Royals royally defeated

Manchester United have achieved a most commanding position yet this season by edging 15 points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Barclays Premier League in what may prove to be a telling weekend in the title race. The Reds’ 1-0 win against Reading this morning at Old Trafford provided little drama – precisely what Sir Alex would have wanted – and although the precarious winning margin never truly offered a feeling of comfort for United, Wayne Rooney’s goal shows that Sir Alex’s men can win ugly as a means to an end. No other goals were scored, but two Reading players got yellow-carded.