• Date: Sat 03 May 2008
  • Venue: Old Trafford
  • Ref: Riley, M
  • Attendance: 76,013
Manchester United

Manchester United

Ronaldo (3)

Ronaldo (24)

Tevez (26)

Carrick (59)

4 - 1

Manchester United vs West Ham United

Team Lineups

Manchester United

Edwin van der Sar
Patrice Evra
Wes Brown
Rio Ferdinand
Paul Scholes (John O'Shea, 72)
Luis Carlos Nani
Michael Carrick
Cristiano Ronaldo (Darren Fletcher, 64)
Owen Hargreaves
Carlos Tevez
Ji-Sung Park (Ryan Giggs, 61)

West Ham United

Robert Green
John Paintsil
Lucas Neill
George McCartney
James Tomkins
Scott Parker
Mark Noble
Hayden Mullins (Freddie Sears, 75)
Luis Boa Morte (Nolberto Solano, 52)
Dean Ashton (Carlton Cole, 56)
Bobby Zamora


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

The final whistle goes here, and after all the drama of the first half, United close out the game in a very professional manner to take a huge step towards their tenth league title.

90

The home side just seeing the game out here and there are two minutes of stoppage time to be played.

88

Another piece of craft from United, Hargreaves almost finding himself in behind but his touch was a tired one and the ball broke away from him.

85

Great run from Ryan Giggs twisting and turning and breaking inside, he slipped a great ball into Hargreaves but he couldn't take it in his stride and the chance goes begging.

83

Tevez's english showing notable improvement as he responds to the fans cries for 'A Wave' greeted by cheers from the home fans.

83

Mistake from O'Shea almost gifting a chance to Sears but Brown showing his alertness by reacting quickly to snuff out the chance.

81

A tame shot from Solano, set up by Cole who tucked it back to him on the edge of the box but the Peruvian dragged the shot well wide of the left hand post.

78

Bobby Zamora working Van der Sar, stepping inside of Hargreaves and unleashing a right footed drive goalbound but straight at the big Dutch keeper.

77

It looked like Tevez had earned a chance from a cross, but the flag had been raised by the linesmen.

76
Substitution
 

Alan Curbishley opting to give young striker Freddie Sears a chance to play at Old Trafford, bringing him on to replace Hayden Mullins.

75

He does take it, and his effort curls just wide off the left hand post with Green scrambling.

74

Chance for United here, Fletcher brought down within shooting range but no Ronaldo on the pitch - Hargreaves the likely taker.

72
Substitution
 

Paul Scholes comes off to a rapture of applause, John O'Shea comes on to replace him. I'm sure this change had next week's clash with Wigan in mind.

71

Fabulous ball from Evra cutting the defence open, Giggs ran onto it, laid it to Fletcher in space but his shot cannoned back off the inside of the post to deny United a fifth. The reigning champions looking to turn on the style now.

70

A beautifully flighted cross from Zamora aiming for Solano at the back post but Brown gets up to head it clear well. Good defending.

69

A great piece of play from Tevez to win the ball back deep in West Ham territory - Carrick tries to slide in Scholes but it just doesn't break for him and West Ham eventually scramble it clear.

67
Yellow Card
 

For the hand ball, he goes into the book. A very, very harsh booking and Zamora cannot believe it.

66

Zamora breaking into the box but he brings it down with the use of his arm before rifling the ball well over.

Second half
 

Darren Fletcher comes on to replace Ronaldo. He doesn't want to come off on a hat-trick but Sir Alex has the rest of the season in mind.

63

A wild swipe from Hargreaves as the ball bounced out to him from range, urged on by the crowd he shot but it really wasn't ever troubling Robert Green.

62
Substitution
 

Park Ji Sung comes off and Ryan Giggs comes on to take another step towards Bobby Charlton's record of 548 appearances for United.

61
Yellow Card
 

Ronaldo is cautioned for a foul on Pantsil. It was a little late but that could have done with a simple word in the ear there.

60
Goal
 

As we reach the hour mark, Carrick picked it up on the half way line, was allowed to run forward and shoot from range - It takes a big deflection and it bounces past Green to surely secure the points for United.

57
Substitution
 

Dean Ashton comes off due to the injury sustained earlier in the game and Carlton Cole comes on. Like for like switch up top.

56

A crunching tackle from Pantsil there on Evra mowing him down on the wing - I can't believe thats not a booking!

55

Good play from Tevez, running at the back four and Parker appeared to bring him down but nothing given from Mike Riley.

52
Substitution
 

Nolberto Solano comes on to replace the injured Boa Morte - The winger looking uncomfortable as he came off there, but Solano's passing could create an opening for West Ham.

51

Zamora finding space behind Evra, but his only target in the middle was Ashton - The Hammers should be committing more forward with only Ronaldo up top.

49

Wonderful piece of play from Pantsil breaking past Park and firing the cross across the six yard box but Rio Ferdinand was there to clear with Ashton in the space behind.

