WAYNE Rooney singlehandedly dragged Manchester United back into the Barclays Premiership title race tonight just as Portsmouth threatened to push Chelsea even closer to the finishing line.
Had it not been for Rooney's late winner at Old Trafford, United would have been trailing Jose Mourinho's men by eight points with time fast running out in their bold bid to catch the league leaders.
As it is, the gap could be down to just three points if United win at Crystal Palace next Saturday before Chelsea visit Norwich in the evening kick-off.
And it was all thanks to Rooney, who had seen his seventh-minute opener cancelled out by a superb volley from Portsmouth's Gary O'Neil 90 seconds after the restart.
He refused to let the visitors interrupt United's dogged chase of the leaders and, nine minutes from the end, delivered a blow which will have caused Portsmouth and Chelsea equal pain.
After cutting inside Dejan Stefanovic with a magnificent first touch as he strode onto Ruud van Nistelrooy's through-ball, Rooney refused to panic as he charged into the area.
Instead, it was Pompey keeper Kostas Chalkias who blinked first, losing his balance as Rooney raced towards him. By the time the striker was ready to shoot, Chalkias was on his backside and Rooney simply rolled the ball past him.
On the United bench, Sir Alex Ferguson must have breathed a huge sigh of relief.
After Wednesday's loss to AC Milan, a defeat which cost beleaguered keeper Roy Carroll his place, anything other than victory would have been a disaster for United.
Arsenal had already provided some concrete evidence for Mourinho's bullish attitude to his team's position yesterday by failing to dispatch Southampton at St Mary's, so United headed into battle knowing they were the only team left who can topple Chelsea from their lofty perch.
A fast start was not strictly essential, and might not have been expected given Ferguson's five changes, but after the midweek heartbreak to Milan, when it came it should have provided a galvanising effect on the home troops.
Van Nistelrooy wasted little time in making his presence felt on his first league start since the win at West Brom on November 27 and the prolific Dutchman was heavily involved in Rooney's opener even though he did not actually touch the ball.
So desperate was Pompey skipper Arjen de Zeeuw to snuff out van Nistelrooy's threat when Gary Neville swung over his right-wing cross that he leapt straight over the striker, flattening him completely, a move which totally backfired as the ball drifted over both of them and landed straight at Rooney's feet.
With the swiftness of someone in red-hot form, the '27million former Everton man swept home a first-time shot to launch what should have been a one-sided canter to victory.
But it did not materialise, partly because United inexplicably took their foot off the pedal and also because Portsmouth bravely refused to subside.
They should still have been two goals adrift by the break though as Rooney delivered a superb far-post cross to Neville, who teed up Cristiano Ronaldo with a perfect lay-off.
For all his many talents, Ronaldo has not yet - unlike Rooney - discovered the art of a clinical finish and could only balloon his volley high into the Stretford End.
It was a miss which would come back to haunt Ferguson's men within 90 seconds of the restart.
By that time United had lost Neville to an ankle injury sustained in a heavy but legal challenge with Matthew Taylor.
Ferguson's side were still readjusting to the switch which saw Alan Smith introduced and Phil Neville slot into the vacant full-back berth when O'Neil struck.
After complaining at the way his defence stood off Clarence Seedorf in the build-up to Milan's winner on Wednesday, Ferguson must have been aghast to see Steve Stone afforded the same treatment as he advanced towards the United box.
Stone was eventually stopped but as the ball bobbled around, Wes Brown could only knee it into O'Neil's path.
The England Under-21 skipper will probably never hit a volley as well again, the curl off the outside of his right boot taking it well out of Tim Howard's reach as the American desperately tried to keep it out.
It should have been the catalyst for United to shrug off their lethargy and rip Portsmouth apart.
Instead it brought only frustration, which increased by the minute as their title hopes began to drip agonisingly away.
It appears however that United's youngest player possesses in abundance the never-say-die spirit which has typified his manager's 18 years at the Old Trafford helm.
Mourinho might still have the air of a man who can feel destiny approaching but in his Cardiff hotel, with his side's lead cut to six points, he probably shifted uncomfortably in his seat as United's ecstatic players submerged their newest hero.
What did you think of United's performance? Have your say.
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How did Tim Howard do? I will be very happy if he gets back the starting job. Thanks.
The early goal worked against United, who were complacent throughout. Ronaldo and Heinze chose tonight to play their worst games ever and without Roy Keane to push them along, United were pedestrian in midfield and hesitant at the back. Ruud did Ok for his first start in ages, otherwise nothing BUT Thank goodness for Wayne !!
