United stroll to derby success: Man United 2, Man City 0

MANCHESTER United successfully negotiated potentially the most awkward obstacle to a third successive Premier League title.

The results of local derbies can be notoriously hard to call - as proved last season when City completed a league double - so the significance of yesterday’s win at Old Trafford cannot be underestimated.

It leaves the Reds needing only four points from their three remaining league fixtures to remain champions. If they win at Wigan on Wednesday, they would only need one point against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday.

First-half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez sealed a comfortable victory which dented City’s late bid to win a place in the revamped UEFA Cup which is to become the Europa League.

And it was a win which delighted Sir Alex Ferguson, though he conceded it was not a derby which will live long in the memory.

He said: “A win is a win at this time of the season.

“We didn’t play well and as happens derbies can be horrible games. They can either be bad or good, but this one was bad.”

After the euphoria of reaching the final of the Champions League in midweek, United maintained their focus in a match where the stakes were equally high.

United’s bright start was rewarded when they made the breakthrough in the 17th minute when Ronaldo scored his 26th goal of the season.

Berbatov was fouled 30 yards from goal by Stephen Ireland and Ronaldo’s free kick took a deflection off Nigel de Jong and beyond the grasp of keeper Shay Given who dived low to his left.

Tevez was denied by the crossbar, but was finally rewarded for his efforts when he doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Darren Fletcher’s long ball was superbly controlled by Berbatov who released Tevez to cut inside before curling home a shot which went in off a post.

It was his 14th goal of the season and he ran to the bench cupping his hands to his ears as the fans chanted ‘sign him up, sign him up’ as though to remind Ferguson.

But Ferguson would not be drawn later on doubts about the future of Tevez, who has revealed he fears he has no future at Old Trafford.

“He is a Manchester United player and that is all there is to it,” explained Ferguson, who has yet to decide whether to make the two-year loan a permanent deal.

The second half proved a lukewarm affair as United had little difficulty holding on to their two-goal advantage and City did not look a side which had won its last four matches.

Robinho had a great chance soon after the restart but blazed wide as keeper Edwin van der Sar’s only save of note came in the 86th minute to deny substitute Martin Petrov when his 30-yard effort looked to be curling in.

United were desperately unlucky not to get a third in the dying seconds when Fletcher’s header struck an upright while Tevez, following up, collided with the post as he bravely attempted to convert the rebound.

The only whiff of controversy was when Ronaldo reacted angrily to being substituted after an hour.

Ferguson said: “He wanted to stay on. He is in great form, but I have to look at the bigger picture.”

City manager Mark Hughes thought his side had plenty of possession, but conceded his they had no end product and didn’t ask enough questions of United.