United stroll three points clear

SOCCER/West Brom 0 Manchester Utd 5:MANCHESTER UNITED strode three points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The spree showed it is creativity that makes the reigning champions unassailable on occasions such as this. A new Premier League record of 11 consecutive clean sheets reflects their domination as much as their resilience. There was unfortunate assistance to their cause, all the same.

West Bromwich were unlikely to hold their own in any circumstances, but a patched-up selection was harmed further by the dismissal of Paul Robinson when they were one down. The decision was a grave overreaction by referee Rob Styles. Robinson and Park Ji-sung both slid into a challenge after 40 minutes. The Albion left-back seemed to try and minimise the contact when a collision became inevitable, but he was still shown the red card. There had been no malice.

It was an episode that assisted the visitors, who scarcely require help anywhere. Only the hopelessly soft-hearted would have felt compassion for United when they suffered the recent spate of injuries. The main effect was to give opponents hope.

West Bromwich did not enjoy even that faint encouragement. United’s line-up was unexpectedly strong, with Rio Ferdinand returning from a back injury sustained last month and Wes Brown, who had not appeared since October 25th also given a run-out from the bench.

It was West Bromwich who seemed stricken. Jonathan Greening has medial-ligament damage that will rule him out for six months. More pertinently, with the European Cup holders at The Hawthorns, it was dispiriting for the manager Tony Mowbray to be without four of the five centre-halves in his squad. Ryan Donk had to be paired with Pele, the Portuguese who was making his first league start of the campaign.

The kick-off was delayed by half an hour because of problems on the motorway, but it would have suited West Bromwich better if the fixture had been postponed. In the circumstances, it looked as if it might be difficult to tap the optimism that ought to have been coursing through the club after three consecutive league wins at The Hawthorns.

They might have had the lead, and grasping it was probably essential against opponents such as these. While Michael Carrick did need to block an attempt from Borja Valero near the goal-line after Edwin van der Sar had punched away a corner-kick, it was a simple clearance. United’s pattern was soon imposed on the evening, with the accuracy and movement of their players taking its toll on West Brom.

A collision by two of Mowbray’s defenders was also a cause of distress, but when Carlos Tevez slipped the ball to Dimitar Berbatov the Bulgarian presented Scott Carson with an easy save. Alex Ferguson’s players, all the same, had the unhurried confidence of a side at the top of the table. The breakthrough was simple yet glowed with expertise.

Carrick steered a return pass to Berbatov, who had checked his run to stay onside, and the striker finished with assurance. Once West Bromwich’s numbers had been cut, they needed to pragmatic to limit the damage, but a foolish goal was conceded.

Carson grabbed Ryan Giggs’ free-kick from the right, but then dropped it. Tevez rolled home the loose ball.

There was still interest in seeing if West Bromwich could deny United their clean sheet. Ryan Donk came close when he broke through from the right and hit the near post with an angled finish.

But Nemanja Vidic’s goal was notched simply as he headed Giggs’ corner past Carson from close range after an hour. The mood of seething injustice in the crowd was eased marginally by a yellow card for Park, although the Korean had scarcely been to blame for Styles’ earlier decision. There was routine melancholy with a fourth goal for United.

Tevez slipped the ball left and Giggs set up Cristiano Ronaldo. It was the first Premier League goal for the Portuguese since November 15th. Its successor came within eight minutes and after he was put clear by Berbatov. Carson and Donk were both cautioned for dissent as they insisted wrongly the goal had been offside. Guardian Service

WEST BROM: Carson, Hoefkens, Pele, Donk, Robinson, Zuiverloon (Morrison 64), Borja Valero, Koren, Brunt, Simpson (Bednar 64), Fortune (Cech 46). Subs not used: Kiely, Kim, Dorrans, Filipe Teixeira. Booked: Koren, Bednar, Carson, Donk, Morrison.

MANCHESTER UTD: Van der Sar, Neville (Eckersley 71), Ferdinand (Brown 70), Vidic, O’Shea, Park, Carrick, Giggs, Ronaldo, Berbatov (Tosic 77), Tevez. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson. Booked: Park, Carrick.

Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).