CELEBRATE THE DAY

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Rooney legenda dalam pembikinan

ROONEY (kanan) meraikan jaringannya bersama rakan sepasukan, Antonio Valencia semalam.

LONDON - Bintang Manchester United, Wayne Rooney mula dilabel sebagai legenda dalam pembikinan di Old Trafford.

Rooney telah merekodkan 27 gol musim ini termasuk menyumbang dua gol ketika membantu United membenam West Ham United 3-0 pada aksi Liga Perdana England awal pagi semalam.

"Wayne sungguh cemerlang. Jika dia terus tampil cemerlang, dia akan menjadi pemain yang hebat dan dia perlu bersedia untuk berada dalam kelompok pemain legenda United.

"Ini adalah jawapan kepada kekosongan yang ditinggalkan oleh Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Dia adalah pemain dalam pembikinan untuk diletakkan sebaris dengan pemain hebat seperti Ronaldo, (Lionel) Messi dan Kaka," jelas Ferguson.

Selain dua gol sumbangan Rooney, Michael Owen turut meletakkan namanya selaku penjaring pada aksi di Old Trafford semalam.

"Ramai orang kagum dengan Wayne, kagum dengan cara dia beraksi. Sebab itulah dia sungguh popular. Peminat England dan United sentiasa melaungkan namanya.

"Dia seorang budak kampung yang berjaya dalam kariernya. Dia seorang yang cukup mengagumkan," jelas Owen.

Owen menambah, hajatnya untuk menyertai skuad kebangsaan England pada kempen Piala Dunia 2010 di Afrika Selatan, Jun depan juga sudah berakhir disebabkan prestasi menakjubkan Rooney. - Agensi

manchesterunited 2/25/2010 05:08:00 PM

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Anderson out for six months

United midfielder Anderson has been ruled out for six months with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The Brazilian was forced off in the first half against West Ham on Tuesday and will undergo an operation in Portugal in a fortnight, but Sir Alex Ferguson hopes the 21-year-old will be fit for the start of the 2010/11 campaign.

"The real bad news we have got is that Anderson has suffered a cruciate knee injury and he’ll be out for rest of the season," confirmed the boss on Thursday. "It’s unfortunate for the boy. It’s a bad blow.

"We’ve assessed the situation, we know he needs an operation. That will be done in two weeks’ time when the swelling has gone down. We’re going to let him go to Portugal to do it. Sometimes we send them to Colorado and to Dr Richard Steadman, but on this occasion he is comfortable with the specialist he has dealt with at Porto in the past. He will deal with it. We made these decisions yesterday once we had assessed the damage. But hopefully, six months, should have him about right for the new season."

The incident itself against West Ham seemed innocuous enough, Anderson stretching to reach the ball to make a pass. "With these types of injuries, it’s usually something simple. He stretched to pass the ball and his knee just popped," added the boss.

"It’s a bad bit of news for him. He was just getting back into the first team after being out for a few weeks. He was looking forward to it and he was showing great energy in the match.

"So that is a blow to us, particularly with the Milan game coming up, because Michael Carrick is suspended for that one."

manchesterunited 2/25/2010 12:34:00 PM

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Premier League - Fab: Ronaldo exit made Rooney

England boss Fabio Capello has pointed to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United to explain Wayne Rooney's explosive form this season.

Rooney's goals against West Ham this week, his 26th and 27th of the season, means he has only 15 fewer than Ronaldo's tally in the 2007-08 campaign when the Portugal winger established himself as one of the world's finest matchwinners.

"Wayne is an extraordinary player, he is talented and willing to learn," Capello said.

"Ferguson has taught him so much while I've only had to polish him. I have told him that he must make sure he plays inside the box and he must continue to score goals.

"The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United has given Rooney more responsibility and he is now integral to their plans."

Capello will be praying Rooney stays fit for the World Cup in South Africa this summer, when he will be looking to match the impact of the likes of Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kaka.

"He (Rooney) is a great player and a great professional," said Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz, who has worked with Rooney and Ronaldo together as United assistant boss.

Heading into the World Cup with Portugal, Queiroz is naturally hoping for Ronaldo will establish himself in South Africa as the best on the global stage.

