FULL TIME DERBY 0-1 MAN UNITED: Cristiano Ronaldo's goal puts United back on top of the Premier League, but it was harsh on rock-bottom Derby who battled well throughout and had their chances to get a shock result.

Derby win a corner at the other end and Robbie Savage plays the ball in which is only cleared to Roy Carroll and the keeper's effort is blocked by Wes Brown.

United break quickly and Roy Carroll does well to deny Cristiano Ronaldo from grabbing a second.

There are four minutes of injury time to play here as Derby still try and get forward for what would be an unlikely equaliser now.

Cristiano Ronaldo fires in his free kick which produces a great save from Roy Carroll who palms it away and Louis Saha's follow up is wide.

Jay McEveley goes into the book for Derby for a blatant foul on Cristiano Ronaldo in a good position 25 yards from goal.

A corner for United which is played in by Ryan Giggs to Darren Fletcher whose ball in is punched away by Roy Carroll and cleared properly by Robbie Savage.

United look happy to try and play out the final few minutes and settle for a 1-0 win despite looking to knock up a cricket score before the game started.

Referee Phil Dowd has limped off with that hamstring problem and he is replaced by Trevor Kettle for the final five minutes here.

Laurent Robert gets the chance to help Derby's bid for a point here as he replaces Mile Sterjovski.

The game is being held up here while referee Phil Dowd's thigh gets a massage and now Roy Carroll is also being treated for a groin problem.

We are moving into the final 10 minutes of this game and Derby are still looking to try get forward whenever possible.

United will be breathing a sigh of relief now but it is very hard on Derby's players here who have really worked their socks off and probably deserve something.

Paul Jewell makes a quick change after the heartbreak of United's goal as Emanuel Villa comes on in place of Robert Earnshaw.

DERBY 0-1 MAN UNITED: Wayne Rooney puts the cross in from the left and CRISTIANO RONALDO places his volleyed effort past Roy Carroll from close range.

Darren Fletcher comes on for United in place of Anderson as they look to clinch the three points in the later stages.

Another Derby attack turns into a United break as Ryan Giggs chips the ball into the area for Cristiano Ronaldo, who misses it, and Wayne Rooney fires into the side-netting.

A first booking for a United player as Michael Carrick almost rips Kenny Miller's shirt off his back.

Robbie Savage goes in hard on Anderson and he is deservedly given a yellow card by referee Phil Dowd.

David Jones has shot by Wes Brown blocked and United break quickly through Ryan Giggs but Robbie Savage tracks back well to put him off and the shot is easily held by Roy Carroll.

Mile Sterjovski plays a ball into the area which drops towards the far post and Ben Foster manages to tip away to safety.

Apart from those chances for Cristiano Ronaldo, United have struggled in this half as Derby continue to try and press.

Darren Moore goes down under a tackle from Louis Saha and a foul is harshly given against the United striker.

Sir Alex Ferguson has seen enough with a double move with Paul Scholes to be replaced by Michael Carrick and Ji-Sung Park goes off to be replaced by Louis Saha.

Another free kick for United 35 yards from goal and again Cristiano Ronaldo takes it but this time the powerful, dipping effort is just wide of the mark.

The next corner is played in and Darren Moore gets a touch to it but Cristiano Ronaldo blasts the ball over the top and it is another let off for Derby.

Andy Todd comes on for Derby in place of the limping Marc Edworthy.

The corner comes in and Cristiano Ronaldo gets a power header on the ball but it hits the chest of Roy Carroll and United have finally clicked into gear now.

Cristiano Ronaldo tries his luck with a free kick from 40 yards which bounces up in front of Roy Carroll who knocks it behind for a corner.

This is shocking stuff from United in this half there is no fluidity at all. They will need to get into gear here.

Full marks to the Rams here who have started this half like they ended the first as they have the upper hand over United. A number of balls have been put in the area but the visitors defence is holding firm.

Robert Earnshaw runs at Patrice Evra but his shot at goal is poor and Nemanja Vidic clears up the danger.

Play is back up and running but United have made a slow start with their passing not really up to scratch like in the opening 35 minutes of the game.

Kenny Miller goes over on his ankle and the game is stopped much to the bemusement of Sir Alex Ferguson who felt play should have continued as it was not a head injury.

It is a dark, damp afternoon here and it will be for United's title hopes if they fail to pick up maximum points from this game.

The second half is underway here at Pride Park with no changes as Derby will no doubt be looking to emulate the last 10 minutes of the first half, while United know they need to start converting some the chances they create here.

HALF TIME DERBY 0-0 MAN UNITED: The anticipated rout has yet to materialise here as United wasted several early chances and Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post. The Rams have been the better side in the last 10 minutes forcing Ben Foster into action.

Wayne Rooney produces some great skill inside the Derby area but his final effort is poor and the shot drops over the top.

Mile Sterjovski drills a right-footed effort from inside the area which forces another good save from Ben Foster but Robert Earnshaw is inches away from getting a touch.

Eddie Lewis is like a man possessed here as he now charges back to his own end and gets in a vital block to deny United's attack.

