Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur - Barclays Premier League

A late goal from Nani and a first-half header by Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic ensured Tottenham Hotspur's 21-year wait for victory at Old Trafford continued.

United captain Vidic opened the scoring with a header after 31 pulsating minutes before Nani reacted quickest to some goalmouth confusion to prod home five minutes from time.

With just two minutes gone Park Ji-sung had come within a whisker of giving United the lead, taking a couple of touches to line up a shot before letting fly from 25 yards. His low effort had Gomes well beaten but cannoned off the post to safety.

Nani also found room to shoot in the opening minutes but this time Gomes made a straightforward save.

Spurs did not allow themselves to be shellshocked by United's busy start and only a precision tackle by Darren Fletcher stopped Aaron Lennon testing Edwin van der Sar after a swift counter-attack in the fourth minute.

Rafael van der Vaart then matched Park's earlier effort, holding possession despite tumbling to the floor before rising to curl the ball against the far post.

Chances continued to come at both ends - Van der Vaart drilling over for the visitors and Park missing the target after some neat footwork in the Tottenham area.

By now United were looking the better side and Spurs survived another nervy moment when Gomes spilled Michael Carrick's shot before gathering again with Javier Hernandez lurking.

Tottenham looked capable of catching their opponents on the break but United's attacks were producing more clear-cut opportunities.

Fletcher missed the latest of them after 25 minutes, failing to convert from the edge of the box after some patient approach play from Nani.

A clumsy Younes Kaboul challenge after half an hour gave the Red Devils the chance to attack from a set-piece and they duly cashed in. Nani floated in the free-kick in from the left and Vidic eased in front of Benoit Assou-Ekotto to head home.

A quickly-taken throw by Gareth Bale, who started despite Harry Redknapp's suggestion that he may be rested, gave Van der Vaart a sight of goal soon after but he mishit his shot.

Luka Modric did better with a sweetly-struck half-volley from the Holland star's corner a minute later but Van der Sar was on hand with a vital diving save.

Dimitar Berbatov could have doubled the lead over his old club just before the interval but a combination of Gomes and William Gallas stifled him.

As in the first half, United came out firing at the start of the second, with both Hernandez and Berbatov just failing to get clean shots away in the opening moments.

Robbie Keane and Jermaine Jenas, both drafted in to the starting XI for this match, were looking distinctly off the pace in key positions for Spurs.

In the 59th minute, Bale finally gave the away support something to cheer. In a passage reminiscent of his memorable Champions League hat-trick against Inter Milan he strode past a handful of red shirts and bore down on goal, only to see his shot squirm just wide of Van der Sar's far post.

Keane gave way to Roman Pavlyuchenko just past the hour mark, handing the captaincy to Modric in the process.

After Van der Vaart failed to beat Van der Sar from a tight angle, Pavlyuchenko almost got lucky when his 25-yard effort nearly found its way over the line courtesy of Vidic's deflection, before Peter Crouch replaced Van der Vaart - who looked in a little discomfort as he left the pitch - in the 77th minute.

Nani's strike ended matters, with the officials judging play to be active when keeper Gomes placed the ball down in his area after an unsuccessful penalty appeal.

Gomes clearly believed he was lining up a dead ball but the Portuguese winger was the only one on the referee's wavelength and rolled the ball in.

Manchester United 3-2 Wolverhampton wanderers - League Cup

Javier Hernandez took United to within three games of Wembley on Tuesday night when his 90th-minute winner sunk Wolverhampton Wanderers and settled an absorbing Carling Cup tie.

The Mexican striker came off the bench with less than 10 minutes to play and, as he's done so many times already in his short 11-game United career, made an instant impact. His winner, a cool left-footed finish after he'd sold a defender a sublime dummy, was his sixth for the club and his fourth in three games.

His late goal settled a game that epitomised one of football's biggest cliches. It really was a game of two halves: the first was largely free from action, the second featured five goals as Wolves twice clawed back deficits before suffering their final, agonising fate.

