Man Utd vs Middlesbrough

PREVIEW: MANCHESTER UNITED V
MIDDLESBROUGH

How to follow the match: Wednesday's Capital One
Cup fourth-round tie at Old Trafford, which kicks off
at 20:00 GMT, will not be televised live in the UK.
You can follow the action in our live match blog or
via @ManUtd on Twitter, while MUTV's live
matchday programmes will be on air at 17:00 and
19:00 GMT, before the game is broadcast in full at
midnight.

Ticket information: Tickets are available for all
supporters to buy online via manutd.com/tickets or
by calling 0161 868 8000. All standard seats for
under 16s are priced at just £5 each.
Scene-setter : After draws against CSKA Moscow
and Manchester City in the Champions League and
Barclays Premier League respectively, it’s a third
different competition in a week for Manchester
United. The Reds are bidding to reach the last
eight of the League Cup and this will be a first
encounter with Championship high-fliers
Middlesbrough since they were relegated from the
top flight at the end of the 2008/09 season.

Form guide : United played out a hard-fought
goalless draw in the Manchester derby on Sunday
and are in miserly form at home, having only
conceded one goal in six domestic games at Old
Trafford so far this term. Boro, who lost to Norwich
City in last season’s Championship play-off final at
Wembley, came from a goal behind to win 3-1 at
Wolves at the weekend and are currently occupying
fourth place in the second-tier table.
Latest team news : Andreas Pereira could be in line
for another start after scoring in the last round
against Ipswich Town, but Antonio Valencia is a
doubt after being forced off with a foot injury near
the end of Sunday's derby match. The Reds are
without Luke Shaw and Paddy McNair but Ashley
Young and James Wilson are nearing a return. Boro
boss Aitor Karanka has hinted he may ring the
changes as he prioritises another promotion push,
with several of his men carrying knocks and four
other players being one booking away from a ban.

Trivia : Middlesbrough last won at Old Trafford in
2004, in the days of Juninho, Gaizka Mendieta and
Bolo Zenden. But they have more recent happy
memories of Manchester, having stunned City at
the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup in January,
winning 2-0. Their manager Karanka was a
defender in the Real Madrid team who beat United
in the 1999/2000 Champions League quarter-finals,
drawing 0-0 at the Bernabeu before winning 3-2 in
the second leg at Old Trafford.

Danger man : Stewart Downing is enjoying a new
lease of life at Boro, having returned from West
Ham in the summer for his second spell at the
Riverside Stadium. The former England winger, who
played in the Teessiders’ win at Old Trafford in
2004, netted a superb 20-yard free-kick in
Saturday’s win over Wolves but has since admitted
he is playing through the pain barrier after cracking
a rib.

View from the dressing room: “Middlesbrough are
playing in the Championship, but last season they
were really close to being promoted to the Premier
League and this year they're again up there. It's
going to be a good test for us in Old Trafford. I've
never won this tournament, I hope we can make it
this season.” - Juan Mata

Betting: Official betting partner Marathonbet is
offering 21/50 on a United win, with 32/5 on a Boro
victory and the draw priced at 9/2. Sign up with
Marathonbet via manutd.com/bet and check out
the latest odds.
Referee : The man in the middle on Wednesday will
be Lee Mason, whose last United game was the
1-1 away draw with Aston Villa in December. The
Lancashire official has issued 31 yellow cards and
one red in his nine matches so far this season.

Rivals watch : The other fourth-round ties, which all
take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, are:
Everton v Norwich City, Hull City v Leicester City,
Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal, Stoke City v
Chelsea, Liverpool v Bournemouth, Manchester City
v Crystal Palace, Southampton v Aston Villa.

