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. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Look at all these sad manc @#$%s big up their team­ before they've even won anything. Can't wait­ to laugh in your faces!

    From jimbimma, on Thu 23 Apr 12:26PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    manure r gay

    From paul, on Thu 23 Apr 12:25PM

  3. well sain comment 208..hahaha..and o yeah man u­ champions of england champions of errrrr o yeah england­ that what it will be next season when barca beat em­ hahaha

    From PAUL B, on Thu 23 Apr 11:51AM

  4. commet 208 sorry i got abit excited

    From reddevils_4life99, on Thu 23 Apr 11:40AM

  5. comment 209 man united went three years without winning­ the league and in that time liverpool lifted the­ european cup and fa cup all man united won was the­ carling cup yet the man united fans still supported­ them there was still 60,000 fans at old trafford and­ now man uniteds dry patch is over whilst liverpools­ remains dry for 19 years accept it!!!!

    From reddevils_4life99, on Thu 23 Apr 11:39AM

  6. M A N C H E S T E R U N I T E D

    From the_simple_mind, on Thu 23 Apr 11:31AM

  7. elrosso says - 'Look how easily we have won the­ Premiership and­ we have played far more games than­ every other team'

    scottrobbo71 says - I bet they­ play exactly the same number of games as everyone else­ in the premiership!

    From Scott, on Thu 23 Apr 11:14AM

  8. Padraig F you are talking like someone who has never­ been to a football match. You have to accept that Man­ Utd are world champions and will continue to dominate­ the much easier domestic league for as long as it­ exists. Look how easily we have won the Premiership and­ we have played far more games than every other team.­ Our youth team could win the Premiership so be a man­ and accept it. Ha ha ha ha.

    From elrosso, on Thu 23 Apr 11:07AM

  9. Paul B with his stupid comments again. Even without­ Ronaldo and Berbatov Man Utd will still win everything­ again. Everton are a good side but our youth team­ destroyed them so what chance have the rest of you got­ next year. How many years have Liverpool been saying­ wait till next season? Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

    From elrosso, on Thu 23 Apr 11:02AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    this is great, i love to see all this united arrogance.­ arrogance has been the downfall of many men.you will­ lose against arsenal then city are always tough, plus­ you have spurs next week, maybe robbie keane will­ finally do something for liverpool and make up for the­ money we lost on him lol. i bet in another 5 years when­ united have gone on a big losing streak and haven't­ won a title in years all you bit part united supporters­ will have gone into the woodwork and will of started­ supporting the next team to do well, whether that be­ liverpool, arsenal or chelsea.

    From Padraig, on Thu 23 Apr 10:52AM

  11. Great win lads well done

    From sinead, on Thu 23 Apr 10:49AM

  12. In the bag well done man u Liverpool will have to wait­ anther year or two or three or never get used to it,­ we are the champs that's the way it is and all ways­ will be, Champs Champs Champs Come on,

    From Michael F, on Thu 23 Apr 10:41AM

  13. comment 201: so what, do you not think that fergie is­ not shrewd enough to have all that covered. at least we­ do not buy strikers and then sell them after 12 games

    From paul, on Thu 23 Apr 10:39AM

  14. GLORY GLORY MAN UTD

    BACK ON TOP AND THREE POINTS­ CLEAR

    YOUR GOOD LIVERPOOL, BUT STILL NOT GOOD­ ENOUGH!

    HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!

    From Dominic, on Thu 23 Apr 10:33AM

  15. UNITED!

    From lukeg9201, on Thu 23 Apr 10:18AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    watch out next season ronaldo gone berbatov gone­ ......hahahaha

    From PAUL B, on Thu 23 Apr 10:10AM

  17. 178, what do you think? That Ugandans (or even­ Africans) still sleep on trees as many Europeans (who­ have never been to Africa) think? Wake up my friend.­ What is a television! In fact we (in Uganda) watch EPL­ on television more than the people who reside in the­ UK. You think I am telling a lie, don't you!­ Whenever I am in the UK, I struggle to find a place­ where I can watch EPL on television; the only sure­ place for me is the stadium i.e. if i arrive in time to­ buy a ticket. While at home in Uganda, the EPL is right­ there in my sitting- and bed-room. If I want a noisy­ place, it (EPL) is there in almost allthe bars and­ makeshift places in the town. So what are you saying?­ You have simply demonstrated how backward you are in­ your knowledge of what goes on around the world! I feel­ sorry for you. Just come over to Uganda (Africa) and­ see for yourself! Many Europeans who have tasted how­ nice Africa and its people are have refused to go back.

    From bdroti2000, on Thu 23 Apr 9:48AM

  18. hhowells1: Just for you my friend some cogent football­ chat minus impudent banter; Man United got the right­ result yesterday but tiredness is showing throughout­ the side now, compounded by two injuries to players who­ feature predominantly at right back, which doesn't­ help matters at all. Yet, Man United have proven time­ and time again that they can bounce back effectively­ after a dip in form or a loss, and as a team they can­ find the extra bit of auxilliary power to drive­ themselves over the finishing line this season again. ­ GGMU!

    From Colonel K, on Thu 23 Apr 9:45AM

  19. mugpgits (177): PMSL, agreed. Sounds like you should­ be the Count of Sesame Street counting the trophies on­ the way to Old Trafford this season... 1 ah ah aaah, 2­ ah ah aah... etc

    From Colonel K, on Thu 23 Apr 9:37AM

  20. micpando dont make any stupid idealogy here....so pream­ league only for 2 team?y dont u just said all game at­ same time...y only man united n liverpool?

    From Addy N, on Thu 23 Apr 9:35AM
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