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20 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Brilliant Rooney keeps United on victory path

Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester United

Manchester United ensured that they go into next weekend’s match against Chelsea with a three-point lead at the top of the Premiership after overpowering Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Two goals from Wayne Rooney saw United come from behind to record their seventh straight league victory, and the win was thoroughly deserved as United dominated the game from start to finish against the newly-promoted side.

Crucial to United’s recent success has been the ability to field a full-strength starting line-up, and manager Alex Ferguson again named an unchanged eleven, with Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo starting on the left wing in a 4-4-2 system.

The visitors controlled the opening ten minutes, and could have gone ahead through the unlikeliest of sources when Gary Neville was afforded a rare chance on goal. Ryan Giggs put the United captain through, but Neville was denied by Sheff. Utd goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.

However, with United looking the most likely side to break the deadlock, the hosts took an unexpected lead on 13 minutes. Derek Geary’s excellent cross to the back post was met by former United winger Keith Gillespie, who nodded the ball across goal and into the far corner.

United reacted well to the setback, and immediately regained the initiative. Louis Saha had what appeared a strong case for a penalty turned down, before both the Frenchman and Ryan Giggs went close.

Clinical Rooney

The league leaders drew level shortly before the half hour mark. Neville’s clever ball found Rooney in the box, and the England striker took one touch before clinically firing past the helpless Kenny to level for United.

Saha was causing the home defence problems, and after seeing his header from a Rio Ferdinand cross saved by Kenny, United’s top goalscorer turned his marker before failing to find Ronaldo in the box with his cutback.

The second half continued in much the same vein as the first, with United looking a class ahead of their opponents. A superb one-two involving Giggs and Rooney resulted in an opportunity for Ronaldo, but the Portuguese miss-hit his finish from inside the area.

The home fans provided strong backing for their team, but were unable to prevent the onslaught from United as they looked for the all-important second goal, which finally arrived with 15 minutes remaining. Patrice Evra’s cross to the back post found Rooney, who volleyed back across goal and into the far corner for his second of the afternoon.

United continued to create chances, and the final ten minutes were notable for some bad Ronaldo misses from close range. After making a mess of a good opportunity when unchallenged from five metres out, the former Sporting man headed against the bar from a similar distance.

However, the worst was yet to come for the 21-year-old. Great build-up play from Wayne Rooney provided Ryan Giggs with possession on the right wing, and the Welshman slid the ball across the goalmouth for Ronaldo, who somehow managed to lift the ball over the bar with the goal gaping. But the miss proved irrelevant and United held out for a well-deserved victory.

After meeting Celtic in the Champions League in midweek, the Red Devils host champions Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday. United’s three-point lead, plus their superior goal difference, means that they will stay top no matter what the result against Jose Mourinho’s men, but a win would represent a huge step in their challenge for a first league title since 2003.

Sheffield Utd:
Kenny, Kozluk, Davis, Jagielka, Geary, Gillespie, Law , Leigertwood, Alan Quinn (Kabba 86), Kazim-Richards (Nade 79), Hulse
Yellow Cards: Gillespie (47)

Man Utd:
Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra (Heinze 80), Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Saha
Yellow Cards: Giggs (26)

Goals:
[1-0] Gillespie, 13
[1-1] Rooney, 29
[1-2] Rooney, 75