Yesterday afternoon Man United destroyed Portsmouth with a five-goal haul at Old Trafford. A hat-trick of own goals, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov took Man United back to the top of the table.
Ahead of the game Rooney picked up his award for the Barclays Premier League player for the month of January. That was then followed by a minute silence to remember all who died after the horrific Munich Air Disaster.
United got off to a bright start, penning Portsmouth back into their own half and applying some pressure for the first 10 minutes but with no real chances on goal.
Jonny Evans had the games first proper chance; Evans headed Gary Neville’s ball in from a short corner just wide of the upright. That seemed to wake Pompey up and they went straight down the other end and created they’re first opportunity.
Former United player Danny Webber led the breakaway, slid the ball in to Vanden Borre, who had a shot pushed away for a corner by Edwin Van Der Sar.
The corner was easily dealt with but Portsmouth tried to sustain some pressure on the United goal with a shot from Nadir Belhadj shooting from distance, but it was easily held by the United keeper Van Der Sar.
United were frustrated for large parts of the first half but the game, we had the possession, a few goal attempts on and off target. With just over half an hour gone the game livened up again. Portsmouth broke with four players against three Man United defenders; O’Hara slid the ball in to Belhadj who had his shot cleared off the line by Evans.
That was swiftly followed by Berbatov missing a sitter from just six yards out. Neville ran into the Pompey penalty area, pulled the ball back for Berbatov who put the ball wrong side of the post.
With just six minutes left to play in the first half United carried on the attacking intent, which paid off. United played another short corner, this time it was played to Darren Fletcher who crossed the ball in and Rooney was there to nod the ball into the back of the net and give United the lead.
United’s lead was doubled just before half time. 45 minutes in Luis Nani’s cross deflected off Borre and rolled over the line past Pompey keeper David James.
Halftime gave the visiting side a chance to regroup but that didn’t last long. Portsmouth failed to clear the ball, which fell to Michael Carrick 25-yards out, his strike at goal took a deflection off Portsmouth’s Richard Hughes, hit the underside of the crossbar fell the right side of the line for United.
Minutes later, Man United had four. Berbatov picked up the ball inside the penalty area, with a defender next to him he kept hold of the ball but made his way out of the area, he then turned and saw his fantastic 25-yard shot hit the back of the net. Superb goal by Berbatov and definitely made amends for the awful miss in the first half.
Sir Alex Ferguson decided to make a triple substitution with only 56 minutes gone on the clock. Berbatov was taken off, replaced by Mame Biram Diouf. Rooney and Fletcher were also taken off, they were replaced by Michael Owen and Darron Gibson.
United’s final goal came 69 minutes in, Patrice Evra’s ball into the box was stuck past James by his own team-mate Marc Wilson.
With 20 minutes to go and United 5-0 up it was all Man United. Diouf missed a glorious chance when Owen put him through on goal, he had done the hard part but the shot was blazed over the bar.
The game finished 5-0 to United, an easy win, which has done our goal difference the world of good. Today Chelsea play Arsenal down at Stamford Bridge, if Chelsea lose or draw then United will be staying top of the table tonight.
