Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Premiership after thrashing Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo fired United in front just before the break and Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic doubled the visitors' lead three minutes after re-start. Midfielder Paul Scholes added the third six minutes later before Ryan Giggs put the icing on the cake in the 77th minute. Substitute John O'Shea played as a goalkeeper in the last five minutes after Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar suffered a facial injury. Ironically, the Irish midfielder put in good performance and denied compatriot Robbie Keane in a one-on-one situation. Egyptian striker Ahmed Hossam 'Mido' was suspended while midfielder Hossam Ghaly was introduced in the 57th minute instead of Ivory Coast's Didier Zokora.
O'Shea played as a goalkeeper The Red Devils are in charge of the Premiership table with 63 points, six ahead of second-placed Chelsea, who edged Charlton Athletic 1-0 on Saturday. Portuguese winger Ronaldo converted a controversial penalty kick home in the first-half's additional time after he was allegedly tripped by Steed Malbranque inside the area. Television replays showed there was no contact between both players. Vidic extended the gap in the 48th minute when he cut ahead of his marker Michael Dawson to head home Michael Carrick's corner past Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson. The dynamic Scholes killed off Tottenham's hopes in the 54th minute after he connected with Ronald's low cross to slot into the empty net. Welsh winger Giggs completed the rout as he latched on to Louis Saha's through pass before poking home.
