Ronaldo leads rout of West Ham

Manchester United took a huge step towards retaining their Premier League title when they beat West Ham United 4-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday after playing more than half the match with 10 men.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice while Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick both scored against their old club as United moved on to 84 points with one match to play.

Chelsea, who are at Newcastle United on Monday, have 81 points, but a vastly inferior goal difference to United.

If Chelsea lose on Monday, the title will be United’s unless they lose at Wigan Athletic and Chelsea beat Bolton Wanderers with a winning margin well into double figures in their final league matches next week.

Ronaldo, named England’s Footballer of the Year for the second successive season on Friday, gave United a third minute lead and added another after 24 minutes to take his season’s tally in all competitions to 40 goals.

Former West Ham striker Carlos Tevez made it 3-0 with a stunning 30-yard shot two minutes later before Dean Ashton replied with an overhead bicycle kick two minutes after that.

United were reduced to 10 men when Nani was dismissed eight minutes before halftime for a headbutt on Lucas Neill.

Carrick put the game beyond West Ham with a well-struck shot after took a deflection off Neill after 59 minutes.

 Another six matches were being played later on Saturday.