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Man United VS Man City

MANCHESTER DERBY : UNITED V CITY

REPORT: UNITED 0 CITY 0
Scorers: None | 25 October 2015 | Old Trafford |
Attendance: 75,329
- Van Gaal: The way we played gives hope for the
future
- Smalling: We can take confidence from this game
- Boss confirms injury for Antonio Valencia




It was intense, physical and highly competitive but,
in the end, the 170th Manchester derby finished in
stalemate on Sunday as United and City frustrated
each other at Old Trafford, where substitute Jesse
Lingard almost stole the show when he hit the bar
late on.
This fixture has provided fans with goals galore in
recent history, as well as the odd moment of
greatness, but the latest meeting could not live up
to form. The result leaves City top of the Barclays
Premier League on goal difference ahead of
Arsenal, with United placed fourth behind West
Ham.
Juan Mata was brought back into the team for
Lingard and the Spaniard, playing on the right flank,
unsuccessfully appealed for an early penalty when
Fernandino almost handled the ball. City then
created a decent chance of their own through
Raheem Sterling, the ex-Liverpool man whose shot
was deflected wide of David De Gea’s goal to a
chorus of ironic cheers from the home fans.
Wayne Rooney temporarily left the action on 22
minutes with blood pouring from his head and the
birthday boy appeared to have the wound stapled
by the physio following a collision with Vincent
Kompany, the recalled City captain who clearly had
a point to prove to Manuel Pellegrini. It was just
one example of a highly physical first half, filled
with tough tackles and questionable challenges.
In truth, the opening 45 minutes did not feature
more than a handful of half-chances, with the best
falling to Yaya Toure when he headed wide from
Kevin De Bruyne’s corner. Despite a lack of clear-
cut openings, this was an absorbing first half that
still promised much for the second period.
HALF-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: United 58% City 42%
Shots: United 0 City 4
On target: United 0 City 0
Corners: United 1 City 3
United traditionally attack the Stretford End in the
second halves of matches but, on this occasion,
due to City winning the coin toss before kick-off,
the Reds were forced to head towards the East
Stand. Louis van Gaal’s men almost broke the
deadlock when Ander Herrera’s shot was deflected
wide on 49 minutes before Sterling survived
another penalty appeal following a clumsy
challenge on Herrera. Chris Smalling then nodded
agonisingly wide of the far post from the resulting
corner kick with Morgan Schneiderlin unable to
connect on the stretch.
There was much more urgency to United’s
attacking play in the second half and the Reds
pressed forward in numbers whenever possible,
mostly down the left wing through the pace of
Anthony Martial, although scoring opportunities
were still at a premium against a well-organised
City defence. The answer, van Gaal hoped, might
arrive from the substitutes' bench as Lingard and
Marouane Fellaini entered the fray in place of Mata
and Bastian Schweinsteiger as the clock ticked on
at Old Trafford.
Academy graduate Lingard, the only local lad
involved in this fixture, almost stole the show in
sublime fashion when he latched onto Martial’s
exquisitely lofted pass to clip an acrobatic shot
over the helpless Joe Hart and onto the crossbar,
much to the exasperation of the Reds supporters.
Smalling then brought a fine save out of the
England no.1 with a low shot that proved to be the
final opportunity of Sunday's stalemate.
FULL-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: United 59% City 41%
Shots: United 6 City 6
On target: United 1 City 1
Corners: United 6 City 4
THE TEAMS
United: De Gea, Valencia (Darmian 81'), Jones,
Smalling, Rojo, Schweinsteiger (Fellaini 74'),
Schneiderlin, Herrera, Mata (Lingard 66'), Rooney,
Martial.
Subs not used: Romero, Blind, Carrick, Memphis.
Booked: Mata, Schneiderlin
City: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov,
Fernando, Fernandinho, Toure (Demichelis 77'),
Sterling (Navas 55'), De Bruyne, Bony (Iheanacho
82').
Subs not used: Caballero, Zabaleta, Mangala,
Roberts.
Booked: Fernandinho, Kompany
MATCH REACTION
Louis van Gaal: "The fans have seen the way we
have played and it was a very controlled game
from Manchester United. They are also
disappointed, like me, because you have to win
against these kind of teams, also for the fans, but
the way we have played gives hope for the future."
Chris Smalling: "We probably edged it overall with
the chances we had in the second half. Towards
the end, you could tell that, for the last 20-30
minutes, they were hanging on and bringing on
defenders, so it was on us to really push forward
and we did. On another day, the chances we had
might have gone in."

