Pompey 1 : 4 United

I wasn't too lucky to witness the whole of this match as I was travelling during most of the game but was filled with immense joy when I got to know, the following morning, that United had won by a big margin (3 goals is quite big in away games isn't it?!) and the fact that Rooney had scored a hat-trick was really the icing on the cake.
I could watch about 30 minutes of the first half and I really was surprised that Avram Grant's appointment as their manager had really rallied them. It showed in their performance upfront with them looking to take the game to United. I honestly felt that playing Rooney alone at the front was a little defense tactic specially after seeing Giggs playing as just a winger and not a support striker.

Portsmouth looked really sharp to begin with and could have had a goal if not for Tomasz who showed brilliant reflexes in front of the goal. I think the first goal (the only one I was able to witness) was all courtesy of Valencia's brilliance. He outrun Hreiderssen so easily with his sweltering pace and it was his pass to Rooney that resulted in the penalty. Was happy to see Rooney convert it in clinical fashion.
I didn't catch up with much of the game after that. But I was able to watch the highlights of the game the following day and man was it satisfying to do that. Conceding the goal through a non-existent penalty notwithstanding (that decision was perhaps the worst penalty decision I've seen!) United I think were outstanding. Rooney's second and third goals were clinical again. I think with these 2 converted penalties, there won't be any arguments further on as to who'd take our penalties from now on. Also, I guess if somebody was due for hat-trick, it had to be Wayne Rooney, for all the hard work he'd been putting day-in and day-out for United specially after goal-scoring responsibility had been thrust squarely on his shoulders. Ryan Giggs was back to his brilliant best, coming up with a goal to remember to score his 100th. Add that to the 2 assists it was another MOM (Man of the Match) performance by the legend. People had been calling for bringing in players like Ribery and Silva to replace Ronaldo. How many of us have realized that Giggs has effectively been playing the role Ronaldo used to play- scoring goals, providing assists and taking free-kicks! I'm already thinking the PPFA Player of the Year is a long gone conclusion if we win the titleLong live the Welsh legend.
I also think Valencia came up with one of his best performances of his short United career yet. He kept running down the flanks all day and was a perennial threat. I like the fact that he is a very traditional minded winger who mainly concentrates on delivering good passes from the wide than trying to be a hero on his own (unlike players like Nani) and that I guess makes him a truly adorable team man. An unsung hero really.
I also think Tomasz Kuszczak deserved a word of praise. I didn't really fancy him to pip Foster for the support keeper's role but this guy seems to have grabbed his chance with an impressive showing. Tomasz has always had sharp reflexes but has been known to be poor on the delivery front. But going by today's performance, I wouldn't mind having him between the posts instead of Foster as he seems to come up with some great saves. As long as he can do that, who cares about the delivery (let's leave the passing work to the mid-field shall we!)
Like I have said above, I thought United weren't achieving much with Rooney as the lone striker but the moment Giggs was there to support him in the second half, things seemed to change for good and I guess it was Sir Alex's tactical genius to achieve a robust mid-field plus some support for Rooney that ultimately clinched it for us.

All in all a great result for us. I would have expected Arsenal to help us out a little by taking some points off Chelsea but they have ended up with an embarassing defeat at home. Though that means the Blues are still 5 points clear, I have a feeling Drogba's absence during the African Nations' Cup will do us some favour (given that he's been doing all the goal-scoring off late). Let's hope that's how it transpires and come New Year we'll be breathing down their necks. Go United! - for a record 4th consecutive title!