Manchester United Fans Club

Ronaldo first goal of the Barclays Premier League campaign secured a fifth successive league win at St Andrews as Birmingham was beaten 1-0. This is United fourth 1-0 win of the campaign and sit second in the table despite scoring only seven times in eight games.

It is also Van der Sar fifth successive clean sheets in the competition since losing to Manchester City, however, he was substituted in the second half due to toe injury and will miss midweek Champions League games against AS Roma.

Ronaldo making his 100th league start, settled the issue six minutes into the second half. There seemed little danger when Ferdinand played the ball forward just inside the Blues area, but Queudrue hesistated when he should have cleared and Ronaldo took full advantage. He surged forward and coolly took the ball around Taylor before firing home.

Man Utd seemed nervous at the back during the first half apart from a majestic performance by Rio Ferdinand. Keeper Edwin van der Sar was twice called into action i the first two minutes. Had Van der Sar not react smartly to cling on to Franck Queudrue’s glancing header from Sebastian Larsson’s corner, United will found themselves trailing the game.

Rio Ferdinand came to United’s rescue after 17 minutes when he cleared a downward header from Gary McSheffrey off the line from Larsson’s cross.

The first half saw Birmingham emerges as the best sides for the day. They have an incredible 11 shots where 6 of the shots are on target. Overall the still lead the chat by 18 shots with 9 on goal, whereas United only managed 11 shots with 4 on goal.

Red Devils emerged brighter in the second half and good work from Giggs and Teves on the left side of the penalty area ended with the Argentinean forcing a routine save from Blues goalkeeper Taylor.

United were finally growing in confidence with every passing minute and Ronaldo perhaps should have had a second n 80 minutes when he skewed a shot wide from 12 yards.

In the end, Ronaldo first goal coupled with majestic performance by Ferdinand at the back four, Van der Sar and Kuszczak at the post for each half proved enough to send United second in the league, despite a performance that was neither convincing nor comfortable.