fa premiership, Matchday 35
Old Trafford, Manchester, 13.30pm GMT, Sunday 2nd May 2009.
Attendance: 75,464

Manchester United now require four points from their remaining three fixtures after a derby day triumph over Local rivals Man "Massive" City saw the Reds claim top spot again from the bindippers.

Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo & Carlos Tevez were enough to take maximum points as City became the latest team to struggle to make an impact against United when much more was expected, ala Middlesbrough. 

SAF gave starts to Rafael, Jonny Evans, Tevez, Berbatov & partnered Ryan Giggs & the ever impressing Darren Fletcher in central midfield as the manager freshened up his team. 

With United due to play on two more occasions before the granny stabbing, ambulance shaking, shit flinging, giro cashing vermin play again, the mathematics are simple, win at Wigan & require only one point against Arsenal & the title would be wrapped up @ Old Trafford next Saturday lunch time (Editor: here's hoping).

With all the speculation over the future of Carlos Tevez, the game vital in the title race proved to be a perfect platform for the lovable little Argie & he soon began to look dangerous as United threatened in the form of a JSP shot before Tevez tried a speculative shot from distance which failed to work Shay Given.

City returned fire when the combination of Elano & Robinho shot wide & Ronaldo then curled a shot straight at Shay Given as the teams felt each other out.

With young Rafael Da Silva having to defend against one of the most tricky players in the Premiership in City's Robinho, United's young full back gained valuable defending experience as the two duelled on United's right flank,

An admirable piece of skill from City's man took him past Rafael but the youngsters powerful Serbian colleague was at hand to block his cross as City's attack moved forward to support the run of Robinho.

City then saw a ambitious penalty claim go against them as Elano's shot struck Ryan Giggs' elbow, but Merseyside's finest referee Chris Foy allowed play to continue.

With Berbatov leading the line the Bulgarian was in for some roughhouse treatment after Richard Dunne & Ireland fouled the silky skilled forward & from the resulting Ireland challenge, United drew 1st blood as the sulky gunslinger prepared himself.

Smashing his free kick in trademark fashion, Ronaldo saw his effort take a slight deflection on its way past Shay Given when De Jong managed to acquire a touch which sent his keeper the wrong way.

Keeping the Blue of City at a comfortable arms length but still allowing possession to the opponent, United looked at ease with only a Wayne Bridge shot & a Robinho effort which went wide slightly troubling United.

Some cheeky play soon after from Patrice Evra found an unmarked Tevez in plenty of space despite the many Blue Kits around & taking advantage of truly slack marking, the much love United forward smashed a shot which beat Given but only to strike the woodwork.

United pressured through JSP & a low dangerous cross from Evra swiftly evaded all in the box as United looked for a second.

A shot from distance kept EVDS awake before United doubled their advantage.

The move was started by a tackle by Darren Fletcher & as the Scot fired a high ball up toward Berbatov, some magnificent control & a measured pass later gave Carlos Tevez another chance of a shot, this time the target was found even though the ball his a post & went in for 2-0.

United searched for a third as Man City looked short of ideas when after a Darren Fletcher yellow card, Rafael almost beat Given with a cross cum shot.

City's best chance of the game came shortly after when one of the rare passes that Elano got right eventually found Robinho who had given Rafael the slip & as he bared down on EVDS's goal, the Brazilian made a hash of his shot when presented with a good goal scoring chance.

City seeing plenty of the ball had a Richards low shot saved by EVDS before arguably the talking point of the game as Wayne Rooney & Paul Scholes stripped to enter the game.

With Ronaldo's number 7 on the fourth officials board the Portuguese star sulked on a grand scale, shaking his head at the decision to remove him from the game, an angry reaction to being given a tracksuit top later & Ronaldo gained little in the way of friends as he continued to shake his head in disbelief (Editor: Keane, Ince, Beckham, RVN, to name but only a few have trod on SAF's toes, watch out Ronnie).

United then lost Jonny Evans to a hamstring injury after Bojinov replaced Caicedo.

With slim half chances going both teams way, United seemed to have too much defensive wall to penetrate before Berbatov saw a chance almost making it three.

United again fashioned a chance when Wayne Rooney executed a Seba Veron Hollywood pass with the outside of the boot & as Scholes's older legs bared down on goal Richard "Fatty" Dunne made a block to deny the Scholes shot.

The last chance of the game came next as Darren Fletcher rose to meet a corner & probably put off by a really hard unrelenting post, Carlos Tevez failed to make any sort of contact with the Scots headed effort as he managed to evade being smashed in the face by a large lump of wood at the same time failing to connect with the ball.

A big up goes to.........

Ron Snellen	Tony
And my Old Trafford closest neighbour & friend
Grant "Winterbottom" Thompson
Strongbow, probably the finest Cider in the World!

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