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CSKA Moscow vs Man United

CSKA MOSCOW 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

Scorers: Doumbia 15; Martial 65 | 21 October 2015 | Arena Khimki | Attendance: 18,156

Manchester United came from a goal down in Russia to earn a vital point against CSKA Moscow after dominating proceedings at Arena Khimki.

It was an eventful night for Reds striker Anthony Martial who conceded a penalty at one end and netted a superb header at the other. Seydou Doumbia had put the Russian side ahead on 15 minutes, blasting home from close-range after Roman Eremenko’s spot-kick had been well saved by David De Gea. But Martial atoned for his handball not long after the hour-mark with a brilliantly directed header, in off the post, to help United claim an important point in Group B.

Louis van Gaal, perhaps with one eye on Sunday’s Manchester derby, made two changes to the team that eased past Everton at the weekend. Antonio Valencia, United’s match-winner against CSKA Moscow six years ago, came in at right-back to replace Matteo Darmian, while Jesse Lingard, who performed admirably in the second half on Merseyside, made his Champions League debut in place of Juan Mata. There was a familiar face in the opposition line-up with former Reds winger Zoran Tosic on the right flank for CSKA who came into the game unbeaten at home for six months.

With every team in Group B on three points you expected a tight opening to the match, played in near-freezing conditions, and that it was, although United had plenty of possession. It was therefore something of a surprise to see CSKA take the lead on 15 minutes, despite De Gea’s best efforts. Having initially saved Mario Fernandes’ shot, it turned out the referee had already blown up for a penalty after Fernandes’ flick was handled by Martial. Eremenko stepped up to take the spot-kick and despite De Gea pushing the ball onto the post, Doumbia was the fastest player to follow up as he swept home the rebound.

Things almost got worse for the Reds on half-hour mark when the pacey Ahmed Musa turned and took aim from 30 yards, but De Gea leapt high to tip the dipping shot over the bar.

More possession followed for the Reds before the break, but a 25-yard shot from Wayne Rooney, which dropped wide, was the only real effort of any note.

HALF-TIME STATISTICSPossession: CSKA 32% United 68%
Shots: CSKA 5 United 3
Shot on target: CSKA 3 United 1
Corners: CSKA 2 United 0

Marouane Fellaini entered the fray at the restart with Bastian Schweinsteiger making way. The pattern of the second half mirrored that of the first with plenty of possession for the Reds, but very little to show for it.

Rooney got a glimpse of goal on the hour when he met Ander Herrera's cross from the right with his head, but CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was on hand to claim.

The best opening of the match thus far arrived three minutes later when Herrera put Lingard through, but the youngster didn’t connect properly and could only steer the ball into the goalkeeper’s arms.

A United goal looked imminent and it duly arrived on 65 minutes. Valencia powered down the right and sent in a cross which was met by a fine header from Martial which rolled in off the post.

The Reds had a chance to win the match with four minutes left when substitute Memphis Depay’s curling cross was met by Martial, who pulled it back for Fellaini, but Akinfeev just managed to push the ball clear before the Belgian pounced.

That proved to be the last opportunity for United, who will now look forward to meeting CSKA again at Old Trafford on 3 November.

FULL-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: CSKA 28% United 72%
Shots: CSKA 7 United 7
Shots on target: CSKA 4 United 3
Corners: CSKA 3 United 1

THE TEAMS

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutski (Aleksei Berezutski 41), Schennikov, Wernbloom, Zoran Tosic, Dzagoev (Cauņa 87), Eremenko (Panchenko 83), Musa, Doumbia.
Subs not used: Chepchugov, Nababkin, Milanov, Golovin.