"I hope Ronaldo is still playing and winning games as the best player in the world," Queiroz said. "If he can do that he can help Portugal a lot."

manchesterunited 2/24/2010 10:04:00 PM

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Vidic glad to be back

Nemanja Vidic wants to make up for lost time in his injury-disrupted season, just as Rio Ferdinand has been sidelined again.

Sir Alex Ferguson has not been able to name his first-choice central defenders in the same team together since the end of October but had been expecting to rectify that against West Ham on Tuesday night.

But, while Vidic put in what keeper Ben Foster claimed was a man-of-the-match performance for Manchester United in a 3-0 win that allowed them to close on title favourites Chelsea, Ferdinand did no better than board the team bus as his back injury struck again.

"It is nice to be back," said the Serbian, who was making his first appearance of 2010 after suffering a nerve problem in his leg.

"It's a long time since I last played and I didn't feel any reaction, so I am very happy. This year has been very frustrating. When I finished last season, I thought this one would be even better.

"But I missed pre-season, then had this injury and have been out for another two months recently. I hope it is all in the past now and I can look forward to the next few games."

manchesterunited 2/24/2010 03:01:00 PM

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Goal machine Rooney leads United to victory

Two Wayne Rooney headers led Manchester United to a 3-0 win over West Ham United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, taking the champions within a point of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.

Striker Rooney, who also scored two headers when his side beat AC Milan in the Champions League last week, took his tally for the season to 27 -- with 19 of those goals coming in his last 19 matches.

Substitute Michael Owen added the third in the 80th minute, two minutes after replacing goal machine Rooney who executed both headers with real power from crosses by Antonio Valencia after 38 and 55 minutes.

Manchester United are second with 60 points from 28 matches, one behind leaders Chelsea who have a game in hand.

The only blemish for United was revealed when manager Alex Ferguson said afterwards that defender Rio Ferdinand, who missed the game with a twinge in his back, was also out of Sunday's League Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley.

The centre back is also now a doubt for England's friendly against Egypt at the same stadium three days later.

"He felt a twinge in his back this morning... and we couldn't risk it," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "He won't be playing on Sunday."

GOOD ATTITUDE

Ferguson, though, was pleased with United's win which ended 13th-placed West Ham's recent revival. Gianfranco Zola's men had lost once in six matches but were always second best on Tuesday.

"It was a good attitude from the players, they were hungry for the victory and did very well. West Ham have been doing very well recently so it was a good result for us," Ferguson added.

He reshuffled his side after Saturday's 3-1 league defeat at Everton, making five changes including bringing back defender Nemanja Vidic and goalkeeper Ben Foster.

United gradually took control of the game and deservedly went ahead seven minutes before halftime with a brilliantly-executed goal, Valencia providing a cushioned volley cross for Rooney to score.

The hosts went close again 20 seconds into the second half when Park Ji-Sung smashed the ball against the bar.

Nine minutes later Rooney doubled the lead with another fine header and Owen made sure of victory when he opened his body and found the far corner of the net after a through pass from Paul Scholes.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez and Ken Ferris)

manchesterunited 2/24/2010 09:03:00 AM

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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Antonio Valencia Runs The Show As Wayne Rooney Grabs The Goals

Red-hot wingers have always been lauded by Manchester United and Antonio Valencia is bang on course to become the next wonderful wide man.

As has become par for the course at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney was on hand to claim the majority of the goals in the 3-0 win against West Ham United. Sir Alex Ferguson would have been thrilled though by the pivotal contribution from the player he entrusted to follow in Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps on the right flank.

Not even a freezing cold Manchester night could take the heat out of Valencia’s boots as he tore up and down the pitch. Two excellent crosses were the highlight of yet another great performance from the £17 million acquisition from Wigan Athletic.

The memories of the shocking performance against Everton were blown away by his quicksilver flashes. United old boy Jonathan Spector is no slouch, but he had no answer to his opponent who served up a striker’s dream.

The first of Rooney’s double came laid on a plate from the Ecuadorian’s right boot. Always looking to stretch past Spector, a deft move in to space preceded a delightful volleyed cross right on to the No.10’s forehead.

Even better was to follow. Strength, speed and skill are the weapons in Valencia’s armoury and all were on show as his intelligently played centre found Rooney all alone at the far post.

