Manchester United kept up the pressure on City at the top of the Premier League with an entertaining victory against QPR at Loftus Road.
Wayne Rooney put the Reds ahead after just 55 seconds when he headed in Antonio Valencia's cross.
There were chances at both ends in an open game, but Michael Carrick grabbed United's second when he galloped from inside his own half to finish past Radek Cerny as the QPR defence parted.
It was Carrick's first Premier League goal in two years and lifted United a point above City for a couple of hours until the Blues' win over Arsenal.
Fast start
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson has had neither the desire the good fortune to have chosen the same XI in back-to-back matches since August.
The injury jinx had not bitten deep into the Reds resources at that time, and the champions were on fire so it was an easy choice.
With the same team fielded United disposed of London opposition Spurs and Arsenal comprehensively with 11 goals racked up.
Such has been the queue outside United’s medic’s door since those halcyon late summer days the Reds boss had little choice but to go again with the team that spanked Wolves last weekend.
Having destroyed the Midlander’s 4-1 it wasn’t a bad idea anyway.
The last time most of them had been shoe-horned into this pokey traditional stadium they’d had to wait until the very last second for Eric Cantona to poach an equaliser on the way to the 1996 title.
This time they’d barely got used to the surroundings before they were celebrating Rooney’s opener.
Just 55 seconds on the clock and the striker was stooping to steer in Valencia’s cross from the six-yard line.
It was devastatingly clinical and easy and I bet Ranger’s defender Armand Traore must have gone sick thinking ‘I’ve been here before.’ Traore was part of the Arsenal side smashed 8-2 in August!
He could quite easily have been halfway to a similar thumping by half time if the Reds had been as razor sharp as they were when the Senegalese international was wearing the Gunners colours.
Danny Welbeck was first to attempt to add to Rooney’s opener but saw his shot saved after three minutes. Jonny Evans had a gilt-edged opportunity after 27 minutes but managed to guide a three yard header onto the bar.
Squandered
It was followed almost immediately by Phil Jones squandering a killer Rooney ball by stroking his chance against ‘keeper Cerny’s legs.
United were queuing up to have a go and Rooney stepped up to have a shot blocked and Valencia’s follow up was again saved by the busy Cerny.
Evans’s near miss was almost wiped out when the defender had a shot cleared off the line.
Only a David de Gea stop with his legs from Heidar Helguson broke up the Reds momentum and suggested the home side could make United pay for their failure to kill them off.
Having scored only one away goal each match in their last four games you wondered if this was going to develop into another nerve-jangler for the Reds and even possibly one they’d regret if Rangers pulled their attacking socks up.
The wastefulness would no doubt have been the theme of Fergie’s interval instructions.
But that elusive second goal, not enjoyed since the 5-0 hammering of Bolton in September, wasn’t long in coming in the second half.
And while a Rooney goal might be predictable a successful strike from Carrick isn’t.
The midfielder hadn’t scored since January 2010 in the League Cup against City.
But he intercepted a pass just inside his own half after 56 minutes and made his way purposefully forward. He only had to shrug off one half-hearted effort to put him off his stride before finding himself in shooting territory. This time keeper Cerny offered little resistance.
United did take the foot off the gas and only a Jones goal that hit the post looked likely to add to the two goals bagged which was the only criticism you could level at the Reds.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
QPR 0 Manchester United 2 - Stuart Mathieson's verdict
December 18, 2011
Comments
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how did we not win this game 2-8? it was a very open game to be honest,and really enjoyed it.but defensively we were very poor again,evra looks finished(he looked liked that for last two years) evans,was his usual self(not a premier league player) but there were very good performances too,jones looked good again going forward,nani looked sharp too.must say carrick had a decent game as well,that goal he scored should give him the confidence to shoot more!
overall a good win to keep pressure on the blue side(who have a hard game against gunners) and top of the league,well done lads keep going.
on the nicolas gaitan news(agreed a 29.3m deal) all i have to say is,at those prices why didnt we go for pastore(35m)? he was more suited to our centre midfield problems,or that goetza and hazard were better options in imo.
Excellent Christmas present, only disappointed we didn't bang four or five.
Who's top of the table? :-)
Back where we belong! Come on you gooners!
