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.

Going Nowhere Fast: Reading 3 Manchester United 4

Robin van Persie shoots in the emphatic lead and eventual winner in the 34th minute

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

Starting Lineups (from Soccerway.com)

Goals of the Game

Manchester United: Anderson (13'), Rooney (16' PG, 30'), Van Persie (34')

Reading: Robson-Kanu (8'), Le Fondre (19'), Morrison (23')

From a pulsating and riveting first half, the game went nowhere fast and United eased in another win, this time against Brian McDermott's Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Reading got the first half off to a quick start, while Manchester United to their normal one as of late when Robson-Kanu collected a poorly defended ball by Jonny Evans, who chucked it in the net and put the home side in the lead. Ashley Young would be the mastermind of United's comeback, though, as he fed Anderson, who smashed the ball in past Reading's keeper Federici. Feeling the early press, Reading would give away a penalty kick, with Rooney getting the ball in.

The home team would respond against the visiting Reds. Corner to Reading, Shorey's cross is collected by Adam Le Fondre, who headed in the 2-2 equalizer. They would then get the lead four minutes later, Sean Morrison the goalscorer.

Rooney smashes in a penalty kick, placing his side in the lead after 16 minutes

Image retrieved from The Daily Mail UK

But as we've seen so many times this season, with still a lot of time to go, United was bound to make a comeback. A cool 1-2 between Evra and Ashley Young worked big-time, with the former successfully delivering a cross inside the penalty box. Rooney was in the prime spot and buried in the equalizer. Four minutes later, United would once again take the lead thanks to Robin van Persie, with Rooney providing the assist.

Just before half-time, the Dutchman would drive another into the net, but the goal was not given, when replays clearly showed the ball going well over the line.

Replays show van Persie's before half-time strike was clearly over the line

Image retrieved from The Telegraph UK

Second-half tamed down dramatically, considering the impact the first half had. United, at this point, already had two changes on the playing XI, with Rafael replaced by Smalling in the 31st minute and Anderson replaced by Phil Jones in the 45th. Reading, meanwhile, had no changes on their side for the second-half.

United seemingly continued where they left off, putting the pressure on Reading's back-four. Reading, however, would soon find a break. Le Fondre was positioned in the penalty box, but the ball didn't come. On the other side, Reading's keeper Adam Federici spills the ball from a back pass and Van Persie was sure to punish the former for it. Unfortunately, Van Persie would miss.

Both sides had their own attempts in the second-half, but no cigar. Reading, though, would have the last bites on the apple. Into injury time, Reading won themselves a corner. Morison won the header over United's Phil Jones, but Lindegaard tipped it away. Second corner, again no dice. By then, Reading had no more time and the final whistle was sounded.

United eased their way to a win yet again and Sir Alex Ferguson would be delighted to go into the Manchester derby three points clear of their blue rivals.