Video: the Michael Ball air shot

In case you missed the most comical goal of the season so far, here it is again. By now you should know what happened. Michael Ball, the Manchester City defender, attempted a clearance, was confused by one of the many balloons in his penalty area and instead kicked air, gifting Sheffield United a goal in their 2-1 win. The blue side of Manchester doubtless still feels deflated but it gave everybody else a welcome lift:

The gaffe committed by Radek Cerny in Tottenham Hotspur's defeat by Manchester United is also worth a replay. The Czech goalkeeper made such a poor attempt to stop Cristiano Ronaldo's tame shot it suggested he has caught the bug that has afflicted the error-prone Paul Robinson of late:

It was not the worst goalkeeping mistake seen at Old Trafford, though. That dubious privilege belongs to Massimo Taibi for this miserable effort at keeping out Matthew Le Tissier's shot in 1999: