United maintain lead at the top

Manchester United remain twelve points clear of neighbours Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title after beating bottom of the table Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men had extended their lead to fifteen points, though City closed the gap with victory over third place Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Rafael opened the scoring for the Red Devil’s with one of the goals of the season, driving the ball in to the top corner from 20 yards half way through the first half.

Ryan Giggs scored on his 999th appearance for the club to secure victory for United, who lost top scorer Robin Van Persie to a peculiar injury shortly before half time.

The striker was replaced by Danny Wellbeck after falling down a cameraman’s bunker and damaging his hip in the build-up to Rafael’s opener, though he is expected to be fit for the second leg of United’s Champion’s League tie with Real Madrid a week on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, the club have been linked with a surprise £10 million move for Swansea City defender Ashley Williams, according to the Sunday Mirror.

The Welsh international captained Swansea to their first ever major trophy victory in yesterday’s 5-0 win over Bradford City in the League Cup final at Wembley.