Man Utd vs. Hull

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Old Trafford Date: Saturday, 23 January 2010 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio & Final Score

• TEAM NEWS

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will make his long-awaited return from a back injury against Hull.

Nemanja Vidic remains sidelined with a calf complaint, but Dimitar Berbatov has recovered from a dead leg.

Hull City boss Phil Brown will monitor Kamil Zayatte's ankle injury, but otherwise has no fresh injury concerns.

New loan signing Amr Zaki is not likely to make the squad after arriving in Hull from Egyptian club Zamalek short of fitness.

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Man Utd

Doubtful: Foster (back), Macheda (hamstring)

Injured: Hargreaves (knee), O'Shea (thigh), Vidic (nerve in leg)

Hull

Doubtful: Zaki (match fitness), Zayatte (ankle)

Injured/unavailable: Ashbee & Bullard (both knee), Cousin & Olofinjana (both Africa Cup of Nations)

• MATCH PREVIEW

Manchester United will go top of the Premier League table if they maintain their 100% Premier League record against Saturday's visitors Hull.

With title rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in FA Cup fourth-round action, that shock early exit to Leeds could prove to be a silver lining as United look to reignite their season.

The champions' stuttering form has seen them win only four of their last nine games in all competitions, with Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final defeat to rivals Manchester City the latest example of their fragility.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side will welcome back Rio Ferdinand, who has not played since the defeat at Liverpool in October due to a long-standing back injury - a timely boost following the news that John O'Shea is likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a blood clot in his leg.

Hull head to Old Trafford knowing any points return will see them break free of the bottom three. The Tigers have won only four league games all season and are yet to win away from home, but Phil Brown will be hoping last weekend's battling display at Tottenham and a week of warm-weather training in Tenerife can inspire his team to an unlikely victory.

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Manchester United have never lost a league game at home to Hull (W8, D1).

• Hull's only win at Old Trafford came in an FA Cup third-round tie in 1952 when they won 2-0.

• United have won their last six league and cup matches against Hull since a 2-0 away defeat in the old Division Two in November 1974.

Man Utd

• United have won their last eight home league matches in January without conceding a goal.

• The club's last six league goals have all come in the second half. In total, 34 of their 49 Premier League goals this season have been scored in the second half - the most in the division.

• Wayne Rooney needs one goal to equal his career-best league tally of 16, set in 2005-06.

• Dimitar Berbatov is set to make his 50th league appearance for Manchester United. He has scored 16 goals in 49 matches.

Hull

• Hull are winless in their last seven league matches (D4, L3), and have failed to score in four of their last six.

• They have not won in their last 16 league away matches since a 1-0 victory at Fulham on 4 March. If they fail to win on Saturday it will be the longest run by a Premier League team without an away victory since Derby County failed to win any of their 19 away games in 2007-08.

• This is manager Phil Brown's 150th game in charge of the Tigers.

• LEADING GOALSCORERS

Man Utd

Rooney: 16 goals (15 league); Berbatov: 7 goals (7 league); Owen: 7 goals (2 league)

Hull

Hunt: 5 goals (5 league); Geovanni: 5 goals (3 league)

• MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Steve Bennett

Assistant referees: Bob Pollock & Andy Garratt

Fourth official: Nigel Miller

• LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Man Utd (W3-0 v Tottenham, h): Van der Sar; Neville, Brown, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick (Anderson 66), Scholes, Nani, Berbatov (Owen 73), Rooney (Diouf 74). Subs not used: Kuszczak, Park, Fabio Da Silva, Rafael Da Silva.

Hull (D0-0 v Tottenham, a): Myhill; McShane, Zayatte, Gardner, Dawson, Garcia (Mouyokolo 83), Boateng, Hunt, Barmby (Kilbane 65), Geovanni (Vennegoor of Hesselink 75), Fagan. Subs not used: Duke, Mendy, Ghilas, Cairney.

• MOST RECENT MEETING

Hull 1-3 Man Utd (27 December 2009)

Hull scorer: Fagan 59 pen.

Man Utd scorers: Rooney 45, Dawson 73 (og), Berbatov 82.

From BBC

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Rio Ferdinand to face Hull after three months out

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand will end a three-month absence by playing against Hull on Saturday after finally overcoming his injury problems.