United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Rojo (Blind 64), Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger (Fellaini 46), Lingard (Memphis 79), Herrera, Martial, Rooney.
Subs not used: Romero, Darmian, Carrick, Mata.
Booked: Martial, Herrera, Fellaini

MANAGER AND PLAYER REACTION

"I don’t think we played too fast in ball possession, it was too slow in the first half. We improved that in the second half and scored a fantastic goal. We could have won but 'could have' doesn't count in football." - Louis van Gaal

"Martial didn’t let his head go down because that [conceding a penalty] can happen to anyone. Anthony scored a great goal and after that we pushed on but we could not score the second goal which was a shame.” - Morgan Schneiderlin

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Martial Wins Barclays Player Of Month

Martial named Barclays Player of the Month

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has been named the Barclays Player of the Month for September.

The French youngster's instant impact at Old Trafford following a deadline-day move from Monaco earned him a place on the top flight's shortlist and he then beat off competition from United colleague Daley Blind, Watford striker Odion Ighalo, Tottenham Hotspur keeper Hugo Lloris, West Ham United schemer Dimitri Payet and Leicester City attacker Jamie Vardy.
It is the first time a United player has earned the accolade since Robin van Persie back in April 2013. Wayne Rooney has won it five times, one behind the overall record-holder, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. Ashley Young is the only man to have won it three times in a calendar year (in 2008 with Aston Villa).
Martial was edged out for the club's own monthly award in one of the closest-ever fan polls on ManUtd.com -  Juan Mata pipped his team-mate by a mere two per cent. However, the French teenager also scooped the PFA Fans' Player of the Month prize for September.

Swansea City's Andre Ayew was the previous recipient of Barclays' monthly prize this season after scoring against United in August.

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Everton Vs Man United

0 - 3
FT
Morgan Schneiderlin
(18)
Ander Herrera (22)
Wayne Rooney (62)

Sat 17 Oct 2015, Goodison Park
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 39,553
#EVEMUN
Statistics
0
Goals
3
47%
Possession
53%
3
Shots on target
7
6
Shots off target
2
5
Corners
3
12
Fouls
14
2
Yellow Cards
2

Goals
Min Scorer Club
18 Morgan Schneiderlin MUN
22 Ander Herrera MUN
62 Wayne Rooney MUN

Bookings
Min Player Club
22 Seamus Coleman EVE
50 Bastian Schweinsteiger MUN
52 Marcos Rojo
70 Romelu Lukaku

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Arsenal VS Man United

Sunday 4 October 2015 | Emirates Stadium | Referee: Anthony Taylor | Attendance 60,084

• Alexis Sánchez (6, 19)
• Mesut Özil (7)

Arsenal

3 - 0

Man Utd

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arsenal turned in a devastating first-half performance to storm to a memorable 3-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Manchester United.
Goals by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in the space of 74 seconds gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead by the seventh minute at Emirates Stadium and Sanchez scored his sixth goal in three matches in the 19th minute.
Petr Cech returned for Arsenal following Arsene Wenger's decision to rest the goalkeeper for Tuesday's 3-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to Olympiacos, but the selection decisions made by his opposite number Louis van Gaal are now set to fall under the spotlight.
Van Gaal dropped Morgan Schneiderlin to accommodate Michael Carrick in midfield, but a United's soft centre was repeatedly exposed by a rampant Arsenal, while Matteo Darmian was substituted at half-time for a second time this season, having switched to right-back to accommodate Ashley Young in the other full-back position.
Aaron Ramsey might have ensured United conceded four first-half goals for the first time in BPL history before the early drama gave way to a more sedate second-half affair, in which United dominated possession but lacked penetration.
Arsenal leapfrog their opponents on goal difference to go second in the table, two points behind the league leaders Manchester City.
Wenger's men showed no sign of a hangover from their midweek defeat, pressing the visitors deep into their own half from the kick-off, and United crumbled under the pressure in just the sixth minute.
Ramsey slotted a nicely weighted pass down the right channel for Ozil to cut back from the byline and Sanchez beat David De Gea to the ball to net an impudent backheel at the near post.
The Chile forward had the audacity to repeat the trick a minute later, his instinctive flick releasing Theo Walcott to speed past Daley Blind and cross for Ozil to double the advantage with a first-time shot.
There was little evidence of United's heads having cleared when Arsenal delivered another telling blow.
Walcott picked out Sanchez 25 yards from goal on another sweeping attack and the South American waltzed past Darmian's challenge before sending a blistering strike into the top corner.
It could have been 4-0 when Sanchez lofted a cross to Ramsey at the back post but the unmarked Wales international sent his close-range volley over the bar.
Cech was a virtual spectator but he made a telling contribution a minute before half-time, saving with his left leg after Anthony Martial took advantage of Per Mertesacker's slip.
Van Gaal opted for a double change at the interval, with Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini replacing Darmian and Memphis Depay.
There was greater poise about the visitors after the resumption but Ozil fizzed an effort narrowly wide after his 52nd-minute free-kick came back off the wall.
Wayne Rooney, who displayed his frustration when booked for a foul on Ozil, was the next United player to extend Cech with a bouncing drive.
The ex-Chelsea goalkeeper then thwarted Bastian Schweinsteiger before Juan Mata looped a left-footed attempt over.
Arsenal substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain clipped the crossbar with a neat lob in stoppage time, attempting to add the result that ended Man Utd's run of three consecutive top-flight wins.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We did not give them any chances to score and that was vital. We surprised them with our start.
"From Petr Cech to Theo Walcott we only had superb performances. I have managed many strong teams and never had one that played 60 games at the same level.