Plenty of questions have been raised in the last week about United’s capacity for long-term success, but on this evidence there's little sign that the silverware is about to dry up. On a mild Tuesday evening a string of youngsters were handed a chance to impress, including Robbie Brady and Ravel Morrison, neither of whom had previously been involved in a first-team squad. They began on the bench – Morrison eventually came on for a 60-second cameo but didn't get a touch – alongside fellow youngster Magnus Eikrem (an unused substitute at Scunthorpe), club captain Gary Neville, Rafael, Tomasz Kuszczak and match-winner Hernandez.

Sir Alex's men, Carling Cup holders and undefeated at home in the competition since September 2007, began confidently and, given the hodgepodge nature of the team selection, cohesively. Amos was making only his second senior appearance in goal, the back four had never played together, Bebe was also involved from the first whistle for the first time, while Gabriel Obertan took up an unfamiliar advanced role, just behindFederico Macheda.

Darron Gibson was the first United player to take aim at goal, but his curling shot deflected out for a corner. There were then shouts for a penalty on 12 minutes when Obertan's shot nicked off an arm on the way through to Hennessey but referee Lee Mason's refusal was immediate and adamant.

Summer signing Bebe started brightly and helped carve out a chance for Macheda on 19 minutes. The Portuguese bravely put his body on the line in a challenge with George Elokobi before reaching the loose ball first and crossing low into the penalty area. Macheda controlled the ball and shot through a crowd of players but his effort was straight at Wayne Hennessey.

Hennessey's opposing number, Ben Amos, endured a brief scare at the other end when a deep cross eluded the young goalkeeper. Wes Brown, captain for the night, was positioned well, though, and nodded the ball out for a corner.

Wolves' best chance in the first period came after Jonny Evans got himself into trouble and, in an effort to recover, tangled with Steven Fletcher 25 yards from goal. Former Red David Jones lined up the resulting free-kick but only succeeded in blasting the ball into the wall.

Evans' error arrived amid a sloppy 15 minutes from United's point of view. After a positive start, it was as if a switch had been flicked: the simple act of passing to a team-mate turned into a chore and too often players dribbled into crowded spaces or down dead ends. Lee Mason's half-time whistle at least offered a chance for Sir Alex to issue fresh instructions, and the Reds duly emerged re-energised for the second period.

Carrick flashed an early shot over the bar, Obertan chased and won what looked like a lost cause and Macheda curled an effort just wide of the post. After Bebe was impeded 30 yards from goal, Gibson stung Hennessey's palms with a powerful free-kick. Then, when everyone expected Carrick to shoot from the edge of the box, he threaded an incisive ball through the defence to release Ji-sung Park. Hennessey was all that stood between United taking the lead and his 6ft frame proved a formidable barrier.

United were knocking on the door, though, and within 11 minutes of the restart the home side took the lead. It was Bebe who made the breakthrough, his attempted cross looping off a defender and up over Hennessey. Kevin Foley headed the ball clear but the assistant referee on the North Stand side correctly flagged to indicate it had crossed the line.

The lead lasted all of four minutes. Wolves levelled through left-back Elokobi, who rose highest to head home a corner from the right side. Amos complained he had been blocked in his attempt to reach the cross but his appeals fell on deaf ears.

Both Wolves' Stephen Hunt and United's Federico Macheda missed presentable chances to add to the scoreline, while Chris Smalling, superb all night in the heart of the Reds' defence, headed clear from almost underneath his own crossbar.

It proved a timely intervention. Moments later Ji-sung Park atoned for his earlier miss by finishing a move he'd started outside the area with a sweeping left-footed shot into the corner of the net. With the game see-sawing from end to end, though, it was now imperative United took control.

Despite Gary Neville's introduction, though, Wolves again cancelled out United's lead almost immediately. This time ex-United forward Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was at the heart of the move, showing fine skill 30 yards from goal before picking out Fletcher in the middle. The Scot helped the ball on to Foley, who, in one motion, spun and shot past Amos to silence Old Trafford.

