Manchester United produced arguably their best attacking performance since their win over Chelsea at Old Trafford in September with an impressive win over Neil Warnock’s QPR side at Loftus Road, which briefly put them top of the table.
Rangers who have beaten Chelsea at home before coming close to doing the same to Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City knew that they needed to start the game well to give themselves a chance of pulling of an upset.
In the Premier League mistakes are punished and after the hosts failed to clear the ball under early pressure, Antonio Valencia nicked the ball down the right putting in a peach of a delivery that Rooney perfectly headed into the far corner after 51 seconds for his third goal in two games.
United’s lead could have been doubled two minutes later but Radek Cerny in goal did well to block Danny Welbeck’s shot from close range. Despite QPR trying their best to get back into the game, United looked in complete control.
On 22 minutes they should have gone 2-0 but Welbeck despite being level with Matt Connolly was adjudged offside with the official’s decision meaning that his nice finish past the outstretched Cerny was disallowed. Soon after the woodwork was struck with Jonny Evans failing to keep his header inside the six-yard box down after Welbeck had beaten QPR’s keeper to the ball.
Then came a brisk attack which ended with Phil Jones bursting through only to see Cerny block his shot wide for a corner before good work by Nani ended with Rooney seeing a shot blocked before the Czech keeper somehow blocking Valencia’s rebound flying into the roof of the net by flinging his hand up with a great reaction save.
Evans then saw a header from a Nani corner hacked of the line by Alejandro Faurlin to frustrate United even more. After that though, QPR began to attack – after all that’s the best form of defending – and came close to grabbing an equaliser before half-time when Jay Bothroyd’s perfectly-timed cross ran across the area eluding Joey Barton’s darting run into the area.
Howard Webb comically allowed United to start the second-half a man up after forgetting to wait for QPR’s Danny Gabiddon to make his way onto the pitch with the Welsh defender only coming on a minute into the half. Sadly Rooney could only fire straight at Cerny before the defender was waved into the fray.
Michael Carrick has been impressive of late and with United struggling with midfield injury problems produced another outstanding performance in the middle of the park. On 52 minutes he doubled the lead scoring his first goal since Feburary 2010 against Portsmouth.
After nicking the ball of the quiet Barton on the half-way line he ran to the edge of the box before firing in a low-shot past Cerny. It was a goal which in terms of style the midfielder’s former West Ham team-mate Frank Lampard is used to scoring and was one that was well received by the United fans in the away end.
With the game all-but won United looked for a third. Cerny spectiaculry denied Welbeck tipping over a curling effort from the young forward before Evans and Jones hit the woodwork. DJ Cambell should have bagged a consolation for QPR but spooned a shot over from two yards after good work from fellow substitute Adel Taarabt.
United: De Gea, Evra, Evans, Ferdinand, Smalling, Nani (Young), Carrick, Jones, Valencia, Rooney (Giggs), Welbeck (Hernandez).
Star Man
Whilst not one United played poorly aside from Patrice Evra for a dodgy 20 minute spell towards the end of the first-half, Michael Carrick showed why he is still a Manchester United player with a tremendous performance. He kept the ball well, landed every pass and the timing and taking of his goal was exceptional. His performance today should be the standard he should be setting himself to match until the season’s end.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