The 31-year-old England centre-back has not played since United's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on 25 October and fears had grown over his long-term fitness.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Rio has been training very well in the last few weeks. He will play on Saturday."

Ferdinand has featured only eight times for his club this season.

He has missed 19 games for United, and also sat out England's friendly with Brazil, after suffering what was reported to be a calf injury believed to be related to a long-standing back problem.

England boss Fabio Capello will also be pleased by Ferdinand's return, with the Italian having already made it clear that he will take only fully fit players to this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Ferdinand underwent intensive treatment from a specialist in London and Ferguson is now happy that his player is ready to play again.

"This is the time to bring him back," added the Scot. "We have gone through the whole situation with him in terms of enough training and endurance work.

"It is a big boost because the defence has been the weakest part of our game this season.

"At various times we have lost Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar, John O'Shea.

"It has been a rough time, so to get them back can only be good for us."

Ferguson confirmed Vidic was still a fortnight away from recovering from a calf complaint, although that would at least put him in contention to face AC Milan in the Champions League knock-out round.

He revealed this week that O'Shea could miss the remainder of the season after suffering a blood clot in his leg, but Ferguson said Dimitar Berbatov will be available on Saturday after recovering from a dead leg.

Meanwhile, Ferguson has revealed he will select Owen Hargreaves in his 25-man Champions League squad even though he has no real idea when the midfielder will make his comeback.

Hargreaves has been missing for over 15 months after undergoing major surgery on both knees in an effort to cure a long-standing tendinitis problem.

"Owen is still training with the reserves," said Ferguson. "Now it is two days on and one day off and he is preparing to get to the proper levels.

"He has done two or three sessions with us in the last couple of weeks and did very well in Qatar last week.

"But it is a process and hopefully we will get to the point where he feels confident about playing again."

From BBC

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Manchester United suffer John O'Shea injury blow

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said defender John O'Shea is likely to miss the rest of the season because of a leg problem.

O'Shea, 28, has not played since the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off against France in November as his nation failed to reach the finals.

Ferguson told the Irish Independent: "He's got a terrible injury - the blood clot became all knotted.

"It's a long process to clear it up and he'll probably miss the season now."

United have had problems in defence this season, with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Wes Brown, Rafael Da Silva, Fabio Da Silva and Gary Neville all having significant spells out of the game.

O'Shea's injury was initially thought to be nothing more serious than a dead leg.

However, Ferguson added: "It's one of those sorts of injuries that are unusual. It's like a dead leg except a dead leg is usually only three or four days.

"It's a bad blow for the boy and for the team because he can play anywhere.

"When you look at all the problems I've had with the back four this season, he could have played every single one."

Prior to suffering the injury to his leg, O'Shea had played 15 times for United this season as well as featuring in three World Cup qualifying games for the Republic of Ireland.

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Manchester United debt hits £716m

Debts at the parent company of Manchester United have increased to £716.5m ($1.17bn), according to its latest accounts.

Red Football Joint Venture is owned by the Glazer family and secures its debts against the football club.

The accounts, for the year to June 2009, show United's debts passing £700m for the first time.

They also confirm that six of Malcolm Glazer's children were each given loans worth £1.67m from the parent company.

All are directors of Red Football, and such a practice is legal.

However Keith Harris, the head of merchant bank Seymour Pierce who has been involved in four Premier League club takeovers, questioned whether it was sensible.

"You would not expect directors to be borrowing money at a company of United's size," he told the Guardian newspaper.

"And, although it is now allowed legally, it is generally still frowned upon because it does not create a good impression of the directors' governance of the company."

Fan protests

The club's fans have recently protested against the Glazer's ownership.

After last week's revelation that the club was considering raising £500m through a bond issue to refinance its debts, supporters held up a banner saying "Love United, Hate Glazer" at Saturday's home match against Burnley.

Mark Longden, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, said then that United was being "driven to oblivion".

The accounts of Red Football Joint Venture also showed that more than £69m was paid out in interest alone over the year.

Despite the debts, the club turned a profit of £6.4m for the year.

This was a marked improvement on the £47m loss reported at the end of the 2007/08 season.

