Ronaldo keeps United on course

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The Portugal winger fired home in the 44th minute after the excellent Michael Carrick had been tripped by Mikel Arteta.

With nearest rivals Liverpool and Chelsea playing each other at Anfield on Sunday United sent out a clear message that their grip on the title is as strong as ever.

The hosts dominated the match and racked up a 12th successive clean sheet, allowing goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to break the English league football record for most minutes without conceding a goal.

His tally now stands at 1,122 minutes having not conceded since Samir Nasri scored in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on November 8.

United craved out plenty of chances in the first half but it needed a burst from Carrick, who had already gone close with a volley, to make the breakthrough.

Carrick had gone past Mikel Arteta but the Spaniard hung out a trailing leg behind him and it caught the midfielder, who fell in the area.

After a moment's hesitation referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot and Ronaldo despatched his shot straight down the middle.

Carrick could and probably should have been awarded another penalty when he nicked John O'Shea's incisive through-ball past Joleon Lescott but despite the defender catching him Halsey waved away United's justifiable claims.

But United saw out the match to sit pretty at the top.