United Continues To Build Lead

QPR 0 - Manchester United 2
Scorers
Manchester United: Rafael (23), Giggs (80)

Team: De Gea, Rio, Vidic, Rafael, Evra, Carrick, Giggs, Young (Valencia 68), Nani, Hernandez (Rooney 62), Van Persie (Welbeck 41)

Kinda surreal feel to the game. Neither side played football and despite the huge gulf of points between the top team in the league and the bottom, one could hardly tell which was which. The only difference in the end was the quality of finishing that the scoreline reflected.

To say we played down to the level of competition is a sheer understatement. QPR were putrid and we didn't smell any better. Strangely for a team that packs with individual talent, QPR just cannot seem to find any teamwork, and it's no wonder based on today's performance, they deserve to be firmly rooted to the bottom of the league. I can only recall two decent shots at our goal. One was cleared off the line by Rafael, the other palmed away by De Gea. Other than those, QPR were never near to troubling De Gea.

At least we looked decent in front of goal, scoring from a screamer from Rafael in the first half and Giggs giving us the badly needed cushion when QPR looked like mounting an unlikely comeback. Our defense looked decent for once with Rio and Vidic making a rare appearance together.

The midfield, however,  was another story altogether. It looked listless and uninterested in the game. In fact the words 'casual' and 'nonchalent' come to mind. Maybe it's just me being critical, but Carrick and Giggs in the centre of the park normally spells trouble. An injection of youth is much needed and we were lucky to face an even slower midfield that had Granero and Taarabt.

As poor as we looked, we still won this one comfortably, but that's exactly what potential champions should be doing. Despite playing way below our normal standards, we are able to produce results. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed, surely we can't squander a 15 point lead.......

Nani Drive United To Next Round

Manchester United 2 - Reading 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Nani (69), Hernandez (72)
Reading: McAnuff (81)

Team: De Gea, Vidic, Smalling, Jones (Nani 42), Buttner, Cleverley, Anderson (Carrick 84), Valencia, Young (Van Persie 64), Welbeck, Hernandez

The spotlight may have been on Ronaldo in the recent week, but Nani took the opportunity, coming on early for an injured Jones, and drove home the point and focus back to his own derailed campaigned. It was a sizzling performance cupped with a goal and an assist.

A good 42 points separated the sides and it showed right from the opening minute. Had it not been for Frederici's saves, which went from good to better to spectacular, Reading would have been buried by an avalanche of goals. There were short spells in the game in which Reading kept possession, but by and large, we were the more likely scorer.

Yet for a good 69 minutes, the breakthru just wouldn't come and when it did, it came deservedly to the most productive and dangerous man on the pitch. He may have had games which he would have liked to forget, but this was one to remember. He followed that with a beautiful cross for Hernandez to head home. Nani rarely put a foot wrong. All he has to do now is to keep it up, which really is his problem. The talent has always been there, the consistency hasn't.

Reading made a game out of it with some slack defending on our part, which has been our nemesis this season. It made the ending more uncomfortable than it really should be, but we saw it through.

Apart from Nani, a special mention should be given to Reading's Australian keeper, Frederici. He single-handedly kept United at bay with a superlative performance.

With the win, we face either Boro or Chelsea in the next round.

Too Close To Call

Real Madrid 1 - Manchester United 1
Scorers
Real Madrid: Ronaldo (30)
Manchester United: Welbeck (20)

Team: De Gea, Rio, Evans, Rafael, Evra, Carrick, Jones, Kagawa (Giggs 64), Rooney (Anderson 84), Welbeck (Valencia 73), Van Persie

It was a good away result under trying circumstances. Most of key players were starstruck and coming away with a result puts the tie firmly at our advantage. More importantly, it gives players like Kagawa and Rooney time to get over their jitters with a pinch of Fergie's hairdryer treatment.

De Gea was possibly our star guy last night. After poopooing most of the season, he came good, making numerous good saves to keep the tie alive, especially in the second half.

