Rate it!

176 votes

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.

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