"You have to accept that we are human beings."
Manchester United manager Luis van Gaal: "It was a very bad start, without aggression and the will to win. That is the first time I have seen that from my team. I did not expect that.
"We have won our last four matches - I gave the players a day off because they were tired. On Saturday the training was normal, I was very amazed to see that.
"All teams will have a dip."
 

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Man United Vs Wolfsburg

MATCH REPORT: UNITED 2
WOLFSBURG 1
Scorers: Caligiuri 4', Mata PEN 34' , Smalling 53' |
Champions League | OT attendance: 74,811
- Louis van Gaal pleased by victory over Wolfsburg
- Juan Mata voted Man of the Match for second
successive match
- Chris Smalling delighted with winning goal
- Morgan Schneiderlin says team spirit was key to
win
Manchester United returned to winning ways in the
Champions League on Wednesday as goals from
Juan Mata and Chris Smalling secured an
invaluable 2-1 comeback victory over Wolfsburg.
The Reds had lost the opening Group B match at
PSV Eindhoven earlier this month and, as a result,
needed a positive result on matchday two at Old
Trafford ahead of a potentially difficult trip to CSKA
Moscow, who bagged an impressive 3-2 triumph
over the Dutch champions elsewhere in Russia.
Although the importance of this match was
emphasised by Louis van Gaal ahead of kick-off,
United made a disappointing start and fell behind
to Daniel Caligiuri’s goal in the fourth minute after
the German-born Italian dribbled down the right
flank to exchange passes inside the penalty box
before finishing past David De Gea with aplomb,
much to the delight of the continuously vocal
travelling fans in the away end.
United responded well and Bastian Schweinsteiger
hit a speculative half-volley at an open goal just
moments later following a dodgy clearance from
goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, before Mata’s curling
effort was headed over by the physically imposing
former Bayern Munich defender Dante. Anthony
Martial then went close with a mazy run from the
right that led to the Frenchman firing just off
target.
The visiting Germans appeared to be content with
their early lead and understandably held a deep
defensive line for much of the first half, essentially
asking what United had got in attack. An answer
was almost given in the 25th minute when Martial
superbly got to the byline and found Wayne Rooney
with a driven pass across the area, though the
captain blazed his shot over the bar from around
six yards. Memphis was then frustrated as his
header from Mata’s superb pass was saved by the
goalkeeper.
The Spaniard was quickly celebrating, however,
after his cross was handled inside the area by
Caligiuri and United were rightfully awarded a
penalty in front of the East Stand, which our no.8
calmly stroked into the bottom corner to inspire
scenes of great relief and ecstasy at Old Trafford.
The mood was only dampened slightly by the sight
of yellows cards for Morgan Schneiderlin and
Schweinsteiger for separate fouls on Maximilian
Arnold, just before the half-time break.
FIRST-HALF STATISTICS
Possession: United 61% Wolfsburg 39%
Shots at goal: United 11 Wolfsburg 2
Shots on target: United 4 Wolfsburg 1
Corners: United 2 Wolfsburg 0
Van Gaal intervened during the interval by replacing
right-back Antonio Valencia with Ashley Young, who
had previously made a positive impact as a
substitute this season, and United swiftly took the
lead through an unlikely source when Smalling
latched onto Mata’s superb backheel to prod home
