Advantage United?

Inter Milan 0 - Manchester United 0

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Evans, O'Shea, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Park (Rooney 84), Ronaldo, Giggs, Berbatov

Not too sure what to make of the result. We completely dominated the first half but failed to score the crucial away goal. The second half was more of an even affair after Inter pulled their collective heads out of their asses.

I'm not going to go into the details of the game coz there's really very little to talk about. We missed a boatload of chances and might really pay for it in the second leg. I quite sure Fergie is pleased with the way we performed but I have my misgivings.

I'm not quite sure how a scoreless draw helps our cause. Shades of Monaco 98 here. We were patting ourselves on the back after a goalless draw, only to be sent out of the competition at Old Trafford.

There is all to play for in the second leg. To put it simply, we have to win to progress. A draw is just not good enough.

The only silverlining is that Inter are quite frankly utterly crap. If not for Mourinho, I would be writting them off.

On another completely separate note, we've got Fulham in the next round of the FA Cup. And am looking forward to the Mickey Mouse Cup finals this Sunday.

Scrapping Past Blackburn

Manchester United 2 - Blackburn 1
Scorers
Manchester United: Rooney (23), Ronaldo (60)
Blackburn: Santa Cruz (32)

Team: Kuszczak,Rio, Evans (Vidic 61), Rafael, Evra, Carrick, Scholes (Giggs 82), Nani (Tevez 61), Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov

Our 14 game clean sheet record came to an abrupt halt in the 32nd minute when Santa Cruz passed the ball into an open net after Kusczak and Rio both commited early and clashed into one another.

This happened after a bright start by United in which Rooney opened the scoring for us. Rooney's looking sharp after his injury layoff and starting to look like the player we've always known he would be.

After surrendering the lead, we played sloppily. Ronaldo was at his classless best, lashing out at David Dunn in the second half. He was then booked for a dive, which would have won over the pundits on Sunday's Oscars. Unfortunately this was the wrong stage. It seemed like Ronaldo was on a one-man mission to get himself sent off. Up to that point, any neutral would have been glad to see him see the red card. As a United fan, it was disgusting to see our best player act like a petulant manchild.

Just as I was silently cursing to Kentona and Kiat, who were watching the game with me, Ronaldo came up with a show of class. His freekick from an acute angle rifled past Robinson. Words cannot give justice to just how well-taken and incredible the kick was, so I wouldn't even try. Just take it from me that it was artistry at it's finest.

Despite the greatness and importance of the goal, I still have to say just how disgusted I am with Ronaldo's behaviour on the pitch.

We continued to play sloppily for the rest of the game and Blackburn had a number of good chances to equalize but a combination of piss poor refereeing and bad luck denied Blackburn.

Rafael was extremely luck not to have conceded a penalty when he pulled Pederson down in the box. Nelsen then hit the post after being fed free and Diouf fired the rebound straight at Kuszczak.

It was a lucky escape for our lads. With the victory, we extended our lead at the top of the table and closer to the prize with only 12 games remaining. On the other end of the table, Blackburn remain rooted in the relegation zone, but I'm sure they would climb out of it sooner rather than later. They are too good of a team not to. I'm just relieved that we wouldn't have to face them again this season.

United Stretches Lead

Manchester United 3 - Fulham 0
Scorers
Manchester United: Scholes (12), Berbatov (30), Rooney (63)

Team: Van der Sar, Rio, Vidic, O'Shea (Evans 62), Evra, Carrick (Gibson 69), Scholes, Park, Ronaldo, Berbatov (Rooney 61), Tevez

The Premier League had better watch out. We're finding our form, and it's scary just how good we are. Today we despatched Fulham with ease, and plenty to spare in the tank, stretching the lead to 5 points.

Today's first half was one of the best we've seen in a long long while. We simply tore Fulham to bits and could have chalked up a rugby score by the half. Yet, both the goals scored in the half had a huge element of luck attached to them.

The first came from a well worked corner routine that saw Scholes send a scorcher from outside the box. Schwarzer had the ball well covered and in his grasp, but the shot was just too hot to handle and it squirmed into the net.

The second came via some comic defending from Fulham, failing to clear an O'Shea toe-poke into the box. Berbatov accepted the gift with glee.

Despite a huge slice of luck, take nothing away from the first half performance. We literally controlled the game and tore Fulham to shreds. Two goals flagged for offside and some ridiculous saves from Schwarzer stood testamont to our dominance.

Rooney completed the rout early in the second half with his first touch of the ball after coming on as a substitute. Park's wayward shot found it's way to Rooney on the far post and Fulham were truely dead and buried.

We slowed the pace down considerably, electing to play keep ball and conserving energy.

Van der Sar also kept a clean sheet, stretching the record to 14 straight games. He's had so little to do in those 14 games that it's probable that he's forgotten how it's like to be beaten.

We face Blackburn this Saturday and big Sam, who was scouting from the stands must be thinking just what an impossible the task ahead is.