Oct
4
English duo seal victory
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Paul Ince discovered who the real `guv’nor’ is as Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson engineered a 2-0 win.
The nickname Ince attached to himself as a player is more suited to Ferguson given the enormous number of trophies he has acquired in a stellar managerial career.
And the view from his Blackburn technical area was an unpleasant picture for Ince as United sauntered to victory thanks to a goal in each half from Wes Brown and Wayne Rooney.
With just one win from their previous six visits to Blackburn, United were not expecting an easy ride and, for the opening 25 minutes at least, they were not disappointed.
But it was United who prospered, Darren Fletcher failing to convert and Dimitar Berbatov again the architect as Ryan Giggs’ angled drive was tipped onto the bar by Rovers keeper Jason Brown.
The opener had controversy about it. TV replays proved there had been a collision between the keeper and Nemanja Vidic but also that the Serbian had never taken his eyes off the ball.
There was further irony in that Rooney was a major doubt on Friday, only to come through a fitness test on the ankle he injured in Denmark on Tuesday and then supply the cross which, with namesake Jason on the deck, Wes Brown steered home at the far post.
Cristiano Ronaldo made the second, surging past Martin Olsson after collecting Brown’s short pass by the touchline.
And, having charged into open space, Ronaldo was able to take his time and pick out Rooney, who produced an unstoppable first-time finish that flashed into the Blackburn goal. Substitute Carlos Tevez struck a post late on but the points were already won.
Oct
3
New deals for United duo
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Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher have committed their futures to Manchester United after signing new contracts with the Old Trafford outfit. 
Veteran midfielder Scholes has put pen-to-paper on a one-year deal, while in-form Fletcher has been rewarded for some bright displays with a contract that binds him to the club for a further three years.
Scholes turns 34 next month and is currently sidelined for the next 10 weeks with a knee injury, but Sir Alex Ferguson has been quick to renew the services of one of his best-ever players.
Aug
26
Man Utd 1 Portsmouth 0
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Darren Fletcher’s first-half strike was enough for Manchester United to secure a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth on Monday night. The Scotland international beat Sol Campbell at the near post and Sylvain Distan could not prevent the ball from going over the line despite his best efforts.
United controlled the game from then on with Portsmouth offering little threat to Edwin van der Sar’s goal. Only Papa Bouba Diop came closest with a couple of long range efforts, but a United second was always more likely. Wayne Rooney came closest to extending their lead, firing a sweet effort just wide at the end of the first half.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed a “bonus” win for his side after the game. “We played some excellent football,” he said. “It’s a difficult place to come. Last year we drew here, the year before we lost - so it’s a bonus.”