Carrick enjoying day-to-day grind

QPR 0 Man United 2

Alex Ferguson’s side haven’t made a habit of crushing weaker opposition like they have in previous campaigns but they have rarely been in such a comfortable position at the head of the table before the end of February.

Saturday’s victory left them 15 points clear ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Chelsea and it is impossible to see them squandering such an advantage.

Three successive clean sheets in the league stand as testimony to their resolve and with home games against Norwich and Reading and trips to Sunderland and West Ham, the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on April 8 could turn out to be the perfect victory party.

The momentum is certainly with Ferguson’s side and with domestic matters taking care of themselves, the significance of Real Madrid’s visit to the north-west on March 5 intensifies. In that context, the injury sustained by Robin van Persie — the striker suffered a bruised hip when he fell into a television camera pit — was of major concern although the manager appeared hopeful the Holland international will recover ahead of the second leg of the Champions League tie.

Van Persie’s withdrawal in the 41st minute highlighted the depth of Ferguson’s attacking resources with Danny Welbeck coming on, followed by Wayne Rooney, who replaced Javier Hernandez midway through the second half. The goals may have come from Rafael Da Silva and Ryan Giggs but there was no doubt that Ferguson’s ability to freshen up his attacking options, together with impressive displays by centraldefenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, contributed to Rangers’ inability to force their way back into the game.

“It was just a case of adapting to the conditions and the context of the game, battling it out at times. I thought we did that well,” said Michael Carrick.

“Sometimes you have to do that. Throughout the season it’s not always going to be pretty. Sometimes you have to grind out results, work hard and make the most of your opportunities.

“You know what you’re going to get [with Ferdinand and Vidic]. They know each other’s games inside out, and with me in front you have that little triangle that we use to try and defend well and start counter-attacks from.

“It was a case today of doing the basics right and letting the front boys produce the quality. As it turned out it was Rafa who

produced the quality!”

Da Silva’s 24th-minute effort, a rising drive from 25 yards, was certainly memorable as was Giggs’s assured 80th-minute finish on his 999th appearance in senior football. “I can’t remember scoring a better goal,” Da Silva said. “The one at Liverpool was different because it was a curling shot. I think it’s my best.”

While United can look forward to the coming weeks, QPR face a more testing period as they attempt to recover a seven-point deficit on Wigan, who lie fourth from bottom. Manager Harry Redknapp remains optimistic, particularly if he can get Loic Remy and Bobby Zamora fit and working in tandem up front. “Bobby needs an operation on a hip but even half a Bobby Zamora is a good player and I think he and Remy can work well together,” said Redknapp.

Redknapp has been here before with Portsmouth. “I had a crap team there and we got something like 20 points in the last 10 games and stayed up,” he added. “We’ve got the players here, we can do it.”

Next weekend’s trip to Southampton could mark the start of their revival, although Redknapp’s former ties with Portsmouth mean the manager will not be given an easy ride. “It’s my birthday as well on March 2 and I can think of no better way to celebrate being 66 than standing there being abused for 90 minutes,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek. “They’ll be calling me everything.”