Manchester United – Queens Park Rangers

1. Join us at 13.30pm BST to see if Manchester United can open up an eight point gap at the top of the table with a victory over relegation haunted Queens Park Rangers.

2. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0402/antoniovalenciaceleb20120402_275x155.jpg"><br> Antonio Valencia is Manchester United's main man at present - can he strike against QPR?

3. Two changes for Manchester United and Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck replace Phil Jones and Javier Hernandez from the team that defeated Blackburn on Monday.

4. As for QPR, they are without Joey Barton and Bobby Zamora, who was on the bench, as Jay Bothroyd started a Premier League game for the first time since January.

5. Mark Hughes has basically admitted to giving this one up - resting Bobby Zamora ahead of Wednesday's game with Swansea, and not risking Joey Barton because he is on nine bookings for the season. Manchester CIty fans won't be impressed.

6. 1'

   <b>KICK OFF</b>

7. 2'

   A familiar pattern is set - Man Utd pressing, QPR sitting deep.

8. 3'

   Foul from Clint Hill and a free kick 30 yards out for the home side.

9. 4'

   Rooney's effort takes a flick off Ferdinand and goes behind for a corner. It was on target too.

10. 5'

    Evans very nearly turns home the corner and QPR are right under the pump.

11. 6'

    Diakite trips Young this time and United have another free kick within shooting range. Dangerous.

12. 7'

    Fantastic effort from Rooney - to the opposite corner this time, and a flying Kenny turns it round the post for a corner.

13. 8'

    Wow - 92% possession for United so far.

14. 9'

    This is going to be a long, long afternoon for QPR at this rate. I don't think Bothroyd has kicked the ball once.

15. 10'

    QPR's first attack nearly comes up trumps as Mackie plays a nice ball inside Evra for Onuoha but his cross is poor - Taarabt was waiting on the edge but didn't get it.

16. 11'

    Then after that a thumping, late tackle from Rooney on Diakite. That should have been a card. Had he got it, it would have been his first yellow of the season believe it or not.

17. 12'

    QPR have settled a little after the shaky start, but still have a lack of options whenever they recover the ball.

18. 14'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/red_card.jpg" height="15"> Derry is off and Utd have a penalty. Firstly, Young was offside and there was minimal contact. Unlucky for Rangers.

19. 15'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Rooney fires home!

20. 16'

    Well, where shall we start? Young was a yard offside when the ball was played to him, then there was no more than a hand on his back from Derry - Young went down immediately and the red card was out. Awful officiating.

21. 17'

    Shades of Chelsea's help from the linesman at Stamford Bridge yesterday. Yet another red card for QPR - seven this season now. This one, however, is unjust. Had Young been offside, then fair enough, but he wasn't.

22. 18'

    Hill bumps into Welbeck and United have another free kick on the edge of the box.

23. 19'

    Young's effort hits the wall but the pressure is unrelenting. This could get ugly. If QPR lose 6-0 they will sink into the drop zone.

24. 20'

    The officials really don't make it easy for themselves sometimes. Now there is a poisonous atmosphere out there.

25. 21'

    Taarabt has a pop and a deflection loops it towards the top corner - De Gea tips over. Safe rather than sorry.

26. 22'

    With that penalty United have now drawn level with City's goal difference too.

27. 23'

    Big chance for Young as Rooney floats in a lovely ball from the right - he is right at the top of his jump but can only glance wide from a narrow angle.

28. 25'

    Good move from United as Rooney and Valencia swap passes but the striker's shot is blocked by Hill.

29. 26'

    Rafael is late on Taarabt and QPR's players want him in the book - especially as he was spoken to earlier after showing dissent to the referee.

30. 27'

    QPR's mission now is surely to try and keep the score at 1-0 for as long as possible and pray that Taarabt can score a worldy from 35 yards or that they sneak one from a set piece.

31. 29'

    Rafael is an enthusiastic chap isn't he? Now he wants a penalty after Taiwo slid in to block a cross and brushed the ball with his arm.

32. 30'

    QPR's fans are letting Lee Mason know exactly what they think of him.

33. 31'

    Evra cuts inside in the area but blasts a right footed shot well wide.

34. 32'

    A rare opening for QPR as Taarabt as Rafael is careless in possession and is robbed by the midfielder - luckily for him Evans is across to block the shot.

35. 34'

    Bothroyd flicks on a long ball. De Gea picks up.

36. 35'

    Fine effort from Rooney as he tries a curling chip towards the far corner. Kenny is alert to it.

37. 36'

    A good battle between Taiwo and Valencia inside the area. QPR get the free kick - cue ironic cheers from the away supporters.

38. 37'

    Valencia turns in a good ball from wide but Welbeck can't get on top of the ball with his header.

39. 38'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0408/waynerooneypenaltyceleb20120408_275x155.jpg"><br> Rooney celebrates his penalty conversion

40. 39'

    Taarabt gets back to cut out Rafael's attempted cross. The full back is effectively playing as a second winger.

41. 40'

    It's surely a matter of time until Man Utd grab their second, Welbeck has two shots on goal from inside the area - the first is blocked by Ferdinand, the second he scuffs into Kenny's arms.

42. 42'

    Evra is the latest to have a crack but he drags his effort wide of the post.

43. 43'

    QPR's passing has let them down at times, as Valencia's hustles back to intercept Buzsaky's ball for Taiwo.