On your head | Rooney nods home his first

Ferguson set himself a sizeable task in the summer when he finally sanctioned Ronaldo’s record breaking move to Madrid. The Portuguese found the back of the net for fun and weighed in with his fair share of assists at the same time.

Rooney’s move up the scoring charts has been rightly lauded from all quarters and now has come the time for Valencia to receive his fair share of praise as well.

An unspectacular start to the season didn’t help his cause, but confidence is now oozing from his every pore. Even the debacle at Goodison Park featured yet another goal-creating cross from him.

Valencia is showing the signs of being a hybrid of his new club’s great names of the past. He possesses parts of the accuracy of David Beckham, some of Ronaldo’s strength and a dash of the dribbling genius bestowed upon George Best.

It is still far too early to put him in the class of these hallowed figures and he must add more strings to his bow. If he continues to develop at the current rate, United could boast another superstar to share the Theatre of Dreams with Rooney.

manchesterunited 2/23/2010 12:55:00 PM

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Saturday, February 20, 2010

Premier League - Resurgent Everton stun United

Everton dealt a hammer blow to Manchester United's title ambitions, inflicting the champions' sixth Premier League defeat of the season 3-1 at Goodison Park.

Two young Everton substitutes were the heroes, Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell both coming off the bench to see off United with second half goals after Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had cancelled out Dimitar Berbatov's opener before the break.

Everton have now beaten the top two in successive games, following their triumph over Chelsea in their last Premier League outing, and maximum points from their last two matches have done the world of good to their late charge for a Europa League spot.

For United, a sixth defeat meant they gave Chelsea the chance to go four points clear - duly taken by Carlo Ancelotti's men who beat Wolves 2-0, while Arsenal are just two points behind United after beating Sunderland by the same scoreline.

A tight opening soon gave way to an open and entertaining first half as both teams enjoyed spells of possession and fashioned chances to find the back of the net.

The first fell United's way on 12 minutes following a lovely passing move involving Antonio Valencia, Ji-sung Park, Berbatov and Wayne Rooney, who was returning once again to the club where he started his career. The England striker eventually laid the ball off to Darren Fletcher but the Scot blazed well over Tim Howard's bar.

Two minutes later Everton had a strong penalty appeal turned down as Rooney appeared to shove John Heitinga in the back as the Dutchman rose to meet a corner. Referee Howard Webb waved away the claims.

The incident seemed to spur the hosts on and moments later Louis Saha - who, along with Rooney and Phil Neville, was facing his former club - brought Edwin Van der Sar into action with a crisp strike from the edge of the box.

Everton were looking dangerous but United are a force to be reckoned with on the break and they proved it once again when they took the lead on 16 minutes.

Berbatov finished clinically in off the underside of the bar after putting Valencia's low cross under immediate control.

It would have been easy for Everton to wilt after the set back - so many teams do when faced with the champions - but David Moyes's side are made of stronger stuff. It took just three minutes for them to hit back and draw back on level terms.

And what a goal it was that restored parity, Bilyaletdinov beating Van der Sar at his near post with a terrific drive from the edge of the box following a bad error of judgement in the air from Jonny Evans.

Bilyaletdinov could have grabbed a second five minutes later when Saha outfoxed the United defence by stepping over Leighton Baines's cross into the box, but the Russian ballooned his effort way over the cross bar.

But the best chance of the half fell Landon Donovan's way on 36 minutes; again it was spurned, the American mistiming his swing at the ball from close range, allowing a grateful Van der Sar to collect. The opportunity came to Donovan after the ball cannoned of Wes Brown's arm, but again referee Webb dismissed Everton's claims for a penalty.

The opening second half was decidedly less energetic, although United looked the more likely to score after the restart - they had not, after all, dropped any points from winning positions this season.

Fletcher fired just wide of the post on 51 minutes before Berbatov put a header wide two minutes later.

But as the half wore on, Everton rose to the challenge and when Gosling made his entrance on 70 minutes, he soon found himself in the thick of the action, glancing a header wide of the far post with virtually his first touch.

It took little longer for Gosling to make his most telling contribution, the 20-year-old firing confidently past Van der Sar from Steven Pienaar's cross to give Everton the lead.

