Match Review
Manchester United 4 v 0 Watford, Old Trafford, Manchester, 20.00pm K.O. Wednesday 31st January 2007.
Goals: Manchester United: Ronaldo (pen) (20), Doyley (O.G.) (61), Larsson (70), Rooney (71),      Watford: n/a
Attendance: 76,032

United steamrollered Watford maintaining the push for the Premiership title after a penalty from Ronaldo broke the deadlock, an own goal from Watford's Doyley & a goal apiece from Larsson & Rooney sealed the win emphatically.

SAF chose to rest a number of 1st team players as EVDS, Scholes, Evra & Giggs all were rested for the upcoming matches. Louis Saha (knee) was still sidelined but is expected to play the next fixture.

For the entire match United pushed Watford limiting the hornets to less than 30% possession & only one shot on goal & so it was only a matter of when United would make the breakthrough, Rooney nodded a looping header just wide in the early going, but it would be OGS who after DeMerit pulled his shirt won a penalty for the Reds, up stepped Ronaldo who after a cheeky dummy blasted the ball home for the Reds opening goal.

Powell had Watford's only chance after a freak cross looped over Kuszczak in United's goal clipping the woodwork, United then had a cluster of efforts from Carrick corners which Vidic went close twice, Richardson was next with a shot which went over the bar & the half came to a close with United only 1-0 up.

The second half was much the same with steady United possession creating chances for Rooney, OGS & Richardson & the Reds had to wait till almost on the hour before there was some daylight.

Kieran Richardson enjoying a day out on the left wing whipped in a poor cross which Lloyd Doyley headed into his own net, Henrik Larsson then opened his League account with a combination of passes between Rooney & the White Pele chalked up another assist after Larsson casually swept the ball home.

United's fourth then came after Ronaldo scooped a pass into the Watford penalty area which was controlled by Rooney and far from young master Wayne to score an easy tap in, he again chipped a keeper in the Stretford End which landed under the bar for United's 4th.

Ronaldo almost made it 5 with a shot which hit the post, and the Reds then comically kept possession of the ball easily for the entire remaining injury time, much to the delight of the Old Trafford Crowd.

United Starting Line-up
Rant Ratings in parenthesis
Kuszczak (6); Neville (9), Ferdinand (6), Vidic (7), Heinze (6); Ronaldo (8), O'Shea (6), Carrick (9), Richardson (5); Rooney (9), Solskjaer (6).
Subs Used: Larsson (7) for Solskjaer (66 mins), Brown (6) for Carrick (75 mins), Silvestre (6) for Vidic (75 mins).
Subs not used: van der Sar, Park.

United's Man of the Match
Captain Neville, Carrick, Rooney all were sensational, but Rooney is starting to get back to his best.

Rants Reaction
Its always good to keep a clean sheet & a decent amount of goals add to the goal difference, this can only be good going into the Spurs match as our first big away hurdle awaits.

Was Rant's Prediction Right?
Oh yeah, a strong line up it was, United Rant 7 v 28 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
Ronaldo's 32nd Premiership goal of his United career & 41st goal overall.
Henrik Larsson's 1st Premiership goal of his United career & 2nd goal overall.
Wayne Rooney's 37th Premiership goal of his United career & 48th goal overall.

Miscellaneous Info
United’s next match is on Sunday 4th February 2007 away to Spurs in the Premiership, 16.00pm K.O.