Worryingly, Wolves kept creating chances and Ebanks-Blake beat Amos with a rasping shot. The young goalkeeper was able to breath a sigh of relief when it also flashed past the post.

Hennessey then saved well from Obertan at his near post before the Frenchman was guilty of shooting when an early pass may have yielded better results. Had he fed Macheda in the middle the tie may well have been wrapped up without the need for Chicharito's brilliant late intervention.

Stoke City 1-2 Manchester United - Barclays Premier League

It was always going to be hard-fought if United's first away win of the league campaign was to be at the Britannia Stadium, and so it proved as Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez's double defeated Stoke City with minutes to spare.

The Mexican made the breakthrough with a back-header in the first half but it was his second goal, a less spectacular stab from close range, that cued the biggest celebrations, coming as it did in the 85th minute – four minutes after Tuncay equalised for the home side. At that point, when the Stoke substitute's superb shot rippled the net behind Edwin van der Sar, the Reds looked to be heading for a fifth successive away league draw after once again surrendering a winning position. But United stayed calm and constructed a fine move that Chicharito finished with lethal aplomb.

Sir Alex favoured experience and physical presence over Brazilian flair, handing club captain Gary Neville his 600th United appearance at right-back – instead of Rafael – and picking John O’Shea at left-back with Patrice Evra pushed up to wide midfield. Nani started on the right, Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes were paired in the middle and in the absence of Rooney – unable to play on his 25th birthday because of an injury rather than any fall-out from the past dramatic week – United's attack comprised Chicharito and Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian’s first sight of goal came when Fletcher threaded a pass to him on the edge of the area. Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen was swiftly off his line to intervene. Moments later, Berbatov led a three-on-two break and fed Nani to his right. When the Portuguese picked out Chicharito at the far post and the Mexican could only head back into the middle for Stoke to clear, Berbatov was evidently incensed. At the other end, Rory Delap slashed a long-range effort wide after van der Sar had left his net gaping with a poor kick from close to his right-hand corner flag.

Talk before the game was about how United’s defence, yet to keep a clean sheet in a league away match this season, would handle Stoke’s aerial bombardment from Delap’s infamous throws and the deliveries from wingers Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington. How ironic, then, that a corner should find the Potters floundering in their own box for Chicharito’s breakthrough goal on 27 minutes. From the set-piece, Nani played a one-two with Patrice Evra and crossed to the far post, the majestic Nemanja Vidic won the aerial battle to nod the ball back into the mixer, and Chicharito – the smallest man on the park – beat Sorensen with a sweet back-header.

Chicharito almost bagged a cheeky second when Faye sold his keeper slightly short with an under-hit backpass, and as Sorensen cleared, the ball cannoned back off the Mexican but cleared the crossbar. Another effort went over the top when Evra met Nani’s corner.

The Reds looked more likely to score again than concede as the first half drew to a close but there was controversy when Neville scythed down Stoke winger Matthew Etherington only moments after being booked for a foul on the same player. Boos rang out around the Britannia as referee Andre Marriner declined to give the right-back his marching orders. Instead, Neville left the fray at his manager’s behest, and was replaced by Wes Brown for the second half. The period opened in similar fashion to the first and there was a momentary flash of danger when former Reds centre-back Ryan Shawcross attempted an overhead kick inside the United box.

Marriner took action when Danny Collins’ crunching foul on Nani brought an angry Sir Alex to the touchline – the referee booked the Stoke left-back – but he did nothing when Evra was crudely shoved over in the area by Delap with only Sorensen to beat. Evra also appealed in vain for a penalty when his ball inside the box struck one, if not both, of Robert Huth’s hands but the former Chelsea defender – in fairness – had his arms down and behind his back.

With the war of attrition all but won, Sir Alex replaced O’Shea the grafter with craftsman Michael Carrick. However it was the goalkeeper, van der Sar, rather than a midfielder, who sent Berbatov promisingly away with some perfect distribution. The Bulgarian latched onto the Dutchman's long throw and produced a great cross from left to right that Chicharito almost buried, instead just missing the far post with his volley across Sorensen. It was a let-off for the Potters and they duly profited in the 81st minute when Scholes gave away possession and Tuncay – one of three Stoke substitutes – fired a stunning left-footed shot beyond van der Sar’s grasp, into the top left-hand corner.