Good performance by united. Carrick and rooney played well.
Well, for a Club that is in a crisis (?) I suggest that we didn’t do too badly? More away wins at this early stage of this season than gained throughout the WHOLE of last season, coupled with MORE points at this same stage! Maybe the description of a ‘crisis’ was a little premature?
There were some superb performances displayed today, and I will leave it for other fellow posters to exploit their own particular favourites. For me, you can give ‘em all a ten! (Well, perhaps I am getting carried away a wee bit, but you know what I mean!)
I can’t resist though, than to pick out just two of our stars who have received an abundance of criticism from more than one or two of our doubters. Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans were terrific and full value for their contribution today. The guys who consistently advocated the worthiness of these two players to our team can now take a bow for never giving up in their support of them.
All in all, I have enjoyed a damn good afternoon, and I will further celebrate in my usual fashion tonight! Now roll on Wednesday!
United ‘til I die!
I used to go and watch QPR at Shepherd’s Bush when I was living in West London during the 70s and 80s. The football played in 1976 at Loftus Road was as good as it was possible to see anywhere in those days. The QPR team had players like: Parkes, Clement, Mclintock, Webb, Gillard, Masson, Francis, Hollins, Thomas, Bowles and Givens. They came within a hair’s breadth of winning the old First Division title that year, losing by one point to Liverpool.
Today, I thought United played the way that supremely gifted QPR team used to play. It was a great performance to watch, fast, thrilling, rampaging, relentless and remorseless. United kept going forward with extraordinary speed, using delicate touch and precision passing. QPR carelessly gave us a lot of space and United exploited it wonderfully well even if we were not at our best when it came to taking chances in front of goal at times today.
I don’t care much about the goals scored or who played well/badly, it was a great game to watch and reminded me of the style of play and great games of the past. For those of us of a certain age, wallowing in nostalgia is all we have left :)
Happy Christmas one and all. Doris x
Best performance since September!
The team worked together, and seems more and more like United.
I can easily see us go on winning 8-10 games in a row now.
Midfield crisis?? Where??
Well done lads... Nice win... Clean sheet without Vidic... Carrick scores...
Are we dreaming ????
Top of the table... For a few hours ????
Can't wait 2C ManC - Arsenal... Who knows...
Think they'll win... but, who knows... "With a little help from my (our) friends" ???? C'mon Joe C., are you joking ???? Or is Arsene W. ????
Finally decided what i want for xmas a MU shirt with the number 16 on it ,welcome back Michael Carrick MOM for me .Good all round perfomance by all the lads,it could have been 10 -0.
That's more like it!!! Very good all round although QPR were poor. Good to see Hernandez back and looking sharp. Great performance by Rooney and what about that second goal?! I'm only disappointed that we didn't add a few more goals.
Bring on Fulham
Gordon
Away win, Clean sheet, Carrick goal! Evans best game for ages and Phil Jones, what a player! Only downsides for me was we didn't up our goals for tally and Evra is half the player he used to be. C'mon Arsenal!!!!
Great to watch. Everyone excellent.
Superb team performance, though Evra could (and should) have done better against their left winger. We need to think long term about our fullback left position. This man Carrick has really shown a different side of himself. Man Of the Match Accolade goes to him, in my opinion. Roll on Sunderland!!
Great game to watch and a great performance.
I thought all of the forwards played very well but we should have be more clinical in front of goal. Welbeck's goal should have been allowed, Valencia, Jones, Nani, Rooney, Welbeck and Evans (twice) should have added to the scoresheet. A score of 0-4 or 0-5 would have been a fairer reflection.
Apart from the lack of numbers and, obviously, left back, I don't think that we have much to worry about. Nani, Valencia, Welbeck, Carrick and Jones are back in form and Rio, Evans, Smalling and de Gea looked solid. We managed to give Hernandez half an hour. I must say though, that I think we look better with Welbeck rather than Hernandez. Danny's movement creates masses of space for others and his distribution is excellent. Shame he under hit the pass to Jones and didn't get his shot away when he'd made himself room in the area. Some of his detractors on here will probably use those two things to try to write him off again.
Such a massive improvement - everyone had a good game except for Evra, although even he picked it up in the second half.
