Ronaldo fires United six points clear

01/01/2007 02:20

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo’s hot streak continued on Saturday with two more goals in Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Reading at Old Trafford which put them six points clear in the Premier League.

The tricky Portuguese flyer has now scored 12 league goals this season, six of them coming in the last three games, and he is just just one behind Chelsea’s Didier Drogba whose 13th goal of the season came in a 2-2 home draw with Fulham.

On a day of torrential rain across the country which resulted in one match being abandoned, the stormclouds are gathering over Stamford Bridge where Chelsea’s grip on the title is loosening.

"Six points is not a drama, what is a drama is that we cannot defend," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told BBC Radio.

"In the past Chelsea win one zero, now every team feels that they can score against us. Some of our very important players are not playing."

The only good news for Mourinho on a day when it emerged that playmaker Joe Cole could be out for the season with a broken foot, was that John Terry was seen warming up on the pitch just two days after having keyhole back surgery.

Drogba looked to have won the points for Chelsea when he headed in Frank Lampard’s cross but Carlos Bocanegra equalised late on to give Fulham a draw and take .....continued below

Advertisement starts

Advertisement ends

Chelsea’s total of goals conceded in their last four league games to eight.

DEFLECTED SHOT

Fulham had taken the lead through Moritz Volz before Lampard’s fierce shot was deflected in by Liam Rosenoir.

Reading, who drew 2-2 with Chelsea on Tuesday, had not played a match at Old Trafford for 50 years but pushed the leaders all the way to the final whistle.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave United the lead only for Ibrahima Sonko to head Reading level before halftime.

The second half belonged to Ronaldo who restored United’s lead after Solskjaer hit the post before volleying his second. Leroy Lita pulled a late goal back to leave United manager Alex Ferguson complaining about his side’s defending.

"It’s been a very good day for us but we had to work very hard," Ferguson, who will be 65 on Sunday, told Sky Sports. "It was our worst defending of the season, I don’t understand that.

"The rain was never ending and Reading made us play all the way to the end. In the second half it made a difference with Ryan Giggs coming on."

United have 53 points from 21 matches to Chelsea’s 47. Bolton Wanderers moved up to third (39) after a 3-2 home win against high-flying Portsmouth in which Nicolas Anelka scored his fifth goal in five games for Wanderers.

Liverpool ended Tottenham Hotspur’s 12-game winning sequence at White Hart Lane thanks to Luis Garcia’s winner in a 1-0 victory that took them back into the top four.

Everton moved above Tottenham into seventh with Victor Anichebe scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Newcastle United. Phil Neville was also on target with his first league goal for four years.

Arsenal can reclaim third spot when they play at Sheffield United in a late kickoff.

Page: 12 next

By Martyn Herman

On a day of torrential rain across the country which resulted in one match being abandoned, the stormclouds are gathering over Stamford Bridge where Chelsea’s grip on the title is loosening.

"Six points is not a drama, what is a drama is that we cannot defend," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told BBC Radio.

"In the past Chelsea win one zero, now every team feels that they can score against us. Some of our very important players are not playing."

Drogba looked to have won the points for Chelsea when he headed in Frank Lampard’s cross but Carlos Bocanegra equalised late on to give Fulham a draw and take Chelsea’s total of goals conceded in their last four league games to eight.