That was not a great performance at all. Pretty rubbish if you ask me. fair enough we didn't have Keano and Rio but should have finished the game off soon after they scored. not the best of birthday presents to Ole Solskjaer!!
fine we got the result but, like most of the season, we haven't really finished them off. we wasted so many chances. fair enough we had Keano and Rio out and Ruud just coming back but we should be walking them type of games!! not the best of presents for Ole!!
not a great performance by UTD but great result!! 3 points is most important at the moment to keep up presure to Chel$ea..SAF fullfil some UTD fans dream by playing Smith in Keano position and install back T Ho at the goal..
SAF has shown a strength of character that I thought he'd lost, well done! Dropping Carroll was the right decision and it can only be good for the team. However that midfield was so lost witout Roy it's incredible we came through, thank Eric that Zinedine was thankfully moved to defence in what must be his worst performance ever. That midfield was so lost in the second half I'm sure that Mary could have done better. For Eric's sake this is a team that has lost it's last 5 out of 6. Once paul was off we were lost in midfield, we should have won by at least 3 but the team was struggling to avoid a defeat. Ruud better look out because there's a guy who is going to surpass every record that he breaks. Roo's first goal was great but the second was absolute and utter sheer class, fantastic brilliant wonderful amazing fandabedozee- that bit of skill he showed would have Shevchenko realising that there is a worthy pretender to his throne, absolutely brilliant. It looked easy but i really don't think there is a player in the world that could have done that. He reminds me of Romario who was the coolest finisher I've ever seen, he's got his faults but in a couple of years he is going to be the best player in the world. Great pass from Ruud but he didn't get any service and against Milan it won't matter if he's playing if the midfield is doing it's headless chicken act. Miracles do happen and our midfield will need one against Milan and please sell Zinedine and put JOS back in defence where he belongs. Rudimentry errors that all of us can see are costing us when all we need is a bit of common, surely it's not too much to ask. I remember a post from BB after the Fenebache match saying something like that he'd seen the future of United, he doesn't know how right he was!
Is anybody else sick of Mickael Silvestre? I know this is a bit off the subject but I feel I need to get it off my chest and see what people think.
For me, he gives away the ball far too much. I've seen his aimless punts up the field once too many times. I think the first one I've ever seen do something positive was his ball to Van Nistelrooy today for Rooney's second, but did you see the one towards the end against Milan? Straight out of play for a goal kick to them, without even bouncing. Absolutely pathetic.
My other problem with him is that he makes a mistake a game. You can count the important moments in the Champions League where he has cost us goals and I always fear when it is him rather than Rio as the last line of defence. His ball playing skills don't touch Rio's and he needs to be told that. He'd make a good understudy to Wes and Rio at best, but in my opinion he should be sold. He seems to have a lot of respect from within the game so maybe we could sell him for 7 or 8 mill and spend wisely on another centre back and possibly a goalkeeper. Is this just me, or has anyone else noticed it too?
Let's be honest. It was a below par performance, esp considering the quality of the opposition.The midfield was impotent. JOS, P Nev just kept losing possession and were pass'g sideways and backwards, even when a quick break was on. Scholes was a bit off color too. We are relying too heavily on Ronaldo and Giggs down the flanks to create openings, and Roy Keane to win the balls. We need quality midfielders. Michael Ballack anyone?
3points in da bag. Forget the other things. however it was a wisely chose to get timmy a chance.. I think got the benefit of it...
Doing thing's the hard way! Well a couple of years ago that meant the repercussions to our all out attacking play! Now its because of our "can't be arsed, We've scored one, that should be enough" attitude! "Come on lads, lets do the CRAB!!" Lets pass the ball backards sideways god-fobid forward till we quickly loose possession to a team with players who in the first half could'nt be bothered either! Lets go out and concede a goal in the opening minutes of the first half! Then show how unimaginitive we are in attack! Were Ruud and Rooney the only players on the pitch taking this game seriously? You have to feel sorry Howard, he steps in for Stickyfingaz and Fergie puts Laurel and Hardy in front of him did anyone else see an equalizer coming when Wes and the Narcoleptic were scambling about like a couple of cretins? Not too worried about the injury to "Happy Nev" atleast Wes will get to drop into rightback where he should be. Because he seems to operate better with Ronaldo. The game was proof that we're desperate for a Central Midfielder with abit of Vision and left sided Midfielder! So Phil "freekick for the opposition coming up!" Neville can join Djemba Djemba! Fergie? Hello! Father Christmas? please, anyone!?! IT SHOULD'NT BE THIS HARD!!!!! come on people!!!