The accounts also show that player sales brought in a profit of £80.7m - the price paid by Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.

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Man City 2 - 1 Man Utd

Carlos Tevez tormented former club Manchester United as Manchester City came from behind to steal a slender advantage after the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Eastlands.

Tevez, who crossed the city in the summer in acrimonious circumstances, silenced the taunts of Manchester United's fans by scoring either side of the interval to keep alive City's hopes of securing their first major Wembley final in 29 years.

United looked on their way to securing a result that would put them in pole position for next Wednesday's second leg at Old Trafford when Ryan Giggs slid them into an early lead from close range.

But City were back in the derby when Tevez equalised in controversial fashion three minutes before half-time. Rafael da Silva clearly fouled Craig Bellamy outside the area, but referee Mike Dean waited until the pair were inside the box before pointing to the spot.

Tevez lashed home the penalty and gave his former club further aggravation when he headed home from six yards after 65 minutes and celebrated near the technical area, yards from the man who declined to sign him - Sir Alex Ferguson - as Eastlands went wild.

City then had to survive frenetic closing stages, during which time the brilliant Shay Given saved from Wayne Rooney on three occasions and substitute Michael Owen had a shot smuggled off the line by City's Nedum Onuoha.

City boss Roberto Mancini punched the air in delight at the final whistle, but this semi-final remains delicately balanced with both sides harbouring serious hopes of reaching Wembley.

Tevez joy at 'special' double

But the night belonged to Tevez, such a bone of contention between Manchester's football community, and he was given a hero's reception when he was replaced in the closing stages.

Now the scene switches to Old Trafford on 27 January, and City will be be looking to Tevez to inspire them once more at the Theatre of Dreams.

Ferguson, no doubt unwilling to give his neighbours any encouragement, fielded a stronger side than has been his custom in the Carling Cup, and for the first 30 minutes they controlled affairs with ease.

The Eastlands atmosphere, already at fever pitch, was stoked even further as members of City's legendary 1969/70 team were introduced and the stadium was plunged into darkness as a "blue moon" was shone on to the stands, a nod to the club's anthem.

For some time this was as good as it got for City, as United's extra men in midfield exerted their superiority and their opponents appeared stifled by the importance of the occasion.

And Giggs gave United tangible reward for that supremacy when he put them ahead after 17 minutes. He had the simplest of tasks to score after Given could only block Rooney's shot from Antonio Valencia's right-wing cross.

Tevez, predictably, was not being warmly received by the fans who used to idolise him when he was at Old Trafford, but he wasted the perfect opportunity to silence his tormentors when he headed wide when unmarked only eight yards out.

The Eastlands crowd had been unimpressed with City's timid early approach, but they came to life as half-time approached and drew level three minutes before the interval.

Bellamy escaped from Rafael and was tugged back by the United defender outside the area, but when the tangle continued inside the box referee Dean pointed to the spot.

United were furious, but Tevez remained calm amid the mayhem to convert the spot-kick with venom in front of the visiting supporters, much to his obvious delight.

Giggs almost got his second as the hour approached, but Given was alive to the danger and blocked his header at the near post as he closed in on Rooney's cross.

Tevez punished United again after 65 minutes, heading past Edwin van der Sar from close range after Vincent Kompany hooked Pablo Zabaleta's header into the six-yard box.

And United were grateful to Van der Sar as City looked to extend their lead, with the Dutchman saving well from Shaun Wright-Phillips after good work by Bellamy.

This was the signal for Ferguson to make a change as he introduced Owen for Anderson with 18 minutes left.

Owen soon made an impact when he played in Rooney inside the area. Given raced out to make a vital block and City substitute Onuoha was on the line to clear when Owen returned the rebound.

Rooney, as ever, was providing United's inspiration and he was denied again by Given when his rising drive was turned over the top by the keeper.

As five minutes of stoppage time was signalled, Given was still able to frustrate Rooney once more to ensure City preserved their precious lead.

From BBC

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Man City vs. Man Utd

Carling Cup semi-final, first leg
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium Date: Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One and BBC Sport website; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

• TEAM NEWS

Manchester City will be without injured pair Roque Santa Cruz and Patrick Vieira for this Carling Cup semi-final.

