Premier League - United return to summit

Eurosport - Thu, 23 Apr 09:22:00 2009

Goals from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory against Portsmouth at Old Trafford and returned the champions to the top of the Premier League.

Michael Carrick scores for Manchester United against Portsmouth in the Premier League, April 2009 - 0

Rooney steered home Ryan Giggs's left-wing cross on nine minutes to finish a flowing move and put United ahead.

The home side spurned a host of chances to increase their advantage, before substitute Carrick sealed all three points late on with an angled drive past David James.

The result sees United move three points clear of Liverpool and six points ahead of Chelsea, who have each played a game more.

Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes to the team defeated by Everton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, with Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo among nine players recalled to the starting line-up.

Scholes was among them, and the midfielder duly celebrated his 600th appearance for United with a typically dynamic and influential performance, which he capped by laying on the goal that sealed the win.

United started with real purpose and went ahead with a devastating breakaway goal.

Brazilian Anderson started it, releasing Giggs with an angled ball behind Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson. The United winger chested down, before laying on the simpliest of finishes for Rooney - who beat James with ease to put the home side ahead.

The goal acted as encouragement for United, who immediately began searching for a second and were dominant all over the pitch.

On 29 minutes John O'Shea saw his goalbound header cleared off the line by Nadir Belhadj.

Moments later Giggs was denied by James after being sent clean through by Rooney.

Half-time arrived with Portsmouth having failed to create a single meaningful opening, and Paul Hart reacted by introducing Jermaine Pennant for David Nugent.

The second half brought more of the same, however, with Anderson, Scholes and Darren Fletcher in complete control of the midfield.

But all the while United failed to increase their advantage, Portsmouth's faint hopes remained and when they eventually threatened, Pennant was involved.

The England winger got in behind Patrice Evra and delivered a cross to Peter Crouch six yards out, but the striker's improvised volley lacked power and direction.

It would prove the visitor's best opening of the night. And normal service soon resumed.

On 71 minutes Rooney's strength saw him clear of Johnson, only for James once again to come to Portsmouth's rescue.

United would not be denied, however, and fittingly it was left to Scholes to lay on the encore - inviting Carrick to run in on goal with an inch-perfect slide-rule pass.

Carrick took the ball in his stride and shot confidently past James to the relief of the United faithful - who must surely believe now the title is theirs.

It was not all good news for the home side, however, who saw both Gary Neville and O'Shea forced to withdraw with injuries.

The defeat leaves Portsmouth lingering six points clear of the relegation zone and Hart's side are far from safe on the evidence of what was a wholly lacklustre and unconvincing performance.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

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  1. Well deserved 3 points.

    From kuledX, on Thu 23 Apr 6:28PM

  2. ibanez777vbk: Told you din't it you scrunty old­ boot. Not surprised with you slating the great city of­ Manchester, wash your gob out la'! Can't be­ any worse than your wee patch of soggy marsh land. ­ Your use of name tarnishes a great guitar manufacturer,­ shame on you! PMSL

    From Funky Buck Spubble, on Thu 23 Apr 5:03PM

  3. ibanez777vbk - NO

    From Stina, on Thu 23 Apr 4:49PM

  4. It was reported last season when Ronaldo was on top­ form that Real Madrid were considering buying him for­ upwards of £100million - which is 8-9 times what United­ paid for him in the first place!!! Firstly, that was­ Real Madrid's propaganda fanzine Marca telling the­ UK tabloids what to print, and in all honesty even as a­ United fan we can only expect half of that at best if­ he were to go. Fact still remains however that he has­ performed, otherwise he wouldn't be joint top­ scorer, he can get results even when he's not on­ song - which is a gift in itself. It would be a shame­ to see him go but there will be someone with something­ different to offer and fil the void. Berbatov on the­ other hand, I couldn't give a flying bag rat what­ his fate is, reserves, Real for £15 million - whatever­ PMSL.

