Edging Towards the Title: Manchester United 1 Reading 0

Rooney's opening goal proved to be the winner against a stubborn Reading

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

Manchester United	Reading
De Gea  Smalling  Ferdinand  Vidic  Buttner  Welbeck  Giggs  Anderson     (SUB Kagawa 85')   Young     (SUB Carrick 74')   Rooney (GOAL! 21')  van Persie    Unused subs:  Lindegaard  Evans  Valencia  Hernandez  Powell	Taylor  Kelly (Y 55')   Pierce  Mariappa  Shorey  Karacan  Leigertwood   McAnuff   Robson-Kanu    (SUB Blackman 70')  McCleary  Hunt (Y 41')    (SUB Le Fondre 70')   Unused subs:  McCarthy  Gunter  Morrison  Harte  Akpan

With David Moyes' team beating Manchester City 2-0 earlier in the day, United's gritty 1-0 win against resolute Reading meant the Red Devils edge closer to their 20th league title as they now hold an emphatic 15 point lead at the top of the table.

The first minutes of the first half saw a steady, unmoving deadlock between the two teams, with few clear-cut chances being made between the two. Then, somewhere in the fifteen-minute mark, the United attack started to tick. Ashley Young recorded an effort on goal; Welbeck, Rooney and van Persie would soon follow, but all would drift amiss. Then, a moment of fortune arrived. Ferdinand made a blistering run in the center, crossing the ball towards Rooney who made a shot towards goal. The ball bounces off Reading's Alex Pearce and it lobs past keeper Taylor and towards the net.

Rooney broke the deadlock as his shot deflects past Reading's Pearce

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

Reading would respond with attacks from Robson-Kanu, Shorey and McAnuff, but the Royals just couldn't get that equalizing goal.

The second-half saw the deadlock reinstated at Old Trafford. Ashley Young and Welbeck had shots in for the Reds; Karacan, McAnuff and Robson-Kanu replied for the visitors. With Reading seemingly in the driver seat, United looked as if they had once again switched off their game. Until they lit back up and exchanges from Welbeck, Kagawa and Rooney saw the ball just over the bar. Robin van Persie also had a shot on goal. Ryan Giggs also kept the ball up, but all efforts are all in vain.

A five-minute stoppage time was greeted by boos from the Old Trafford faithful but in the end, the Royals just couldn't get the leveler and Sir Alex Ferguson's men get the job of the day done and the crucial win propelled them to fifteen points off the table and the league title may surely be already in the bag.