But Stephen Ireland is expected to be among the substitutes as he returns from a hamstring problem.

Darren Fletcher returns from suspension for Manchester United, while Dimitar Berbatov hopes to be available despite suffering a dead leg on Saturday.

Nemanja Vidic could make his comeback after missing the last three games with a nerve problem in his leg.

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Manchester City

Suspended: NoneDoubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: Adebayor (compassionate leave), Bridge, Johnson & Lescott (all knee), Santa Cruz & Vieira (both calf), Toure (Africa Cup of Nations)

Manchester United

Doubtful: Berbatov (dead leg), Foster (back), Macheda (hamstring), Vidic (nerve in leg)

Injured/unavailable: Ferdinand (calf/back), Giggs (rested), Hargreaves (knee), O'Shea (thigh)

• MATCH PREVIEW

It is 34 years since Manchester City last won a major trophy. Since winning the 1976 League Cup final, City fans have had to stand by helplessly and watch as their biggest rivals have won every piece of silverware going, collecting an astonishing 25 major honours (11 Premier League titles, 8 FA Cups, 2 European Cups, 1 Cup Winners' Cup, 3 League Cups).

Thirteen City managers have tried and failed to match the exploits of Sir Alex Ferguson since the Scot arrived at Old Trafford in 1986.

Now it is the turn of Roberto Mancini. The former Inter Milan manager certainly has the pedigree - in a seven-year spell managing in Serie A he won three league titles and four Coppa Italias to add to the two Serie A titles and six Italian Cups he won as a player.

In Italy, Mancini was said to be "baciato dalla grazia" - kissed by fortune - and a seemingly effortless start to life at Eastlands with four wins in his first four games further sealed that reputation. But Saturday's defeat at Everton provided a reminder that greater challenges await.

Manchester United's season has been one of injuries, inconsistency and financial instability. The champions returned to winning ways on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Burnley, but with seven defeats already this season and the wounds of the FA Cup exit to Leeds still raw, the League Cup has taken on greater significance and Ferguson is likely to field a stronger line-up against City than might have been expected.

• MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is the 153rd meeting between these sides in all competitions. Man Utd have won 62 to Man City's 41, with 49 draws.

• City beat United 4-0 en route to winning the 1976 League Cup final. They also beat United 4-3 on aggregate in the 1969/70 semi-final.

• United's only League Cup victory over City came in the third round of the 1974/75 competition.

• The last three Manchester derbies at Eastlands have ended 1-0, twice in United's favour.

Manchester City

• Man City have won two League Cups (1970 and 1976) and were runners-up in 1974.

• This is City's first major semi-final since they defeated Ipswich Town to reach the 1981 FA Cup final.

• City last won a major trophy 34 years ago. Coincidentally, it was the League Cup.

• City have lost only two of their last 20 league and cup games.

Manchester United

• Man Utd are the current League Cup holders. They also won the 1992 and 2006 League Cups. They have been runners-up four times (1983, 1991, 1994, 2003).

• Under Sir Alex Ferguson United have contested seven League Cup semi-finals, reaching the final on six occasions.

• United have only won four of their last eight games.

• If selected, Edwin van der Sar will make his 200th appearance for United.

• LAST MEETING

Man Utd 4-3 Man City (20 September 2009)

Man Utd scorers: Rooney 2, Fletcher 49, 80, Owen 90.

Man City scorers: Barry 16, Bellamy 52, 90.

From BBC

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Manchester City real contenders says Sir Alex Ferguson

Carling Cup semi-final first leg: Manchester City v Manchester United
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium Date: Tuesday, 19 January KO: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One and BBC Sport website; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester City are now one of his Manchester United side's serious competitors ahead of the teams' Carling Cup semi-final.

The two meet at Eastlands on Tuesday in the first leg of an eagerly-awaited tie, with City's galaxy of stars now pushing for supremacy in Manchester.

Roberto Mancini's cash-rich side are looking to qualify for their first major domestic final since 1981.

"You have to recognise they are a competitor now," admitted Ferguson.

"We have had to wait a long time for it to be like that but they are obviously making a much better fist of their league programme this year than they have done in the past.

"You could not compare it to Rangers and Celtic but having rivals in the same city does create far more emotion."

