Chilled out Ferguson sees United dispel title nerves by thumping Hammers

Quarter-of- an-hour into their Champions League game against Barcelona last Tuesday, Manchester United were looking uncharacteristically unsure of themselves.

After an acrimonious weekend defeat to Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League, United seemed to fear that the domestic and European titles were about to be wrenched from their grasp.

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Then the ball broke to Paul Scholes, who put it into the back of the net from 30 yards. The clouds parted.

On Saturday, we saw the same Manchester United players, the same starting XI. Yet they were unrecognisable.

With a Champions League Final in Moscow assured — and against their preferred opponents — Sir Alex Ferguson's side can see only glory beckoning.

With the tension released and buoyed by victory over the Catalan club, they can no longer even smell failure. United rose from the blocks against West Ham like Olympic sprinters.

Everybody wanted the ball. The noisy reaction of the Old Trafford crowd was unusually spontaneous.

Alan Curbishley's team were swept away by a tide of front-foot, attacking football.

Here, in the sunshine of early May, we were watching the best team in England.

We were watching the champions.

Ferguson said with satisfaction: "When we play well, we are as good as anybody. We have not won anything yet, but we are getting close. This was an important day for us."

It certainly was. With Chelsea not playing until Monday, United made their rivals sweat over what may be a difficult job at Newcastle.

United may have been afforded less rest by the fixture calendar but, for once, Ferguson welcomed that.

It was time to strike a blow then sit back and see if Chelsea could cope.

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Ferguson, knowing full well that Chelsea manager Avram Grant would be listening, said: "I think Newcastle have a good chance."

On Saturday, he could ask for no more from his players, who were 3-0 up after 26 minutes.

As so often these days, Cristiano Ronaldo led by example. Receiving a long clearance from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, he embarrassed Lucas Neill on the near touchline before advancing into the penalty area to spank a low drive past Robert Green at the near post. Less than five minutes had gone.

At Old Trafford they could feel the trophy being polished.

Ronaldo scored again in the 24th minute as a cross from Owen Hargreaves was allowed to bounce off his thigh and in at the far post from six yards. Two minutes later, Carlos Tevez smashed the third high into the net from 'Scholes distance'.

West Ham should have had a penalty when only one goal down as Wes Brown applied a basketball move. Mike Riley gave a free-kick to United for a push by Bobby Zamora.

It was a ludicrous decision but we have come to accept as much from Riley, who proved again he is the Premier League's worst referee.

Dean Ashton, who was rubbish on the whole, scored from nowhere to give West Ham a lifeline 17 minutes before half-time, then Riley actually got something right as he sent off Nani for a petulant butt on Neill.

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Ferguson said: "It was real immaturity by Nani. He will learn from that."

Suddenly, West Ham had a chance to make a game of it and do their London rivals Chelsea a favour.

But Curbishley's under-strength team were ill-equipped to take advantage.

How Chelsea must have groaned as the Hammers failed to impose themselves on United's 10 men, who would have felt the flush of anxiety once again if only the visitors could find their way to a second goal.

As it was, the second half contained only a deflected goal from Michael Carrick and some more absurdity from Riley.

Scholes committed half a dozen clumsy fouls and was not booked.

Ronaldo could have been sent off for a late, horrible lunge but wasn't.

United are close to the Premier League title once again.

Only Wigan stand in their way next Sunday.

It is unlikely to be much of a contest.