Van Persie, who has been our star for most of the season failed to add to his already glowing United reputation with a double miss in quick succession. The first he struck the crossbar, and uncharacteristically mishit his volley, only for Alonso to clear as it threatened to trickle past the line.

But the night belonged to the two goalscorers. Welbeck put United into the lead, directing Rooney's corner into the net while Ronaldo did likewise at the other end. Ronaldo's refusal to celebrate will be duely noted by the Old Trafford crowd when the teams meet again on the 5th of March to settle the tie.

I noticed a few tactical changes that were made from the transition of the first half to the second. In the first half, we stuck really close to the Madrid front players, not allowing them space. However it didn't seem to work very well. The likes of Ozil, Di Maria and Ronaldo were just too skillful and mobile. Alittle jink, a little feint and they were away. Rafael in particular was caught out more than once and we were left scrambling to provide extra cover.

The strategy in the second half was to give the opponent more space but that in turn resulted in more long range shots, especially from Di Maria, who had an outstanding game. I supposed neither strategy actually worked well and it would be interesting to see how Ferguson adjusts, if he is able to.

That said, it was a brilliant move to put Jones on Ronaldo. He did an immaculate job keeping the prolific Portugese honest.

United Wildens Gap On Top

Manchester United 2 - Everton 0
Scorers
Manchester United: Giggs (12), Van Persie (45)

Team: De Gea, Vidic, Evans (Smalling 81), Rafael, Evra, Cleverley, Jones (Carrick 56), Giggs, Valencia, Rooney, Van Persie

We took advantage of Shitty's slip up and pushed the gap at the top to 12 points at the top. While I'm quitely optimistic of the title, I constantly remind myself that a mere 10 months ago, we let an 8 point gap slip with 6 games to go. Nothing can be taken for granted and until it is a proven mathematical impossibility for Shitty to catch up, then can the real celebrations start.

After the painful lessons of last season, the lads were taking nothing for granted and produced a fine first half of clinical finishing and a finer second half of steel and determination to keep a rare clean sheet. Not even a mouthwatering game in midweek against one of Europe's most decorated clubs, Real Madrid, could distract the lads from doing what was the immediate task ahead.

Giggs took first blood and maintained his record of scoring in every single Premier League season with a precision strike that came off the post after good work from Van Persie. Everton rarely mounted a decisive attack in the half and were further punished what Rafael set Van Persie loose to run the keeper and score.

What United showed in attacking class in the first half was replicated with equally hard steel in defence in the second. Knowing that Everton is built with the same determined never-say-die attitude, United stifled the midfield and reduced the Toffees attacking verve. Bodies were thrown in the way and balls were cleared with increased frequency. Carrick, who came on in place of Jones in the second half, was possibly one of the better performers. It was one of the rare times Carrick actually put on his Superman suit and excelled.

Eventually we put out the Everton fire and desire and cruised to a 2-0 victory, at the same time tightening the noose on Shitty's title challenge.

Red Hot Rooney Puts United 10 Points Up

Fulham 0 - Manchester United 1
Scorer
Manchester United: Rooney (79)

Team: De Gea, Rio, Evans, Rafael, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley (Giggs 75), Valencia (Hernandez 66), Nani (Welbeck 84), Rooney, Van Persie

Wayne Rooney just can't stop scoring. That's Rooney for you. He always goes on a scoring streak and today he added another to the current streak he's on with a good goal, capitalising on a Fulham mistake.

As expected, Fulham was a far different side from a week ago. Both teams started brightly with both sets of woodwork working really hard to keep the ball out. Both sets of keepers were worked hard too. Despite the amount of action, neither side could find a breakthru.

A floodlight failure temporarily paused the action, but it resumed in the second half and it wasn't until the 79th minute before Rooney found the goal to break the deadlock.

Fulham threw the kitchen sink at us and it make an already pulsating game even more nail-biting in the last 10 minutes. The action was end to end; Fulham throwing numbers and United defending for their lives. There were off the line clearances from United and brilliant saves from Fulham. There was alot of desperate defending from both sides and the action never ceased until the final whistle.

It was a great spectacle, one which was made sweeter with a victory.