Manchester United 1 Reading 0

The Match itself was a non event and standing on the Stretford End it was obvious that many players were now starting to feel the efforts off the last few weeks. The positives saw United extend the led at the top of the premiership to 15 points as City fell short again at Everton and Ferdinand and Giggs performances saw that old players can do the business.

United made several changes which saw the full back department given a rest and Smalling and Buttner making starts also Anderson and Young started in Midfield along with the evergreen Giggs.

Reading for there part were manager less in a bizarre decision which saw Brian McDermott Manager of the month for January sacked in early March! but looked up for the fight. The game started at a pedestrian pace with few chances at any end. The first chance of any note saw Ashley Young have a pop at goal around the 15th minute mark but his effort went wide.

However, it was not long before United broke the deadlock. It took a marauding run from Rio Ferdinand to feed Rooney whose shot took a deflection of Alex Pearce and looped over Taylor in goal for Reading. United were now up and running.

United were now stroking the ball around and RVP and Rooney had a couple of long range efforts saved by Taylor. Reading had a half chance on the 30 minute mark where Robson-Kanu beat De Gea long range but the ball just shaved the post.

The second half saw Reading enjoy more possession and were unlucky not to get a penalty when Vidic barged into Mariappa but the ref waved the appeal on. It wasn't until the 65th minute that United tested Taylor with a trademark RVP free kick excellently saved by Taylor. Giggs had a chance late on to settle the nerves but again Taylor kept it out.

The game ended and United now 15 points clear and with the international week coming up the worry is that the players don't get injured. Prior to the game Rio was recalled back to the England squad and this news saw Rio put in a fine display for United and for me was man of the match.

The game saw a run of 4 games at Old Trafford end with mixed feelings. A 15 point lead in the league tempered with an European exit and a FA cup replay. Next up for United is Sunderland away.

Manchester United 2 Chelsea 2

Days after the Real Madrid defeat this was a perfect opportunity to get rid of the angst that had occurred after Tuesday night.

The big news on the team front was that Rooney and Hernandez were restored to the front line with Kagawa behind and Nani aiming to get over the red card from Tuesday night.

In terms of the game United starred in the game of two halves.  A superb first half followed by a struggling second half. The first 11 minutes saw United go 2-0 up with a superb header from Hernandez which looped over Peter Cech following a superb ball from Carrick and then a Wayne Rooney free kick which drifted in directly to give Cech a shell shocked start.

Chelsea had a chance on the 23 rd minute when Lampard was presented with a chance on goal but the power didn't trouble De Gea. Moments later United had three opportunities to go three up. First was a cross by Nani which was met at the near post by Hernandez but his chance went over and a minute later a Evra cross was drilled in and Rooney shot well but Cech was equal but the rebound came back to him via David Luiz header and a superb save kept the third goal out.

Moses had a chance to reduce the arrears but he shot wildly and the frustration amongst the Chelsea players and fans was visible. The half for United ended with Nani being subbed for injury and Rooney delicate chip just went over the bar.

The second half started quietly and Chelsea then made two subs which saw Mikel and Hazard came on and this seem to spark Chelsea into life. Within 7 minutes of his arrival Hazard scored a curling effort into the corner of the net with De Gea well beaten and the game was on. Half way through the half a sweeping move from midfield saw Ramires run through and shoot home for the equaliser.

Chelsea were well on top and Mata and Ramires were dominating with the help of Hazard.
The last 10 minutes saw United hanging on Torres going close but the best chance fell to Mata who turned Evans easily but De Gea kept out the effort with his foot and deflected it around the post. De Gea had to keep out a barrage of shots in injury time as United struggled to get any foothold in this game.

The final whistle blew and United were relieved. The replay hasn't been sorted but a game against City at Wembley should be incentive enough to win.

Man of the match has to be David De Gea. A superb series of saves and the lad is growing in stature.

Next up for United is Reading at home.

Manchester United 1 Real Madrid 2 (agg 2-3)

It was a match that had everything in the build up, team announcements, the match, the dodgy decisions but most of all some fantastic football by both sides.

The atmosphere on the stretford end was best I have seen since Barcelona visit in 2008 but generally the old ground was rocking and was all set up for a cracking game. I arrived in the pub to find rumours Rooney wasn't going to play but the rumour was fact and Welbeck got the nod for tactical reasons despite some pundits claims that his carear was over!!

It was good to see Ronaldo return to a heroes welcome which seem to phase him a bit as he didn't start too well. The combination of Giggs and Rafael seem to stifle him and his normal fluency was being stopped, also Welbeck was charged with hunting Alonso down and he did this with success and was able to move United forward on the times they attacked.

