IRC-Galleria

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Manchester United maintained their six-point lead at the Barclays Premiership summit with an Old Trafford victory stroll against rock-bottom Watford.

After Cristiano Ronaldo had slammed the hosts in front with his 14th goal of the season and Lloyd Doyley had doubled their lead with an unfortunate own goal, Henrik Larsson and Wayne Rooney also found the target as United recorded their biggest win since a similar-sized success at Bolton Wanderers three months ago.

With Ronaldo and Rooney - both restored to FergusonÂ’s starting line-up - growing in influence, so the Red Devils started to carve out an increasing number of chances.

The Red Devils maintained their focus after the break, too, with Rooney and Ronaldo both going close before Richardson curled over the cross which Doyley, with Ronaldo breathing down his neck, stuck out his head to nod into his own net.

The Portugal man started it with a searing run across the visitorsÂ’ box, chipping the ball over WatfordÂ’s startled defence to Rooney, who promptly launched his shot high over Lee before watching it drop into the goal.

It was hardly surprising some of the fire went out of UnitedÂ’s play after that, although only the base of a post denied a Ronaldo shot which would have completed their biggest win of the campaign.