Yet again, the Reds had lost a lead, but thankfully it was only for four minutes. Scholes atoned for his error by heading on Berbatov’s chipped pass, Evra controlled it with his chest and then hooked the ball inside for the lurking Chicharito to stab home his second, decisive goal. A handful of ecstatic United fans spilled onto the pitch to celebrate with the players and their exuberance was understandable – the Reds had won away for the first time this season, in classic last-gasp fashion, and at the end of a turbulent week.

Manchester United 1-0 Bursaspor - UEFA Champions League

United edged closer to a place in the knockout stages with as routine a 1-0 win as you are likely to see in the Champions League. Nani had three points wrapped up as early as the seventh minute with his piledriver left-foot strike. And after the week United have just had, some semblance of simplicity was almost welcome.

The Reds now lead Group C by two points after Rangers and Valencia shared the spoils at Ibrox.

It’s hard not to feel deflated after the events of the past few days. Even Sir Alex responded to a reporter who told him this was his 2,000th game in management by quipping: “It feels like the 10,000th after this week”.

There can be no mistaking that Tuesday’s revelatory news that Wayne Rooney does not want to sign a new contract rocked Old Trafford. The Reds have experienced adversity before, and the reaction is always to unite. After all, ask any of the 70,000 fans inside Old Trafford and they will tell you: many players have been idolised, but ultimately it’s United the fans love.

Rooney wasn’t on the field due to an ankle injury sustained in training, hours before Sir Alex dropped a bombshell at his pre-match press conference. But it’s not just Rooney’s short-term absence that United must contend with. Sir Alex insisted the door remains open for Rooney to change his mind – there is no doubting his importance to the team since he arrived in 2004 – but the chances of that happening now looking wafer thin after Rooney released a statement hours before kick-off reiterating his stance. Ironically, Rooney’s United debut that autumn six years ago came against Turkish opposition, Fenerbahce. His hat-trick in a 6-2 win was a glorious glimpse into the good times ahead. Yet, against current Turkish champions Bursaspor tonight, it was more a window into what life without To make that judgement on this starting line-up might seem a little unfair. Sir Alex had intimated that he would make changes to his team, and that’s exactly what he did. There were five changes from Saturday’s draw with West Bromwich Albion; Tomasz Kuszczak, Chris Smalling, Darren Fletcher, Ji-sung Park and Federico Macheda all came in.

But after a trying week, the last thing United wanted was a drawn out affair, and it took just seven minutes for Nani to release some tension. The Portuguese winger collected Darren Fletcher’s pass, cut inside and drove at the Bursaspor backline. As against Bolton, alarmed defenders back-pedalled and Nani’s punishing left-footed drive found the far corner.

Bursaspor looked limited as far as an attacking threat was concerned in a first-half that offered few scoring opportunities and, it must be said, excitement. The visitor’s were limited to one breakaway, in which Rafel produced a superb saving tackle on Ozan Ipek to halt the Turkish forward, who was bearing down on goal.

The second half started much as the first had finished, and it took Evra’s cross-shot after an hour to force a save out of Dimitar Ivankov at his near post.

Anderson toiled in midfield and tried to pick out passes, Macheda offered plenty of willing movement, while Nani and Patrice Evra looked dangerous going forward. That Ever was able to act almost solely as an attacker from deep told what an easy night it was for United’s defence. The final ball, and the openings in front of goal, seemed elusive. Sir Alex introduced Gabriel Obertan with 20 minutes to go for only the Frenchman’s second appearance of the season. He took up the right-wing role.goalscorer, and he had an effort stopped by Ivankov on 72 minutes. Jinking on the edge of the area, the winger created space to shoot, but it was straight at the Bursaspor keeper.