Both teams started well with Higuain going close after a intelligent run from Ozil and RVP volley went wide after a glorious ball from the man of the moment Ryan Giggs. United a glorious chance when a Vidic header bounced off the post with Lopez beaten but United's midfield were on top with Giggs not wasting the ball and Carrick bossing the midfield.

On the 30 minute mark Higuain had the ball in the net but was ruled out as Ramos had led in with his arm. Lopez was a thorn in the United side and made a double save from RVP and Welbeck but all the reward was a corner. The resulting corner saw Lopez clear with a punch on Vidic head. The second half saw United start well and the goal came early via a Nani cross which hit Welbeck and then Ramos to divert the ball past Lopez for a United lead.

Madrid now under pressure had to come forward and they had a close chance when Higuain cross across the goal was not met by anyone but moments later the game changed. A Nani and Arbeloa clash saw Nani lead in with a high foot but no malice it would appear and the Madrid were content that the ref would deal with it. He did, and sent off Nani! a complete hush around the ground followed by howls of derision at the ref saw United in shock.

United never quite recovered and Mourinho sensing blood sent on Modric who now was enjoying the possession and it was he who scored a long range effort that flew in off the post and minutes later Ronaldo who had a quiet game had a easy tap in to give Madrid the lead on the night. United had to go for it and Rooney was sent on to gee up the troops but in truth were chasing shadows and the effort put in and the shock of that decision seemed to take the stuffing out of United.

The last 10 minutes saw United push on but Madrid keeper Lopez denied Carrick and Vidic headers and a RVP shot. Also Rooney had a glorious chance but spooned the ball over the bar. Ronaldo had a few half chances but de Gea denied him and the game fizzled out and United were out of Europe.

Much to ponder particularly the referee decision but the feeling where I was standing amongst the United support was that we didn't recover from the sending off sufficiently to stop Madrid. The shock factor got the better of us and although we did recover to push on, it left United chasing two goals. Plenty of man of the match but Giggs and Welbeck ran there legs off and get my vote.

Next up is Chelsea at Old Trafford in the FA cup, probably just the game we need to get the defeat out of the system.

Manchester United 4 Norwich City 0

It's not often you got to a match at Old Trafford and think more about the next home game!, United are on a run of four consecutive games with Premiership, champions league and FA cup but most people attentions were get this game over without incident and get the Madrid game on.

United line up was to be the big news in view of the huge game on Tuesday night and RVP and Rooney started and Kagawa a surprise inclusion and a welcome return of Vidic and Evans at the back.

United started the game very well and pinned Norwich on the backfoot for most of the game. Rooney and RVP combined well on the 16th minute to see RVP loom on goal but brave goalkeeping from Mark Bunn kept the United forward out. Carrick had a half chance but again Bunn was equal to it. Carrick and Anderson were bossing the midfield and Kagawa was a constant thorn with his delicate passing and movement.

It wasn't until injury time that United broke the deadlock when a Valencia cross was met by RVP toe and the ball fell to Kagawa who brushed the ball into the net. Norwich looked deflated as they had defended defiantly over the 45 minutes.

The second half saw Norwich enjoy more possession and restrict United to half chances. They had a glorious chance on the hour where Grant Holt had guided a header down to Martin who for some reason lifted the ball over the bar! That woke United up and RVP was replaced by Danny Welbeck to stretch things a little.

Cleverley came on for Anderson as the last 15 minutes saw Norwich taking the scrap to United but the scrap soon ended. Rooney latched on to a long ball behind Bassong and he stopped and checked and passed to Kagawa to cushion the ball into the net with Bunn and Turner wrong footed.

Moments later Welbeck had another chance but Bunn made a smart move but he was soon picking the ball out of the net again. A great combination between Welbeck and Rooney and the latter picked out Kagawa who ghosted into the box and chipped over Bunn for the Hat trick.

United were not finished and Rooney received the ball, dropped the shoulder and blasted the ball high past the despairing hands of Mark Bunn.

United simply finished the stronger and eventually battered Norwich into submission. Norwich played well in parts but the second goal killed them off.

United are looking strong with goals flying and the defence looking strong. Only 3 goals conceded in the last 9 premiership games.

Man of the match, Shinji Kagawa. A class performance of a player who lets the ball do the work and his positioning and understanding with the forwards and midfield is now starting to click. A headache for Sir Alex on whether to start with him on Tuesday.