Wayne Rooney scored early as Manchester United cruised to a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth on Wednesday that lifted the defending champions three points clear of Liverpool atop the Premier League.
The England striker tapped in his 18th goal of the season after nine minutes to help ensure United won the first of two games in hand over Liverpool, which slipped off the pace after Tuesday's 4-4 draw with Arsenal.
The Red Devils took until the 82nd minute to score again, with substitute Michael Carrick firing into the far corner after running onto Paul Scholes' precise throughball from the halfway line. The 34-year-old Scholes was making his 600th appearance for United, where he has spent his entire career.
United's labored victory came at a cost, losing two right backs to foot injuries. Captain Gary Neville was forced off just after Rooney's opener and his replacement, John O'Shea, limped off early in the second half.
Alex Ferguson made nine changes from the inexperienced side that lost Sunday's FA Cup semifinal to Everton on penalties. Rooney was among the big names to return, deployed as the lone striker supported by Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo on the flanks.
And it was Giggs, in his 799th appearance, who latched onto Anderson's lofted ball and went past Glen Johnson before squaring to the unmarked Rooney to slot into the net from five meters (yards).
Despite Portsmouth's early enterprise with Nadir Belhadj shooting over before Rooney's goal, the Red Devils were firmly in control of the match.
Anderson was presented with a great opportunity to double United's lead when goalkeeper David James rolled the ball to Hayden Mullins, who wasn't expecting it and miscontrolled. The Brazil midfielder, though, shot just wide of the target.
Belhadj kept out a second in the 30th, blocking O'Shea's header from Giggs' corner with a goal line clearance. While James had to fling his body at Giggs' shot and save Rooney's strike from a tight angle, overall there was a lack of urgency and tempo about United's forward threat.
Giggs was frustrated not to double United's advantage before the break. The Welsh midfielder chipped over the diving James after connecting with a low cross from Ronaldo after the world player of the year burst down the right flank unchecked.
Giggs was denied again at the start of the second half with James saving at his feet after a one-two with Rooney.
But Portsmouth looked brighter after an insipid first-half display. The most dangerous moment came when Glen Johnson rampaged down the right and tried to pick out Peter Crouch in the center, but goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar palmed the ball away from the striker's feet and Jonny Evans cleared. Crouch also came close with a downward header.
But Carrick's late strike after replacing Anderson clinched the three points that leaves Pompey six points above the relegation zone with five matches remaining.
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