Unsurprisingly, United pushed for an equaliser and Rooney went close to getting one over his old club with a free-kick that was deflected inches wide of the post.

But Rodwell was to end any hope United had of getting something from the game with a superb individual effort in the 90th minute, just two minutes after his introduction as a substitution to eat up some valuable seconds.

The 18-year-old picked the ball up before gliding past Evans and slotting past Van der Sar to send the Goodison faithful into raptures and seal just Everton's fourth victory over United in 36 Premier League meetings.

manchesterunited 2/20/2010 04:58:00 PM

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Champions League - Rooney leads United to win

Two Wayne Rooney headers midway through the second half gave Manchester United a 3-2 win at Milan in a pulsating Champions League last 16 first leg.

Milan took an early lead through a deflected Ronaldinho volley only to see a fortunate Paul Scholes strike level matters before half-time.

Rooney finished both headers brilliantly for a 3-1 lead before substitute Clarence Seedorf, who had replaced starter David Beckham, flicked in at the near post to set up a late charge from the hosts.

Michael Carrick was sent off after picking up a second yellow card in injury-time.

The vociferous home fans were given an electric start by their side when Brazilian magician Ronaldinho's volley to the near post was covered by Edwin van der Sar but struck Carrick and spun in past the Dutchman's outstretched leg.

The chance had arrived following a Beckham free-kick from near halfway and the former England captain, facing his former side for the first time, was restricted to angled drives from deep throughout his 72 minutes on the field except for a few dangerous free-kicks which United struggled to clear.

After that third minute goal, United struggled to create anything in the final third whereas Milan were more incisive on the counter and Ronaldinho could have had a free-kick or even penalty as he was blocked off the ball by Rio Ferdinand.

With Jonny Evans and Ferdinand struggling to contain Milan, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar fired wide after spinning off a challenge and on to a Massimo Ambrosini pass. It looked like only one side would be capable of scoring on the night.

Indeed United had not scored in four visits to face Milan in the San Siro in Europe, but that was to change on 36 minutes when Scholes angled into the penalty area.

Darren Fletcher, played in by Park Ji-Sung on the right, found his run and the ball came off Scholes's supporting leg after he missed his volley with his right foot.

Ronaldinho tested Van der Sar with a dipping strike and he also went close 16 minutes into the second half with a curled effort which was just palmed past the far post.

Before that Andrea Pirlo's perfect strike from 35 yards out was also tipped away by Van der Sar while Alexandre Pato headed over from a Giuseppe Favalli cross when left unmarked near the penalty spot.

The stage was set for Rooney, who despite scoring eight goals in his seven previous appearances in all competitions, was yet to score in three Champions League games this season.

In the 66th minute he silenced the Rossoneri support with a measured header into the far corner from inside the six-yard box. The cross to the back post was inch-perfect from Antonio Valencia, who had replaced Nani on the right flank only a minute beforehand.

The England striker went close with a low drive a minute after Beckham was replaced - and just a minute after that, Rooney had his second and United's third.

Playing in his 50th Champions League match, the bear-like striker sprang the offside trap and nodded Fletcher's curled cross inside Dida's near post.

Another Valencia ball across the six-yard box, this one fizzed low to the ground, could have seen Rooney claim a hat-trick while the latter also saw a free-kick fly just wide.

With five minutes left to play Milan were awoken by a top-notch Seedorf strike. Ronaldinho wove his way down the left side of the penalty area and sent a low cross into the danger area where a clever flick beat Van der Sar at his near post.

Ronaldinho played a pass into the path of the evergreen substitute Filippo Inzaghi who struck first time just over while Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta got in each other's way when free to meet a corner.

United saw the victory out, but not before Carrick was given his marching orders for kicking the ball away following an Evra foul in the middle of the park. He had been booked earlier after catching Ronaldinho late with a sliding challenge.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side extended their unbeaten away run in Europe to a record 16 matches with the victory.

manchesterunited 2/17/2010 11:05:00 AM

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Monday, February 15, 2010

Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs believes David Beckham can continue playing for another "three or four" years.

The 34-year-old LA Galaxy star - currently on loan to Serie A giants Milan - is set to face his former club for the first time since leaving them in 2003, when Sir Alex Ferguson's men visit the San Siro on Tuesday for a clash in the first-leg of the Champions League knockout phase.

