Reading 0-2 Manchester United

Jan 20 2008

UNITED floored Reading with a devastating late double to stay top of the Premiership pile.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men looked set to squander two points before Wayne Rooney grabbed the opener after 77 minutes.

And they wrapped the game up in stoppage time when Cristiano Ronaldo fired home the second.

Relieved boss Fergie said: "We're happy to get through this one.

"We kept making chances but you start to worry when the game goes on and you haven't scored. So it was an important result for us."

Ferguson's side had the better of the first half and only a superb save from Marcus Hahnemman kept out Owen Hargreaves' free-kick.

But the keeper had a lucky escape after the break when he punched a corner off Dave Kitson's back and Kalifa Cisse had to acrobatically clear on the line.

United finally broke through with 13minutes left. Carlos Tevez lofted a through ball into the box and Rooney met it first time with the outside of his right foot to score.

Reading almost snatched a point when James Harper broke through in the last minute before firing a left-foot shot wide.

And Ronaldo rubbed salt in the wounds by grabbing United's second after a slick break.

Reading gaffer Steve Coppell said: "If we had nicked three points it would have been history here.

"But Ronaldo and Rooney are so incisive for United."