Portsmouth 1 United 4

A Wayne Rooney hat-trick, allied to Ryan Giggs' 100th Premier League goal, saw United edge a pulsating encounter with Portsmouth on a rain-sodden afternoon at Fratton Park.Having taken the lead through Rooney's early penalty, the Reds had to overcome the concession of a baffling spot-kick for the home side, which Kevin-Prince Boateng converted. However, Rooney struck twice after the break, once in open play, once from the spot again, before Giggs struck a late free-kick to cap a superb personal...

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United 0 Besiktas 1

United and Wolfsburg will play for top spot in Group B next month after both sides lost on Wednesday night.CSKA Moscow defeated the German champions in Russia while bottom-of-the-group Besiktas ended the Reds’ 24-game unbeaten home run in Europe with a scrappy 1-0 win at Old Trafford.United were left feeling aggrieved after Patrice Evra was denied what looked a stonewall penalty on 85 minutes and Besiktas goalkeeper Rustu Recbera pulled off two stunning stoppage-time saves. But the Reds should have...

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United 3 Everton 0

United are back on Chelsea’s shoulder after midfielders Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia engineered an easy 3-0 win over Everton.It was the perfect response to two results at Stamford Bridge – the champions’ unjust defeat there a fortnight ago and Chelsea’s comprehensive home win over Wolves earlier in the day. The bonus of Arsenal’s loss at Steve Bruce’s Sunderland enabled the Reds to regain second place in the title race.Sir Alex Ferguson’s line-up showed several changes to...

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Chelsea 1 United 0

United were excellent at Stamford Bridge, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s near-perfect game-plan only went unrewarded after the Reds conceded a goal from a highly dubious second-half free-kick, which led to Chelsea skipper John Terry’s winner.The Reds had bossed possession for large periods of the game and looked the stronger, more confident side – with Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney both outstanding. United at least deserved a draw, but the overriding feeling is of injustice, made worse that the Reds...

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United 3 CSKA Moscow 3

As expected, United dramatically reached the knockout stages of the Champions League - but not without the mother of all frights.Goals in the final six minutes from Paul Scholes and Antonio Valencia - albeit via a huge deflection - saved United from a first Champions League home defeat since February 2005, after CSKA Moscow had stunned Old Trafford by roaring into a 3-1 lead.The Russians, who looked a team transformed from the sides' meeting in Moscow a fortnight ago, repeatedly took advantage of...

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