    From Funky Buck Spubble, on Thu 23 Apr 4:43PM

  5. Man United has performed pretty well yesterday with­ some good pressures on David James goal. It will­ certainly be a boost for the players and for the fans­ but unfortunately for the Liverpool and Chelsea fans,­ you should wait for more years to overcome Man United­ in the championship.....hahahahahaha. The 18th title is­ for Man United and no teams can stop that even by­ scoring 4 goals and conceeding 4..... hahahahaha poor­ liverpool you will always walk alone.....hahahahaha

    From lehvine, on Thu 23 Apr 4:35PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ID RATHER NOT WATCH FOOTBALL THAN FOLLOW MAN UTD.BUNCH­ OF BIGHEED B.A.S.T.R.D.S THERE TEAM ARE BUNCH OF DIVING­ CHEATING C.U.N.T.S MANAGER THINKS HES GOD.WOULDNT CARE­ HAVE YOU BEEN TO MANCHESTER,@#$% ME ITS A RIGHT­ S.H.I.T.H.O.L.E.

    From robbieisfineshedyahoooo, on Thu 23 Apr 4:35PM

  7. Hey scousers: You Never Whinge Alone. Moan, moan,­ moan, MOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAANNN!

    From Funky Buck Spubble, on Thu 23 Apr 4:31PM

  8. STINA CAN I NAIL YOU IN THE @#$%

    From robbieisfineshedyahoooo, on Thu 23 Apr 4:31PM

  9. Paul B and Padraig F are living in dream worlds... No­ star is bigger than a football club, and United have­ done very well with or without Berbaslob up front. ­ Ronaldo, there is a chance for over 300% profit of what­ was paid for him in the first place so there are other­ world class players waiting to fill any voids left by­ their absence.

    From Funky Buck Spubble, on Thu 23 Apr 4:28PM

  10. I love the confidence and faith of UTD fans. It's­ what see's the team through after the down times.­ UTD AND PROUD!

    From Stina, on Thu 23 Apr 2:27PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FREE PLAYSTATION 3
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    From laurensmith213, on Thu 23 Apr 1:56PM

  12. im so sorry jim, i must have used too many big words­ for you! i'll wait till your carers have helped you­ for a bit. . . . . . . dum de dum . . . ah sod this­ i'll check back later....

    From eric the king, on Thu 23 Apr 1:43PM

  13. come on james, be a man and tell us all which mighty­ team you have always followed and always will, tell us­ how they are the best team in europe or the world or­ even in their own sad little corner of this glorious­ country. after all it is st georges day. be strong be­ english be proud....

    From eric the king, on Thu 23 Apr 1:37PM

  14. JIMBUMMA, my deapest apologies. you're absolutely­ right though, i did assume you were a bin dipper mainly­ because of all the sh@te you were talking yesterday and­ your latest comment today. which mighty team do you­ support then? or are you too ashamed to tell??? please­ enlighten me..

    From eric the king, on Thu 23 Apr 1:18PM

  15. 208 Padraig F. Im inclined to agree with you there.

    From Andrew, on Thu 23 Apr 1:16PM

  16. do u smell wot sir alex is cooking

    From Fahad, on Thu 23 Apr 1:07PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Jason you retarded manc helmet what makes you think I­ support Liverpool. You mancs are so obsessed with­ slating Liverpool that you automatically assume anyone­ who doesn't support Man Ure is a scouser. I LAUGH­ IN YOUR FACE.

    From jimbimma, on Thu 23 Apr 1:01PM

  18. PAUL B, as it happens my other bin dipping friend, in­ relation to your rather inaccurate post what it will be­ next season at the very least will be champions of­ England champions of the world!!!! as far as europe is­ concerned well at least we are still in it how about­ you???
    YOU'LL NEVER WIN AGAIN

    From eric the king, on Thu 23 Apr 1:01PM

  19. @ jimbumma, i think you'll find my bin dipping­ friend that we have already won TWO trophies this­ season and are in pole position in the premiership and­ are still in semi finals of the CL. can you lay claim­ to have any trophies in the last couple of­ years???
    thought not. that clever boy is why the loyal­ true reds of Manchester United are as you put it­ bigging them up.
    MANCHESTER = EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF­ TROPHIES
    LIVERPOO = TROPHY FREE ZONE AGAIN
    LMAO = FACT

    From eric the king, on Thu 23 Apr 12:56PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FREE PLAYSTATION 3
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    Get a­ Playstation 3 for FREE at FREESONYPS3.TK

    Just sign up­ and complete a sponsor offer, and then get some of your­ friends to do the same.

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    This method is completely legitimate and has­ been approved by the BBC.

    So what are you waiting for?­ Go to freesonyps3.tk and get your free PS3 now!

    From laurensmith213, on Thu 23 Apr 12:52PM
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