at the back post on 53 minutes, notching his 10th
career goal for the Reds in the process.
Andreas Pereira excelled on his first competitive
start against Ipswich Town a week earlier and the
young Brazilian entered the fray just after the hour
mark, taking the place of Memphis after the
Dutchman was perhaps unfairly booked for
apparently catching Christian Trasch with a flailing
arm.
Wolfsburg made their own changes on 70 minutes
by introducing Andre Schurrle and Nicolas
Bendtner, two players who are both familiar to
United fans as a result of their previous spells in
the Premier League with Chelsea and Arsenal. The
former almost scored with one of his first touches,
too, after dragging a low shot from the right flank
just wide of De Gea’s post.
Chances were ultimately few and far between in
the closing stages as United looked to consolidate
the advantage and a potentially crucial victory,
basically by dropping deeper and soaking up all
pressure that Wolfsburg tried to apply in the final
third. This led to a nervous finale at Old Trafford
and, in truth, the Germans looked like the team
more likely to score as the clock ticked towards
full-time.
Schneiderlin could and perhaps should have been
sent off for a second bookable offence following a
foul on Julian Draxler, which led to Ricardo
Rodriguez curling a powerful free-kick inches wide
on 85 minutes. That proved to be the final
opportunity and United held on to claim three
important Group B points.
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: United 53% Wolfsburg 47%
Shots at goal: United 15 Wolfsburg 7
Shots on target: United 6 Wolfsburg 2
Corner: United 3 Wolfsburg 2
THE TEAMS
United: De Gea, Valencia (Young 45'), Smalling,
Blind, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger (Jones
72'), Mata, Rooney, Memphis (Pereira 62'), Martial.
Subs not used: Romero, McNair, Fellaini, Wilson.
Booked: Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Memphis,
Young
Wolfsburg: Benaglio, Trasch (Jung 76'), Naldo,
Dante, Rodriguez, Guilavogui, Arnold (Schurrle 70'),
Caligiuri, Kruse, Draxler, Dost (Bendtner 70').
Subs not used: Grun, Schafer, Klose, Seguin.
Booked: Caligiuri
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Louis van Gaal: "It was a very good win, it was a
must-win and it was very difficult when you start
with one goal beind in the first four minutes, when
they scored a fantastic goal, I have to admit."

Chris Smalling: "It was a great feeling and, with
Juan, you never know what he’s going to do with
those tricks and flicks; he does them every day in
training. You just have to gamble.”

Morgan Schneiderlin: “It was very important, we
knew it was a must-win after the PSV Eindhoven
result and that is what we did. We’re happy with
the win."

MAN OF THE MATCH
Mata was voted United's star man for the second
match in a row, after scoring the opener from the
penalty spot before setting up Smalling's winner.
The Spaniard earned 63 per cent of fans' votes on
Twitter.

PLAYER TWEETS

Schweinsteiger: Important #UCL win! It is never
easy to come back after an early 0-1. Great
teamwork!
Martial: Good win tonight, thanks for your support.
Blind: Great result and team spirit! Amazing
atmosphere inside the stadium - thanks!
Smalling: What a feeling! @ChampionsLeague night
are special!
Mata: That was a special night... Atmosphere at
Old Trafford was something different. Well done
boys!
Jones: Love @ChampionsLeauge nights and they're
even better with a win! Next stop Arsenal!

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