Manchester United romp to record-breaking victory

**TeamPlayer** · 01-28-2009 08:37 AM

West Bromwich Albion 0 Manchester United 5

“Top of the league — and that’s a fact.” The message from Manchester United’s fans was aimed directly at Rafael Benítez and it is doubtful whether the Liverpool manager will find any consolation or humour from the retort from the West Bromwich Albion supporters, which was that he was right to question Sir Alex Ferguson’s influence over referees.

It was nonsense, of course. United went three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League — in the process breaking Chelsea’s top-flight record of 1,025 minutes without conceding a goal — because, ultimately, they played superbly. Admittedly their task was facilitated by Rob Styles’s decision to send off Paul Robinson, the West Bromwich captain, five minutes before half-time, but that was neither the outrage portrayed by the locals nor a notable turning point.

No matter how much a succession of yellow cards in the second half might have rankled with the home supporters, United’s free-flowing football did far more damage to their team’s survival hopes than Styles, the supposed villain of the piece.

The match had to be delayed for half an hour because of traffic congestion on the M5 and, when it finally kicked off, it briefly seemed that United might be caught cold by a West Bromwich team looking for a third consecutive league win at The Hawthorns. But, after Dimitar Berbatov’s opening goal was followed by Robinson’s red card, for an overzealous lunge on Park Ji Sung, it was merely a question of how many United would score.

timesonline

**TeamPlayer** · 01-29-2009 11:42 AM

I don`t want to speak too soon, but it looks like Liverpool`s title challenge has lost its way.

Rafa should have kept his mind on his own team instead of having a pop at Alex Ferguson. His lack of experience is now showing, as Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw with Wigan last night.

How things can change in just a few weeks.