Derby again come forward as Kenny Miller gets in the area and his shot is brilliantly saved by Ben Foster who saves United.

Derby go close to scoring with Ben Foster pulling off a grea save from Mile Sterjovski after a good ball from Eddie Lewis.

Darren Moore gets up well in the United area but Nemanja Vidic does enough to put him off and the header goes well over.

Robbie Savage plays a neat little flick to get the ball in the United area but Ji-Sung Park clears as the Welshman takes a bow to the crowd for his efforts.

Cristiano Ronaldo is fouled by Kenny Miller and it is another good free kick for United. Ryan Giggs plays it in but once again it is poor as it goes well over.

A great save from Roy Carroll prevents United taking the lead as a Wayne Rooney inspired break ends with a shot towards the far corner from Cristiano Ronaldo.

United get a free kick in a decent position which Ryan Giggs plays into the area but it is too high and Roy Carroll claims it.

United break quickly from that clearance but Cristiano Ronaldo's attempted throughball to Wayne Rooney is strangely poor and Roy Carroll comes out to gather.

Derby win a free kick inside the United half it is played in by Eddie Lewis but Nemanja Vidic heads it clear.

Robert Earnshaw swings on the edge of the area but cannot get a clean shot and it is easy for Ben Foster to gather.

Dean Leacock does well to block Anderson's run and concedes a corner. Ryan Giggs plays it in but Derby clear the ball.

Jay McEveley tries to shoot from 40 yards this time when it was probably better to find the pass as United block the effort.

Jay McEveley charges at the United goal but instead of shooting he tries to thread the ball through and United manage to clear the possible danger.

Paul Jewell will be delighted at keeping this game 0-0 after 25 minutes, while Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking for his side to start converting chances to boost the goal difference.

Former United man David Jones is the second Derby player booked for pulling back Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt.

Robert Earnshaw tries to put Nemanja Vidic under pressure but the Serb keeps his cool to knock the ball out to Wayne Rooney. He knocks the ball in for Ji-Sung Park but there is just too much pace on it and Roy Carroll gathers.

Ryan Giggs gets past Dean Leacock with a diagnol run but he somehow fires wide with Roy Carroll beaten. United should be four-up inside the opening 20 minutes but it's still goalless.

Kenny Miller's ball into the area is knocked back to Ben Foster by Patrice Evra but the debutant keeper's kicking has not been the best today.

Derby have just enjoyed a brief spell of attacking play in the United half but it is short-lived as Robbie Savage gets back to put in a great block on Cristiano Ronaldo.

United try to break again through Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo but Mile Sterjovski does well to steer the ball back to Roy Carroll.

Derby cannot clear the corner and a cross-shot flashes across the face of goal from Luis de Abreu Anderson but nobody can get a touch to convert it.

United go very close again with John O'Shea pulling the ball back for Cristiano Ronaldo whose effort smacks off the post and Derby knock the ball away for a corner.

Wayne Rooney will have to be careful as he again moans at the referee despite clearly fouling Mile Sterjovski.

The first corner comes to nothing but United win another off Kenny Miller as United are dominating these opening exchanges here. The ball is played in but cleared by Derby.

Ji-Sung Park pulls the ball back to Ryan Giggs whose goal bound effort is deflected behind for a corner off Darren Moore's lunge.

Derby's Darren Moore is in the book for bringing down Cristiano Ronaldo as he tried to get away from him and run at goal.

Wayne Rooney is already having words with the referee Phil Dowd complaining about a free kick against United.

Cristiano Ronaldo gets in a shot and somehow he fails to take his 31st goal of the campaign here in a bad miss for the Portuguese star. It could be 2-0 already to United.

The atmosphere is great here with over 30,000 in the ground despite the Rams plight as Ryan Giggs gets in behind the defence but Roy Carroll races out to collect.

Ryan Giggs gets his head to a cross from Ji-Sung Park but his effort is held by former United keeper Roy Carroll so a decent early chance for the visitors.

We are up and running at Pride Park as Derby go into the match aiming to avoid the worst Premier League points tally of 15 now they are resigned to relegation, while United look for the maximum points to boost their title mission.

Man United starting XI: Foster, O'Shea, Brown, Vidic, Evra, Park, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo. John O'Shea, Ji-Sung Park, Ryan Giggs, Anderson and Paul Scholes all start as United bid to jump above Arsenal - who play host to Middlesbrough at 5.15pm - at the top of the table for a few hours at least.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hands goalkeeper Ben Foster a debut in a strong line-up which features six changes to the one which lost to Portsmouth in the FA Cup at Old Trafford last Saturday.

Derby starting XI: Carroll, Edworthy, Leacock, Moore, McEveley, Sterjovski, Savage, Jones, Lewis, Miller, Earnshaw.

Rob Earnshaw partners Kenny Miller up front while David Jones - who scored their goal in the 6-1 thrashing at Chelsea - gets the nod ahead of Hossam Ghaly in midfield.

Derby boss Paul Jewell replaces injured experienced defender Alan Stubbs with Dean Leacock for the visit of Manchester United to Pride Park.