With a little under 15 minutes remaining, Sir Alex replaced Anderson with Javier Hernandez, and United’s front line certainly had more of a rapid look about it. Obertan added some much needed urgency, pace and power to United’s play. He got pulses racing with some neat trickery in the box to win a corner with seven minutes to go, and then headed inches wide at the near post from the resulting centre.

Fellow substitute Chicharito fired just wide after the Mexican’s run was picked out perfectly by Nemanja Vidic’s long left-footed pass, but that was the last opportunity to extend the scoreline.

This might not have been the occasion for a bellowing, defiant response from the team, or the fans, to the week’s dramatic events. Neither was it a classic European encounter. The wider issues remain at the forefront of everyone’s minds, but tonight is a clean sheet and a victory at least, a step in the right direction, as United edge towards qualification to the knockout phases of the Champions League.

Manchester United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion - Barclays Premier Leagu

United were left reflecting on yet more dropped points in the Barclays Premier League as the Reds once again surrendered a position of complete control at 2-0, albeit from a freakish Patrice Evra own goal and a rare Edwin van der Sar error.

An open game was to United’s favour and the Reds looked unstoppable in the first half when Javier Hernandez pounced on Nani’s parried free-kick to put United in front after just five minutes. Nani then turned goal-getter to make it 2-0 and Sir Alex's men were cruising. But a bizarre five minutes early in the second half knocked the Reds off rhythm that not even with Wayne Rooney emerging off the bench could rectify.

With all the attention and focus on Rooney in recent weeks, there was even more fuel for the press when the Reds striker was named on the bench. Sir Alex opted for the in-form Dimitar Berbatov and the livewire Javier Hernandez. And there’s no arguing that their attributes compliment each other.

The decision to start Chicharito paid dividends almost instantly when, after five minutes, he won a free-kick 30 yards out. Nani took it and his shot dipped and swerved so much that Scott Carson could only parry the effort. Hernandez has lightning fast reactions and he was first to pounce and found the net. His first league start at Old Trafford, and his first goal here, right in front of the Stretford End.

With two passing, attacking sides, the match was unsurprisingly open. And other than an occasional early tendency to concede possession, United looked good in attack. Berbatov was inches away from scoring the Reds’ second just before the 15-minute mark with a curling effort from 20 yards, while Hernandez – buoyed by his goal – looked effervescent up front.

United’s passing became sharper with time, the attacking play ever more penetrative. Berbatov had an even better opportunity to score the second goal after 22 minutes. Carrick’s low cross from the right had the goal at the Bulgarian’s mercy, but he scuffed his effort wide. Three minutes later the wait ended, although Berbatov had to settle for a supporting role. Nani capitalised on Nick Shorey’s stumble in possession, charged at the West Brom defence before playing a one-two with Berbatov and neatly finishing the move off with his left foot.

Straight after the restart, United went in search of a third goal and Nani was once again at the centre of the action. The Reds won a corner after Hernandez’s header from Rafael’s deep cross was deflected wide. After the initial centre was headed clear, Nani twisted and turned to make space on the left and pitched up an inviting cross, which Vidic headed against the base of the post.

But it was West Brom who got the half’s opening goal five minutes in when Chris Brunt fired in a free-kick from a tight angle. It took a deflection off Evra and van der Sar was unable to prevent it crossing the line. Then, astonishingly five minutes later, West Brom drew level when van der Sar spilled Brunt’s hooked left-wing cross and Somen Tchoyi tapped in a simple finish at the far post. United went from total control to out of control in a mad few minutes.

The fans immediately called for Rooney to be summoned from the bench, and Sir Alex did so, in a double substitution with Scholes on for Anderson and Carrick. Rooney lined up on the left flank and had his first shot at goal in strange circumstances. Carson was penalised for catching what referee Mike Jones deemed a back-pass from Gonzalo Jara. Nani teed Rooney up from the indirect free-kick 12 yards out, but Wayne's shot was well blocked. And United would not be able to find a way through in a frustrating final quarter of the game.