49

West Ham having possession but the build up has been a little too slow to cut through the United backline.

48

On a tactical note, Tevez has moved wide right with Ronaldo starting as the lone striker for the ten men United side. And apologies, there was some confusion but Neill was not booked earlier in the game as reported.

48

The second period starting at a much slower tempo than the first did, but then again it would be almost impossible to replicate that tempo!

Second half
 

The second half is underway - Can the Hammers take advantage of their extra man? Or will Untied see out the win to take a huge step towards the league title?

Half time
 

The half time whistle goes, what a first half we've had. United were cruising, but the goal for Ashton and red card for Nani casts an element of doubt over the second half. Don't go anywhere - What will happen next?

43

Great diagonal ball from Scholes into the corner for Hargreaves, but no-one in the box for him to aim at and Tomkins deals with the cross.

41

Tevez told to settle down by Mike Riley, a couple of fouls in quick succession as he chases the ball around the West Ham back four.

38
Yellow Card
 

McCartney goes into the book for a late and deliberate foul on Ronaldo as he skipped past him - The game getting a little agressive here.

37
Red Card
 

After consultation between the referee and his assistant, Nani is red carded, and deservedly so.

35

A bit of a coming together here, Nani is down holding his face on the edge of the area. The replays show that Nani headbuts Lucas Neill.

34

Free-kick for West Ham here, a long way out but cleverly worked and after a real scramble in the box Park manages to get the ball clear. United look a little shaky at the moment.

31

What a passage of play, three goals in four minutes and I doubt that either side are done yet.

29

At what cost has that goal come for Ashton, he is currently off recieving treatment for an apparent groin injury - He comes back on now but is moving gingerly.

28
Goal
 

Wes Brown with a mistake with a header, Dean Ashton reacted first to finish with an acrobatic over head kick into the corner. Super finish from the striker.

26
Goal
 

A wonder strike from Carlos Tevez, opening up his body and smashing a shot, dipping over Green and finding the back of the net - A super strike and a show of respect to his former club with his modist celebration.

24
Goal
 

A great ball in from Hargeaves, bending towards the backpost, over Pantsil, Green didn't come to claim and Ronaldo just turned it in with his thigh. Goal number 40 for him, his 30th in the league.

23

More trademark Ronaldo footwork in the middle of the pitch infront of Mullins which pleased the crowd at least.

20

A great chance for Ronaldo, he spun Tomkins but took too long to shoot and Parker got back in for a saving tackle. He needed to time that one perfectly and he did, super recovery.

19

Wonderful piece of defending from the youngster Tomkins after Tevez had broken into the right side of the area after a great move and as he fires it across goal, the young defender keeps his composure to clear.

17

Great piece of interplay between Evra and Tevez and a saving tacklie is all that prevents Evra from getting the ball in.

15

Ronaldo skips past Pantsil on the wing, flicks the ball past Parker who brings him down but the referee doesn't award the free-kick. Bad decision.

13

A poor kick from Green picks out Nani who drives towards goal but a brilliant saving tachloe from Boa Morte prevents him getting a shot off.

10

Good piece of play from Carrick to find Hargreaves in space down the right, a good low cross into a difficult area is turned away to deny a chance on goal.

7

An early talking to for Paul Scholes who brings down Boa Morte in a typical Scholes tackle as he looked to break for West Ham. No booking though, intelligent refereeing.

6

Almost an equaliser, a high corner headed back towards goal and Zamora beats Van der Sar to it, and Evra has to clear off the line to prevent the goal.

6

Anticipate a very open game now - West ham have very little to lose and will come back at United I'm sure.

4
Goal
 

Long ball upfield and Ronaldo latches on to it on the wing, cuts inside Neill and drives into the area before firing the ball past Green at the near post - Terrfic start for the home side.

2

Corner for United, won early Carlos Tevez - Nani delivers to the front post but Ferdinand's shot is blocked well.

1

West Ham spring forward early, Zamora breaking down the right hand side but his cross is straight at Van der Sar with targets in the middle.

Kickoff
 

Today's referee Mike Riley gets this encounter underway.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Alan Curbishley has been forced into two changes, Ljunberg is out with a rib injury so Boa Morte comes back in. Hayden Mullins comes into the eleven for Faubert and will surely bolster the midfield four against United's strength.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Vidic still out for United, as well as Wayne Rooney so Ferguson names an unchanged side from the midweek win over Barcelona.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

West Ham: Green, Pantsil, Tomkins, Neill, McCartney, Noble, Parker, Mullins, Boa Morte, Ashton, Zamora

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Brown, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Park, Ronaldo, Tevez

Awaiting Kickoff
 

West Ham have won the three previous league meetings between the two sides and will cement their top half position with a win today.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

The home side reached the Champions League final in midweek and are two wins from a tenth premier league title. A win today will take them to within touching distance of the championship.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Welcome to Old Trafford! Today West Ham will try to scupper Manchester United's title hopes, but Fergie and his men will have different ideas.