Manchester United powered towards the Premier League crown after hammering West Ham 4-1 at Old Trafford, where Nani saw red for a headbutt.The Red Devils saw Chelsea move level on points with them after defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend.

But galvanised by their midweek victory over Barcelona which secured a Champions League final with Avram Grant's Blues in Moscow, United overwhelmed Alan Curbishley's Irons on Saturday with a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and further goals from former Upton Park heroes Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick.

Ronaldo got the ball rolling on three minutes with a stunning solo goal, and turned home his 40th goal in all competitions with his thigh on 24.

Tevez, so instrumental in keeping West Ham up last season, cracked home a 30-yard piledriver on 26 but two minutes later Dean Ashton converted an acrobatic overhead kick to make it 3-1.

Nani was dismissed for a headbutt on Lucas Neill which followed a 37th-minute tussle between the pair near the visitors' 18-yard box.

And Carrick made it a four-star display by the defending champions on 59 minutes when he surged forward and saw his 25-yard drive deflect past Robert Green off Neill's leg.

It could have been a high five for the hosts on 71 but sub Darren Fletcher's sidefooted shot smacked the upright after a flowing move.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be putting the champagne on ice, however, as Chelsea - now three points behind - face a tricky trip to in-form Newcastle on Monday, and United's final game is against Old Trafford legend Steve Bruce's Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

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