City have never seriously challenged their neighbours in the past 20 years, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool - and briefly Blackburn and Newcastle - providing the strongest opposition.

But the takeover by Abu Dhabi businessman Sheikh Mansour in 2008 and an enormous subsequent cash injection has seen the club become genuine contenders for silverware.

For all the progress under former manager Mark Hughes and his successor Mancini, however, City still approach the game nine points behind their arch-rivals in the Premier League.

But both sides' league ambitions will go out of the window in what promises to be a fiercely competitive cup clash, screened live on BBC One and the BBC Sport website.

Much of the attention will focus on City's Carlos Tevez, who will face the club he left in somewhat acrimonious circumstances last summer, but his former manager insists he will not lose sleep over the prospect of coming up against the in-form Argentine.

"What happens with him doesn't concern me," said Ferguson.

"You have to move on with life. Plenty of players have left here to go to other clubs.

"I wouldn't have thought it would affect him either. He always had a decent temperament."

Mancini, meanwhile, believes his side have the capability to knock United off their pedestal and become Britain's biggest club.

City are currently fifth in the Premier League after an inconsistent start to the season, including a memorable 4-3 defeat by United at Old Trafford in September.

Mancini's side have registered notable victories over their rivals in recent years, most notably 3-1 and 4-1 results before and after the Blues' move to Eastlands.

But silverware has always eluded the blue half of Manchester - a statement that could hardly be further from the truth as far as United's recent past goes.

But Mancini, who suffered his first defeat as City boss against Everton on Saturday, feels that could all change in the near future.

"If we work well, it is possible," said the Italian.

"United have a big history. They have been a good team for many years.

"City can become a big team in the next year. It is most important that we get into the top four.

"That would change the situations. Surely it would be better if City were also a big club in the future because then Manchester could have two clubs in the Champions League."

United left-back Patrice Evra has also stoked up the atmosphere by stating his team are interested in winning trophies, not local rivalries.

Man City can reach final - Mancini

With City last tasting Wembley success in 1981, Evra believes a superior record will see the Red Devils through over the two-legged encounter.

"We know the City people are talking about this game," the 29-year-old said.

"We are playing to go closer to winning the cup, maybe they're playing to beat us. That is the difference between us."

Centre-back Rio Ferdinand will not be considered for United despite edging closer to full fitness after three months out with a back injury.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher is available after suspension and should be involved and there is a possibility Dimitar Berbatov could retain his place up front after Ferguson revealed the £30.75m record signing did not suffer a recurrence of his knee injury during the win against Burnley.

Ferguson has picked youthful sides in previous rounds but it seems unlikely he will field an inexperienced team for such a high-profile game.

Meanwhile, City have been rocked by the news that striker Roque Santa Cruz faces a month out after suffering a recurrence of his calf injury.

Patrick Vieira's debut is on hold until he recovers from the calf injury he picked up immediately before his move from Inter Milan, but fellow midfielder Stephen Ireland is at least fit enough to take up a place on the bench after missing three matches with a hamstring problem.

Mancini must also decide whether to start with Robinho after substituting the Brazilian forward against Everton, having sent him on from the bench earlier in the same game.

From BBC

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Gillingham close in on loan extension for Febian Brandy

Gillingham's attempts to keep striker Febian Brandy until the end of the season have moved a step nearer.

Manchester United have allowed Brandy to stay at Priestfield and the decision now rests with the player.

Gills manager Mark Stimson told BBC Radio Kent: "He's been brilliant. We need more strikers if we are to score the goals to keep us in this league."

Brandy has scored twice in nine games for the Gills and returned from injury in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Swindon.

He had been back with his parent club for treatment on a thigh injury picked up last month.

"He hasn't trained and we haven't seen him since the Brentford game [on Boxing Day]," said Stimson.

"He's done a lot of light training but it's all been indoors in Manchester. He said he wanted to go on the bench, and he got on but his ankle is not 100% right.

"It could have been his last game we had to try toget something out of the game so we put him on."

There is commentary of Accrington v Gillingham on Tuesday 19 January on BBC Radio Kent 96.7 104.2 FM and online at bbc.co.uk/kent

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Man Utd 3 - 0 Burnley

Three second-half goals secured a hard-fought win for Manchester United against a spirited Burnley.

