tackle - which left the England defender fortunate to receive only a yellow card from referee Phil Dowd and United puzzled that they were not awarded a second penalty.

There was no excuse for Torres, however, when he somehow failed to score his second with seven minutes left. He sidestepped De Gea with ease and composure at the Stretford End then, with an open goal at his mercy, missed the target hopelessly as the taunts for the former Liverpool striker rang around Old Trafford.

The action continued right until the final whistle as Cole cleared off the line from United substitute Dimitar Berbatov after he was set up by Rooney.

United open Champions League campaign with a drawBenfica 1 (Cardozo 24) Manchester United 1 (Giggs 42)

Ryan Giggs' solo effort earned a point for Manchester United in a difficult Champions League opener against Benfica in Lisbon.

Nicolas Gaitan's delightful long pass picked out Oscar Cardozo in the 24th minute, and he controlled on his chest then finished from 16 yards.

But three minutes before half-time Giggs cut inside from the right and fired a 20-yard strike to equalise.

United keeper Anders Lindegaard saved from Nolito and Gaitan late on.

Lindegaard read the game well and made some impressive stops. The Dane's only previous matches for United had been against Southampton and Crawley last season, but he looked at home in the Champions League.

The goalkeeper's performance will put more pressure on David de Gea, but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that the Spaniard will start against Chelsea on Sunday.

United's overall display was unconvincing. With Chelsea their next opponents, Ferguson chose to make eight changes and it showed, particularly during a disappointing first-half effort.

Giggs, who had struggled, ensured that they were level at the break with his moment of inspiration and the visitors did improve after the interval. The Welshman's goal meant he extended his record as the oldest goalscorer in the Champions League to 37 years and 289 days.

United had started reasonably well with Antonio Valencia shooting wide with a 16-yard attempt from a tight angle, but Benfica then began to take control. The impressive Gaitan drove their first chance over, then he fired wide at the end of a sweeping passing move.

Lindegaard made his first save of the night when he kept out a 20-yard strike by Cardozo, but he could not prevent the same player's next shot from going in four minutes later. The striker finished well following Gaitan's delivery to notch his fifth Champions League goal of the season.

Wayne Rooney was then booked for challenging home goalkeeper Artur after the whistle had gone, although the fouled player appeared to overreact.

Benfica carried on dominating, though Pablo Aimar was walking a disciplinary tightrope with a series of niggly challenges.

Against the run of play Giggs made it 1-1 shortly before the interval with his eye-catching run and hit. That laid the platform for a better start by United in the second half as they began to keep possession better.

The two sides exchanged chances as Aimar came close with a 30-yard strike after escaping Michael Carrick, before Giggs had a shot from just inside the box deflected wide by Artur's shin.

Nolito then forced Lindegaard into another save and Emerson shot wide with a close-range effort.

United's goalkeeper saved his team again when he tipped over a Gaitan effort. Benfica then blew their last chance of taking the points when Nolito failed to hit the target from six yards after another neat move.

United just can't stop scoringBolton Wanderers 0 Manchester United 5 (Hernandez 5, 58, Rooney 20, 25, 68)

Wayne Rooney hit a hat-trick and Javier Hernandez scored twice as a rampant Manchester United outclassed Bolton to go top of the Premier League.

The champions took an early lead when Hernandez pounced at the near post.

Rooney converted Phil Jones' cross to make it two, then the England striker profited from another of the defender's runs to add a third.

Hernandez swept in a fourth before Rooney drilled in his third - but Tom Cleverley may have broken his foot.

Crumpling under a heavy challenge from Kevin Davies, the midfielder was replaced midway through the first half.

But it was the only blemish for Sir Alex Ferguson's side after another impeccable performance brought up their 200th away win in the Premier League - the first club to achieve the milestone.

United's last trip to the Reebok Stadium ended in a 2-2 draw almost a year ago, when they had to rely on a late Michael Owen header to salvage a point.

But this encounter was very different as Hernandez, making his first start of the season, gave United the perfect opening.

Showing the superb movement he is renowned for, the Mexico striker lost Gary Cahill with a darting run to the near post to steer in Nani's tantalising low cross from the right.

The goal came while United were temporarily down to 10 men following the injury to Cleverley.

Bolton looked to hit back immediately, but former United midfielder Chris Eagles saw his shot cleared off the line by Rooney.

Despite the high-profile errors United's new goalkeeper David De Gea has made this season, he went some way to silencing his doubters with an impressive flying save from Ivan Klasnic's long-range effort. And the stop ignited United, who made it 2-0 just 74 seconds later.

United's verve and invention overwhelmed Bolton and Rooney doubled United's lead in the 20th minute.

Catching the home side napping, Jones whipped in a devilish cross from the right to Rooney, who found himself between Cahill and Dedryck Boyata before prodding in from close range.

Rooney poured further misery on the home side, making it 3-0 in the 24th minute with a goal engineered by Jones, whose stature is growing with every game.

Exploiting a gaping hole in the home side's defence, Jones' twinkle-toed run took him into the penalty area, before he squared the ball to Rooney to find the back of the net with the easiest of finishes.

With manager Owen Coyle barking instructions from the touchline, Bolton limited United to three in the first half but, while Klasnic and Martin Petrov linked well at times, the home side were painfully short of creativity.

It was only a matter of time before United added to their lead and, two minutes before the hour mark, Hernandez made it 4-0.

Substitute Michael Carrick found the Mexican lurking at the far post and, with the Bolton defence at sea, his low effort had Jussi Jaaskelainen well beaten.

Nigel Reo-Coker struck the crossbar as Bolton desperately looked for a route back into the game but, minutes later, Rooney put the gloss on the win with United's fifth - and his third.

Collecting Nani's cut-back from the right the England striker nonchalantly struck his hat-trick goal from the edge of the box to give him his seventh career treble.

Rooney also becomes the fourth player to score back-to-back Premier League hat-tricks after Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright and Didier Drogba.

Sequels rarely match the original and United's short trip to the Reebok was always likely to pale in comparison to their famous 8-2 mauling of Arsenal a fortnight ago - but United remain the team to beat after another scintillating display.