Why is it that United are making it so hard for themselves. It's vital to give RVN plenty of practice but why select such a defensive team when we have three forwards who desparately need to gain match fitness (RVN, Smith, Saha). What could be better for Ruud's confidence then playing in a team with flowing attacking football that gives him the chances to put his name on the score-sheet and the more the better before the Milan game. For some inexplicable reason it didn't happen. A funny team was selected and we again took our foot off the pedal when we gained the lead. Playing properly we should have been 3 or 4 nil up at half time as Portsmouth were there for the taking. Instead we slip into a slow casual game that gives the opposition a chance. Even worse they took it and for too much of the second half, even after attacking reinforcements were brought on, it looked as if we weren't going to score. Fortunately Rooney took his chance well and we won but it would have been so easy to drop two points here through negligence. Wouldn't that have made it easy for Chelski and pleased Arsenal.
This site is brimming with impostors whose idea of fun is to try to "wind up" reds. A gripping life they lead. A slip up was avoided, a victory was secured, Rooney and Ronaldo and Heinze and Van Nisterlooy and co are going to make us very, very proud very, very shortly, and there are only 6 points separating us from the top, on a weekend when another defeat will add yet more cracks to the Chelsea armour. Watching our opponents break under the pressure, this is what being a United fan means under Sir Alex. BELIEVE!
A bunch of sleepwalkers - the only exception: Rooney - fabulous lad!...3 points though...and again; never underestimate the other team, no matter who they are...
Poor performance overall but we got the three points and that really is ALL that mattered. We've all seen it happen after the big European games but this time the genius of Wayne Rooney saw us home. Ruud was brilliant for the second goal too.
"WE WON BUT..."with a midfield "composed" by PN and O'shea and a poor Scholes; where are we gonna get the creativity from??? We were lucky to get the three points. Have to give all credits to Rooney, he is trying really hard and he is scoring lots of goals, he seems to believe all the time, that's the atitude we need......he starting to prov that he is worth his wages
we won!!!!!!!! yeah!!!!!!!!! go rooney credit 2 him!!!! obv the other playas helped and did their best 2!!!!!!!! except from da goalie!!!!!
what is wit man us goalies? dey suck!!
ronaldos fitt!!!!
Points in the bag, which I had before thought were more important than performance.
But how we struggle sometimes and you wonder -'why?'
Howard was OK, still not sure about the goal but that shot may have given most keepers a lot to do...lucky shot!
Rooney's natural talent priceless.
Pity that chel$ki didn't get another red card today - lucky pretenders!.
Up The Reds
Roonhaldo's goals apart a pretty uinispiring display.
One that I kind of expected.
Stiil points in the bag and let's see what the pretenders can do!
Ruud clearly makes space for others as he has two men on his back most games.
Up The Reds
Please Fergie dont ruin our european dream by playing Tim Howard and our push for the title and making ridiculous changes.
I know Carroll makes mistake but everybody can see that he is better than Tim who keeps watching crosses even when they are close to him.I had a heartache on Saturday with him in goal.
So Carroll fills you with confidence, Alf?
Alex is a chump as soon as I saw the team selection,I thought here we go again,Fortune and Smith and Saha should have started.Giggs, Neville and Sylvester should have all been on the bench.United need to sack the goalkeeping coach as Howard has no idea where he should stand.Bring on Ricardo.
Very poor but we got 3 points so we can look forward to putting more pressure on Chelski. How is it though that people inside the game perceive playing terrible football with six defenders on the pitch creating no chances and conceeding poor goals as a more 'mature' way of playing???? No its not its crap. Any team in the prem has a chance against us when we play JOS and PNev in midfield together and its only thanks to two pieces of individual brilliance from Rooney that we won this game. Thats what big players are all about though and at 19 and 20 both Rooney and Ronaldo have won us most of the games we have played over the last month. Overall everyone was poor on Saturday and Rooney was outstanding need better at Palace then the pressure will be on. Mourinho seems to be losing the plot big time.
Good points Liegh did not here Smith saying he needed time to get his act together after he was injured.I like to see commitment and attacking play.I am afraid Giggs hardly ever gives 100% like Toshak said he has never played one good game for Wales.Scholes has lost direction.If we had started with Saha,Smith and FORTUNE WE WOULD HAVE WON EASY.
Horrible performance. Great result. Someone mentioned Silvestre, I have to agree with you about his distribution. Those hopeful punts upfield are exruciating. Luckily, when he's paired with Rio this isn't such a problem as he can lay it off to Rio who passes the ball out of defence. Silvestre, on his day, is an awesome defender but he can also be extremely frustrating. I didn't enjoy watching that game at all but I'm hopeful that a week's rest and a few changes will mean a much improved performance next weekend.
terrible performance by the boys but good result. silvestre has been one of our best players for 3 years now. The lad never gives Henry a kick when we play the arse...He is a far better player than Brown so get off his back. As for the lady slating Scholes - he has been tremendous for the last 3 months and gives us the flair and creativity we crave in the centre of the field. Giggs looks rusty but has had his best 4 months for many a year. The team have won 14 out of 17 yet I still read such crass comments. Only Frank and head to toe seem to have a clue..............