We've found some form at exactly the right time as we always do, even with all the injuries we have at the moment.
Top of the league albeit could be only for a few hours as I can't really see Arsenal getting anything at City. Happy Christmas everyone !
That's more like it..get a few more players back and i think we could go on one of our famous runs. Got a feeling the scum Berties bottle will go.......L.U.H.C.......
Great entertaining game with a very professional performance by all. The only criticism being the sqanderance of many chances. For the first time in many a post, cudo's to the midfield. Carrick and Jones, excellent. I know it was only QPR, who, to be fair, did play very well but still there were signs of a brighter future, especially if Cleverley comes back to his earlier season form. Now I can sit back and see Van Persie get a couple against City. Back on top again. Yeh.
It was pleasing to the eye performance....should have scored atleast half a dozen goals...
Positives: Evans put in a fine performance (though i think he is a future Everton/Sunderland playe)
Midfield of Carrick and Jones were very composed and commanding,of course quality of the opposition was not exactly the greatest
Smalling and Ferdinand put in a performance,Vidic would have been proud of.
Nani and Rooney link up play was a joy to watch
Negatives:
Evra has lost his pace and looks fragile.We need to replace him soon.
Our finishing was pedestrian.
Chicarito should be bought on only if we need a goal to save the match,I think Berba should have been bought on instead.
De Gea,as much as I want him to be success,everytime the opposition has the ball in our box,I have my heart in my mouth...never felt that way when VDS was playing...
Though I must add ,if De Gea had let in a goal,the way Carrick scored today,everyone would have been criticising the 'keeper
'Jingle bells,jingle bells,jingle all the way'..
'Oh what fun,it is to see Man United win away'
Nice win! Wonderful performance from Michael Carrick. Long may they continue. Danny Welbeck needs to start up front every game. His passing and link up open more options for our forward line and space for our midfielders. We should have had 4 goals easy.
Jones finishes like a defender. Solid game however. I look for our #2 keeper to get a game soon.
A great away performance that will propel us towards the holiday fixtures. Come on you Gooners.
A hugely entertaining game. Some of our passing and movement was excellent. It's a small pitch and a tight ground. Expansive wing play is difficult. Not surprised that Tony V had a better all round game than Nani in those circumstances.
Carrick was outstanding, and what a goal!! He is definitely back. Evans played very well and could have scored a couple. It will do his confidence the world of good. Jones and Rio were impressive. Evra had a better second half. Rooney and Wellbeck played well together. Nice to see Hernandes get some minutes, though I agree with T&C that Danny gives us more attacking options. Not a classic United game but they were good to watch.
Could have scored more. Clean sheet. Not really troubled. De Gea and Smalling were solid. Top of the league. I wonder what the whingers are going to say now?
Well done boys . Great team performance and at times brilliant to watch . MOM Evans .
For all of the Carrick haters, he was Man of the Match today, again. He has been one of our best players this season, and is hugely important to this team. Great game - Jones is going to be a legend: it's hard to believe he's only 19. Carrick and Jones are a fantastic midfield duo! We've got Cleverley coming back, and Pogba and Morrison coming through, and Giggs' experience to fall back on. If SAF decides not to "strengthen" midfield in January, that's fine with me. There's a real lemming mentality on here sometimes - if you repeat the same thing often enough, it MUST be true! Personally, I have absolute faith in Sir Alex - he gets it right way more than he gets it wrong - and despite the morons on here who have called for his head this season, here we are, top of the league as we approach Christmas. We must be doing SOMETHING right...
Back home to a lasagna and no goals at Wastelands. Shaping up nicely.
Great performance today. Our best in a while. Some of our passing and movement was a joy to behold. Big win today as it is not an easy place to go to, as their performances against Chelsea & City showed.
From 0-35 mins we dominated, sticky 10 mins and then ran the show in the second half.
Carrick/Jones were the 2 best players. Evans was causing problems at the opposite end for a change! Only player really I would have a gripe about again would be Evra. QPRs best moments all came down his wing and he was regularly out of position and beaten 1 on 1.
Top marks once again to the United away fans... Some great chants to nip any stick we will be getting about the Europa League in the bud before they begin!