Despite Beckham being in the twilight of his career, the Welshman insists that his former team-mate can continue playing for a few more years at the highest level.

"We are different in the sense he has been in the limelight, front page and back, while I prefer to keep myself to myself," said Giggs, according to The Press Association.

"But I still speak to him. He has not changed as a person.

"He has always loved football. He has always been dedicated and that is still the same now.

"Like myself, Becks looks after himself.

"He is naturally fit and is a natural athlete, so I am not surprised he is still going at all.

"In fact I reckon he will keep going for another three or four years."

manchesterunited 2/15/2010 01:10:00 PM

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Premier League - United claim point at Villa

Aston Villa held 10-man Manchester United to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining Premier League clash at Villa Park.

Carlos Cuellar gave Villa the lead on 19 minutes before United found themselves the beneficiaries of yet another own-goal, this time by James Collins, just four minutes later.

Despite playing two-thirds of the game with 10 men following Nani's first-half sending off for a poor challenge on Stiliyan Petrov, United matched, and even bettered Villa for large periods and could easily have emerged from the Midlands with all three points.

As it was, United passed up the chance to overhaul Chelsea at the top of the table - the champions stay in second although the leaders' defeat to Everton mean the gap is now just a single point - while Villa remain in seventh.

But thanks to favorable results involving Liverpool and Tottenham, Martin O'Neil's side were still able to close the gap on their fellow contenders for the final Champions League spot.

Villa started the brighter, although out of the two keepers it was Brad Friedel who was first called into action, the American reacting quickly to Nani's heavily deflected free-kick to tip over the bar on eight minutes.

At the other end, the goalscoring threat of Cuellar was evident on 13 minutes, the Spaniard back-heading a set-piece inches over Edwin Van der Sar's bar. Six minutes later, another header from the right-back beat Van der Sar and the deadlock was broken.

It was an excellent piece of improvisation from Cuellar, who managed to direct his header up and over the back-peddling Dutch keeper after the ball had ricocheted at pace towards him about 12 yards out.

United responded well to going a goal down and within four minutes the champions were back on level terms thanks to, incredibly, the 10th own-goal they have benefitted from this season.

The unfortunate player was Villa centre-back Collins, who could do nothing as the ball pinged off him from Ryan Giggs's fiercely-struck volley back across the face of goal. It was the first time Villa's back line had been breached in four games.

Nani received his marching orders a further six minutes later and United could have had no complaints following his two-footed challenge on Petrov.

There was no malicious intent from the Portuguese winger, but his studs were up and with both feet off the ground - similar to the challenge which saw Liverpool's Sotirios Kyrgiakos sent off at the weekend - referee Peter Walton had little choice but to dismiss him. Nani, who has hit a rich vein of form of late, will now miss the Carling Cup final on February 28.

Again United responded well in the face of adversity and they could have taken the lead against the odds twice in quick succession soon after, when first Michael Carrick struck a sweet first-time hit that Friedel had to be at his best to keep out and then Darren Fletcher directed a near-post flick just over the bar.

Alex Ferguson decided to introduce Antonio Valencia at half-time, at the expense of Paul Scholes, and the substitute should have put United into the lead on 52 minutes, but instead of hitting Giggs's cross first-time with his left foot, he opted to take a touch before hitting it with his more trusty right. He still blazed over the bar and the chance went begging.

Still United pressed forward and, despite having a man less, the visitors enjoyed the better of possession in the early stages of the second half.

It took Villa 15 minutes to find their feet after the break but once they did the game opened up and began to ebb and flow nicely.

James Milner went close to a second for Villa after bursting into the United box from Gabriel Agbonlahor's lay-off, but the midfielder's finish did not match the neat approach play and Van der Sar was able to make the save, low down to his left.

Wayne Rooney, seeking to become the highest scoring Englishman since Alan Shearer netted 22 goals for Newcastle United in 2003-04, was his usual effervescent self although it took him until the 63rd minute to penetrate Villa's back line. When he did, bursting past Collins and into a shooting position, he could only fire high and wide.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Rooney then brought a fine save out of Friedel with a stinging shot from outside the box.

