United seal comfortable 3-0 win

Manchester United 3 Birmingham City 0

Manchester United nudged Birmingham slightly closer to the dreaded drop with a comfortable win that saw them jump back into second spot.

United were ahead after just two minutes when Blues keeper Maik Taylor’s efforts to keep out Ryan Giggs’ free-kick only saw him push the ball on to the post, then bounce in off the back of his head.

Giggs added a second before Wayne Rooney, who had failed to convert two glorious chances earlier in the contest, made it third time lucky seven minutes before the end.

Van Nistelrooy was eventually introduced for Saha 18 minutes from time but it was Birmingham who had the next chance as Stephen Clemence saw his shot whistle just wide.

Giggs’ afternoon was brought to an end shortly afterwards as Darren Fletcher was handed a late chance to shine.

Birmingham should have pulled one back nine minutes from time when Jarosik found Heskey with a perfect cut-back but, from barely eight yards, the former Liverpool star ballooned woefully over.

It proved a costly miss too as Rooney immediately bagged a third for the hosts, latching on to Ronaldo’s knock-down before outpacing the Birmingham defence and finishing smartly.

Van der Sar brilliantly saved from Clemence at the other end to preserve United’s remarkable record of never having conceded a Premiership goal to Birmingham at Old Trafford.