Roberto Di Matteo’s side should be commended for not adopting the usual template of shutting up shop at Old Trafford, even if it looked like being their undoing. The concern for United is more leaked goals, a problem we thought had been eradicated, and more dropped points - a trend that has now passed from worrying to damaging. Although West Brom’s first goal could happen at any time in any game, United didn’t react well, looked on edge, and the second goal was the punishment for it.

As with other similar outcomes this season, large parts of United’s performance were good. This isn’t a bad team, far from it. But lapses are being punished, and luck is very much against the Reds at present.

Sunderland 0-0 Manchester United - Barclays Premier League

Edwin van der Sar was Manchester United's saviour as Sunderland manager Steve Bruce came close to breaking his duck against Sir Alex Ferguson.

The veteran Dutchman produced a fine 16th-minute save to deny Steed Malbranque and then saw compatriot Bolo Zenden hit a post eight minutes before the break as the home side enjoyed much the better of the first half.

Half-time substitute Dimitar Berbatov had a 48th-minute strike ruled out for offside and after Nani had forced a good stop from Simon Mignolet, fired inches wide 10 minutes from time as United improved after the restart. However, the Black Cats were more than good value for their point in front of an appreciative crowd of 41,709.

There is a new-found confidence about Sunderland this season fostered by a home victory over Manchester City and, in their last two Barclays Premier League matches, more than creditable draws against Arsenal and Liverpool.

That, coupled with Bruce's determination to finally get one over on his old manager after years of trying in vain, ensured the visitors would not have things all their own way.

Bruce would have been pleased with the way his team took the match to United from the off to produce an opening 45 minutes which could, and perhaps should, have brought more tangible reward.

With Lee Cattermole, Steed Malbranque and Zenden totally eclipsing Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher in the middle of the field, the traffic was largely one way, and although lone striker Darren Bent had his work cut out, Nemanja Vidic left the field at half-time knowing he was in a game.

Sunderland had a glorious opportunity to take the lead with just 16 minutes gone when Cattermole's superb through-ball and Malbranque's excellent first touch put the Frenchman in on van der Sar.

However, the vastly-experienced Dutchman got in a vital block to spare his side, although that was far from the only occasion on which his goal came under threat.

Nedum Onuoha saw an instinctive shot hacked off the line after he had got a touch to Ahmed Elmohamady's driven cross, but it was the woodwork which came to United's rescue eight minutes before the break.

Zenden was allowed to set himself after shifting the ball on to his left foot 20 yards out, and although his swerving drive evaded van der Sar's out-stretched arm, it hit the post.

United offered little in response as striker Michael Owen found himself fatally isolated, and Mignolet did not have a single save of any note to make before the break, although Nani might have done better with a 39th-minute free-kick which flew well wide.

Owen's afternoon ended at the break when he was replaced by Berbatov as Ferguson sought to inject some menace into his side's game.

The Bulgaria international had the ball in the back of the net within three minutes of his arrival, although was clearly in an offside position when he turned home Scholes' miscued shot and the flag duly went up.

But although the visitors were playing with greater purpose now that they had a focal point to their attack, they continued to look vulnerable down their left with Elmohamady proving a constant threat.

If van der Sar had kept his side in the match before the break, Vidic had to do the same after it when Fletcher could only help Zenden's 63rd-minute free-kick towards his own goal, the defender blocking that and Elmohamady's follow-up before the Egyptian blasted the rebound high over.

United were living dangerously and they were relieved to see Malbranque's 67th-minute effort drop just over after Ferdinand had got in a partial block.

Bent, who had seen little of the ball in front of goal, had a sniff with 17 minutes remaining when full-back Phil Bardsley broke down the left and squared, but his left-foot shot flew wide.

Mignolet had to beat away Nani's dipping 77th-minute strike from distance and Berbatov blasted inches wide three minutes later with the match entering its closing stages.

Substitute Asamoah Gyan tested van der Sar's concentration levels with an acrobatic overhead kick six minutes from time, but Titus Bramble had to throw himself into the path of Vidic's late header to cement the draw.