United brush aside Spurs to maintain title charge


Monday, February 05, 2007, 02:02:10 HRS


Cristiano Ronaldo's controversial penalty put Manchester United on course for a 4-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday that restored their six-point advantage at the top of the Premiership.

Ronaldo convinced referee Mark Clattenburg to award a spot-kick when he stumbled under minimal contact from Steed Malbranque just before half-time and the Portuguese winger converted it himself to give United the lead.

Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs added further goals in the second half at White Hart Lane as Sir Alex Ferguson's side underlined their determination not to be overtaken by second-placed Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho's team had increased the pressure on United with a 1-0 win at Charlton 24 hours earlier that reduced the gap to three points, but they replied with a clincial display worthy of potential champions.

Tottenham were completely out-classed by the end of a chastening defeat, but they will feel Clattenburg's decision was the turning point.

With fit-again Aaron Lennon and Dimitar Berbatov back in the side, they had looked a threat early on.

But United gradually imposed their patient passing game and should have taken the lead in the 24th minute.

Ryan Giggs's corner was flicked on by Vidic to Michael Carrick, whose header was parried by Paul Robinson. Ronaldo, just five yards out, seized on the loose ball but the winger somehow managed to blaze his shot well over.

United had a case for a penalty after half an hour when Henrik Larsson stumbled under Anthony Gardner's challenge, but Clattenburg waved away their appeals.

Gary Neville was furious and Tottenham almost rubbed salt into the wound when Berbatov took Tom Huddlestone's pass and worked space to drive in a low shot that Edwin van der Sar pushed away for a corner.

Tottenham thought they should have had a penalty when Neville wrestled Pascal Chimbonda in the area, and they felt even more aggrieved in the 45th minute when Clattenburg ruled Malbranque's challenge on Ronaldo was worthy of a spot-kick.

There appeared to be little contact by the French midfielder, but Clattenburg pointed to the spot and Ronaldo picked himself up to fire the penalty past Robinson.

The dubious nature of that goal knocked the stuffing out of Spurs and it took a superb save from Robinson to keep out Vidic's fierce effort just a minute into the second half.

From the resulting corner Carrick's header forced Robinson to concede another corner and this time United made their pressure pay.

Giggs's 48th minute inswinger invited a United player to make it count and Vidic did just that as he got in front of Michael Dawson to plant his header past Robinson.

United were rampant now and they added a third goal in the 54th minute.

Ronaldo surged past Young-Pyo Lee on the right before sending in a low cross that Scholes tapped-in on the goal-line.

Such was United's dominance that Ferguson felt able to take off Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, but that didn't stop the visitors making it four after 77 minutes.

Louis Saha slipped a pass through to Giggs and the Welsh winger kept his composure to beat Robinson with a fine finish.

The only disappointment for United came when, having used all their substitutes, van der Sar suffered a nose injury that forced John O'Shea to go in goal for the last five minutes.

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