44. 44'

    First long range effort of the half from Scholes - decent strike but it was always arrowing wide.

45. 45'

    <b>HALF TIME</b> That's the break. QPR can feel very hard done by after the linesman failed to spot an offside that led to a penalty and a red card for Derry. United looking good to go eight points clear at the top of the table.

46. Mark Hughes waited in the tunnel to speak to the referee, who clocked him, then stood still on the field with his two assistants. This drew a derogatory wave of the hand from Hughes, who is fuming. Rightly so.

47. 46'

    We begin again...

48. 47'

    Welbeck turns home Valencia's cross but the flag is up. That was marginal. Unlike the penalty incident.

49. 48'

    Looks like Man Utd have been sent out with strict instructions to get number two asap and put this game to bed.

50. 49'

    Nice link up between Young and Welbeck as the former backheels and the latters curls an effort over the bar.

51. 51'

    All hands to the pump again for QPR, with only Bothroyd on his own up front. Something has got to give soon.

52. 52'

    Reasonable break from QPR there, with Taarabt and Mackie involved. They win a free kick 40 yards from goal too. Taarabt looks like he fancies it.

53. 53'

    Taarabt did fancy it and crossed, where an Evra glance takes it behind for a corner. Except Lee Mason gives a goal kick. Awful awful awful.

54. 54'

    A good spell for QPR here as Mackie gets into the area again.

55. 55'

    The corner is cleared to Diakite, who feeds Busaky, but his shot is blocked. Then Diakite has a pop and wins another corner.

56. 56'

    Two really poor deliveries from Taarabt - criminal when such chances are few and far between.

57. 57'

    As United break, Scholes has another go but sends the ball flashing four yards wide.

58. 58'

    It has turned into a decent game this - far more even than in the first half.

59. 59'

    Rafael hits the bar! Clean through, Kenny gets a vital touch with his leg to ensure the ball hits the bar and is then thwacked to safety.

60. 61'

    Now another two chances for Welbeck! Played inside the area he has a shot on goal with his left but it is weak and Kenny saves. The ball comes back to the striker, who swings a leg on the floor but only succeeds in chipping it into Kenny's arms.

61. 62'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Ryan Giggs replaces Ashley Young, who dived so theatrically for the penalty.

62. 63'

    Great burst from Valencia, who takes on Taiwo and crosses, but Hill heads clear.

63. 64'

    Fergie is not happy with Rafael as he collects a short corner but sends his cross out of play.

64. 66'

    The longer the game goes with just one goal in it the more QPR will feel they can nick one.

65. 67'

    Welbeck is frustrating the crowd today - he's missed plenty of chances and delays a cross there when he had red shirts streaming into the area. He does win a corner though.

66. 68'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Scholes with a screamer!

67. 68'

    That should be that then, a great strike from Scholes. He's given time on the edge to line it up, and he goes for power to thump it past Kenny.

68. 69'

    Scholes had a good ten yards to run into and line up that shot. Ten men or not, that is poor defending from Rangers.

69. 71'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Changes for QPR now, with the game gone, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Tommy Smith replace Taarabt and Diakite.

70. 72'

    Expect this game to wind down now - with important gamnes coming up for both in the next few days.

71. 73'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Rafael slips and falls into Busaky, for which he is booked. Another laughable decision.

72. 74'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Scholes heads off and Phil Jones replaces him.

73. 75'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Rafael trudges off too, Tom Cleverly replaces him.

74. 76'

    Smith wins a corner as QPR push a few extra players forward.

75. 77'

    Off the post! A ferocious drive from Carrick beats Kenny but smashes back off the inside of the upright. What a hit.

76. 78'

    Phillip Beard, QPR chief exec, has already labelled Ashley Young a "diver" on Twitter.

77. 80'

    "Difficult to take after watching numerous replays but Ashley Young could partner Tom Daley at the Olympics," Beard said. Tony Fernandes retweeted it too.

78. 81'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> DJ Campbell is trotting on for Bothroyd, who had a thankless task today.

79. 82'

    Welbeck goes close again, stroking a shot wide from the edge of the box.

80. 84'

    Fair to say things are widning down at Old Trafford now.

81. 85'

    So, with this win seemingly in the bag, attention turns to Manchester City. If they lose at Arsenal, the title race is over. Not my words, Roberto Mancini's.

82. 86'

    Valencia finds Jones but his cross is cut out by Hill at the expense of a corner.

83. 87'

    Lovely one-two between Cleverley and Carrick - another good block prevents it troubling Kenny.

84. 88'

    Hot off the press, have a read of <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1046491/qpr-accuse-man-utd's-ashley-young-of-diving-on-twitter?cc=5739" target="_blank">QPR's hierarchy having a pop at Ashley Young</a>.

85. 89'

    After this I'll be hopping straight over to live commentary on Arsenal's clash with Manchester City. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/gamecast?id=318099&cc=5739" target="_blank">Come and join me here, if you please</a>.

86. 90'

    Three minutes added....

87. 91'

    Plenty of people sloping off early to avoid the crowds.

88. 92'

    Smith crosses and David De Ga is forced into a rare slice of action, claiming at his near post.

89. 93'

    <b>FULL TIME</b> A regulation win for the champions but it turned on a big call from Lee Mason - Ashley Young was offside when the ball was played to him and took a tumble when Shaun Derry placed a hand on his side. A penalty and red card followed. After that, QPR didn't really have a chance. United move eight points clear and the title is within their grasp.

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