But it was not to be an unlikely victory for United, as Villa launched a late charge to nick a winner at the death, albeit without a great deal of penetration. John Carew had a penalty appeal turned down and with that went the hosts' chances of claiming all three points and completing a league double over United for the first time since the 1954-55 season.

manchesterunited 2/10/2010 02:56:00 PM

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Saturday, February 6, 2010

Premier League - United pile misery on Pompey

Manchester United roared back to the summit of the Premier League table with a 5-0 thumping of crisis club Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

It took 40 minutes for the champions to break the deadlock but once Wayne Rooney hit the back of the net with his 21st goal of the season, Pompey's resistance faltered and the floodgates opened.

In-form Nani forced an own-goal out of Anthony Vanden Borre on the stroke of half-time before Michael Carrick's shot took a hefty deflection off Richard Hughes to register a third 14 minutes after the restart.

Dimitar Berbatov added a fourth on 62 minutes before a third own-goal, this time a spectacular effort by the unfortunate Marc Wilson, completed the rout seven minutes later.

The result saw United rise above Chelsea into top spot, where they will stay at least until Sunday's big clash between the Blues and Arsenal.

Pompey, who this week were taken over for a fourth time in 12 months, remain rooted to the bottom of the pile, six points adrift of their nearest rivals.

As expected given the 18-place gap between the two sides going into the game, United were dominant from the outset, easily keeping possession of the ball and barely allowing Pompey out of their own half.

To some extent that was by Pompey's design, as boss Avram Grant opted to play with just Frederic Piquionne up front in the hope of catching the hosts on the break.

It is a situation seen often enough at Old Trafford - sometimes it works for the away team, but more often than not it fails.

This time it worked for a total of 40 minutes as Pompey stood firm in the face of a constant barrage of crosses into the box and United were frustrated in their attempts to find a way through.

Yet, despite their territorial advantage, the champions only managed to create two clear-cut goalscoring chances prior to breaking the deadlock, Jonny Evans floating a header wide on 12 minutes before Berbatov conspired to stab wide from close range 10 minutes before the interval.

Pompey even managed to carve out several chances of their own on the counter, Vanden Borre and Algeria international Nadir Belhadj both bringing early saves out of Edwin van der Sar before the World Cup-bound wide man saw a 34th minute effort hacked off the line by Evans.

That last scare prompted United into action and soon after Berbatov's glaring miss they took the lead through Rooney.

The England striker nodded home from close range following Darren Fletcher's excellent ball into the box, although the watching Ray Clemence, England's goalkeeping coach, will not have been impressed by David James's failure to deal with the cross.

At least Clemence will be able to report back to Fabio Capello that Rooney's robust form is showing no signs of ending. Only three times in Premier League history have United players scored more than Rooney in a season - Ruud van Nistelrooy, twice, and Cristiano Ronaldo. And it is still only February.

United soon doubled their advantage, Nani forcing an own-goal for the second time in a week after some devilish trickery on the left led to his cross taking a cruel deflection off Vanden Borre and beating the wrong-footed James at his near post.

Two-nil up and the writing appeared to be on the wall, but there was still time before the break for Pompey to head down the other end and claim a penalty when the ball appeared to hit Patrice Evra on the arm.

Referee Lee Mason turned down the appeals and with that went any hope Pompey may have harboured of getting back in the game as United came out for the second half and soon killed it off.

Berbatov signalled United's intentions with a delightful flick to put in Antonio Valencia 10 minutes after the restart - the Ecuadorian's effort was on this occasion well-saved by James - before Carrick's effort on goal took a big deflection off Hughes, looped over James and went in off the underside of the bar.

Three minutes later United got a fourth, Berbatov making up for his earlier profligacy with a low shot that beat James after Tal Ben Haim had given him far too much space to turn and pick his spot.

Pompey's misery was completed on 69 minutes when Wilson netted a third own-goal of the day, a spectacular volley into the roof of the net as he tried to clear his lines from a cross.

The moment summed up Pompey's day, and it would have got even worse had substitute Mame Biram Diouf not blazed over from close range in the 81st minute.

The bedraggled club have now won just once in their last eight Premier League matches - and just one of their last 25 away from home in the top division.

Meanwhile United, as is their tradition, appear to be hitting form just at the right time.

manchesterunited 2/06/2010 03:12:00 PM

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