On United's win at Loftus Road

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Rafael of Manchester United celebrates scoring the first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United

It was as stark a contest as there could be; it was first against last, the champions elect against the relegation sureties. It was, on paper at least, supposed to be a cake walk. In the end, the scoreline did suggest that it was something of the sort. However, the reality was not quite that simple.

United started the game with an extremely strong line up with De Gea in goal and Rafael, Rio, Vidic and Evra in front of him. Sir Alex opted to go for a 4-4-2, more or less, with Ashley Young and Nani on the flanks with Carrick and Giggs in the middle of midfield. Hernandez started right up top with van Persie behind him.

If one saw the early exchanges, one would’ve been hard-pressed to know which the top team was and which the bottom one was. QPR came out of the traps quickest and got at United right from the get-go. In the first 15 minutes or so, they bossed possession and had something like 65% of it. United simply did not get going.

However, once the game rolled on, United got more and more into it and sure enough, they got the goal that they were threatening sporadically. The goal, when it came, was a thing of absolute beauty. The ball pinged out to Rafael, who was about 30-odd yards out, and whack! One nil. A brilliant strike if there ever were one. He hit it true and got his foot right through the ball. One nil to United, and that was the way it stayed until half time.

The only low point of the first half was the worrying sign of van Persie hobbling off before half time to be replaced by Danny Welbeck. He, van Persie, was carrying a mild knock on his hip and he further aggravated it by smashing into a camera. Perhaps it was more of a precautionary move by Sir Alex to take him off but United fans will be a tad worried.

For all the possession that QPR did have in the first half, De Gea had pretty much nothing to do. That sums up the half, really. United were sitting back and waiting for Rangers to attack them and hitting them on the counter. In the second half, however, United came out quicker and with more intent and looked to put the game to rest quickly.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Ryan Giggs of Manchester United celebrates a goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United

They had a whole lot more of the ball in the first fifteen minutes and a goal looked imminent. However, that goal never did come and as the game wore on, United looked to grind out a result. Rooney came on in place of Hernandez and immediately looked to drop deep and link up the play. United did keep the ball better but occasionally, QPR did attack; however, United’s defence was quite up to the task.

The killer goal, when it did come, came from the grand old man. Giggs was immense all game, with sensational touches and runs throughout. The pitch was not really the greatest of playing surfaces but he made passing look extremely easy, showing exemplary technique pinging passes on the half volley and spraying the ball around. His goal, when it came, was taken with characteristic aplomb. A good United move was rounded off by a clever Giggs run to stay onside and a reverse pass by Nani found him with only the goalkeeper to beat. He had one look up and beat Cesar at his near post. Game over.

In the end, the game was not much of a workout for United. They cruised through, just what they wanted. With Manchester City playing Chelsea later today, the win counts for even more as City now know that they are 15 points behind now and anything other than a win will not do; even a win might not do. Approaching the home stretch, it is as much psychological as it is physical and, at the moment, United have the advantage. It would be a brave man betting against them for the title.