Rooney (left) kept his cool and picked his spot to score United's second

The Clarets could have taken the lead early on but David Nugent fluffed a good chance when through on goal.

And Dimitar Berbatov made them pay on 64 minutes with a deflected effort before Wayne Rooney dispatched a low drive after Berbatov's shot was saved.

Substitute Mame Diouf headed Antonio Valencia's cross over the onrushing Brian Jensen to complete the scoring.

The win means United remain a point behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, who hammered Sunderland 7-2 at Stamford Bridge.

While the final 20 minutes of the game were comfortable for Sir Alex Ferguson's team, for the preceding 70 they were frustrated by a determined visiting side.

New Burnley boss Brian Laws would undoubtedly have preferred an easier first test of his reign.

The Clarets may have beaten United at Turf Moor earlier in the season but the man who masterminded that result, Owen Coyle, is now Bolton manager and this result means they have failed to improve upon a record of only one away point this season.

We took our chances - Phelan

Having only been in charge for three days, it is too soon to judge Laws but despite the final result he will be pleased with the application shown by his side.

They worked hard to stifle United's attack while also producing some incisive play of their own to fashion a number of openings on the counter-attack.

It was from one such break that the visitors should have taken the lead within the first 10 minutes.

Nugent broke free down the right and played it across to two Burnley players, one of which was Steven Fletcher, exploiting a lack of home defenders and bearing down on goal, but he flashed his shot across goal and wide.

The focus given this week to the crisis at Liverpool has somewhat taken the heat off United, who have courted criticism since their FA Cup third round defeat by Leeds, followed by a draw at Birmingham last time out.

Unsurprisingly, they dominated possession and posed the greater attacking threat but they looked a side short of confidence and too often players were indecisive when it came to providing a final ball.

When this was provided the shooter fluffed their effort, with Nani and Berbatov chief culprits with miscued attempts at goal.

Portuguese midfielder Nani drew a good save from Brian Jensen in the Burnley goal with a spectacular overhead kick effort late in the half, but this was as close as the home side came to scoring before the break.

The start of the second half picked up where the first had left off with United pressing but making little inroads.

Jensen was able to comfortably save a header from Paul Scholes - looking to score his 100th Premier League goal - and a Nani long-range shot.

Rooney's workrate alone made him the most likely to fashion something for the home side and just before the hour he almost did just that.

Laws praises Burnley performance despite loss

Patrice Evra cut into the box on the right and teed up the England striker but he snatched at the shot and hit it over.

Rooney's strike partner Berbatov had a wonderful chance to give United the lead minutes later when he skilfully pulled the ball down from an Valencia pass and turning on goal but his shot from 10 yards was less impressive, striking the post and going wide.

In response, Burnley gave further warning of their threat when Chris Eagles carried the ball into the United half and found Nugent, who held off the challenge of Jonny Evans but was unable to get his shot on target, instead poking it harmlessly wide.

Having survived that scare and with Burnley in the ascendancy, United took the lead.

Rooney picked up the ball on the edge of the box before finding Berbatov who held off Michael Duff and digging out a shot that found its way past Jensen via a deflection from the defender.

Their frustration lifted, United doubled their lead shortly after when Rooney collected following a Jensen save from Berbatov, delayed his shot before finding the bottom corner with a well-placed side-foot effort.

Despite this double blow Burnley continued to work hard and almost snatched a lifeline in the 83rd minute when Steven Thompson rose to head at goal but his effort struck the post and went wide.

Cruelly, the visitors conceded a third in injury time when Valencia's long ball forward found substitute Diouf whose cute header looped over Jensen and in.

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:

"We could have been embarrassed.

"We had a number of opportunities to punish them in the final third but there was a bit of nervousness and anxiety about our game.

"You need a goal to open teams up in matches like that, although while they will probably feel 3-0 was unfair, I didn't believe it was too unjust."

Burnley manager Brian Laws:

"If you look at key moments in games we should have taken the lead when Nugent went through.

"When you come to places like this you have got to take your chances.

"I don't there are many teams who come to Manchester United and have the chances we had."

From BBC

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