Tough tussle ... Wayne Rooney tries to get the better of Phil Neville. Source: AAP
Alex Ferguson admitted his selection gamble had paid off after Manchester United moved 12 points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win over Everton.
With United facing a tricky UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg tie at Real Madrid this week, Ferguson had originally planned to make seven changes in a bid to keep his key players fresh for the trip to Spain.
But when Ferguson saw that second-placed Manchester City had suffered a shock defeat at Southampton, he changed his mind and sent out a full-strength line-up.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man United | 26 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 65 |
| 2 | Man City | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 53 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 27 | 49 |
| 4 | Tottenham | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 48 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 26 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 21 | 44 |
| 6 | Everton | 26 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 42 |
| 7 | Swansea | 26 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 37 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 25 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 36 |
| 9 | West Brom | 25 | 10 | 4 | 11 | -1 | 34 |
| 10 | Stoke | 26 | 7 | 12 | 7 | -5 | 33 |
| 11 | West Ham | 26 | 8 | 6 | 12 | -9 | 30 |
| 12 | Fulham | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | -6 | 29 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 26 | 7 | 8 | 11 | -6 | 29 |
| 14 | Norwich | 26 | 6 | 11 | 9 | -15 | 29 |
| 15 | Southampton | 26 | 6 | 9 | 11 | -9 | 27 |
| 16 | Newcastle | 26 | 7 | 6 | 13 | -12 | 27 |
| 17 | Aston Villa | 26 | 5 | 9 | 12 | -25 | 24 |
| 18 | Reading | 26 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -15 | 23 |
| 19 | Wigan | 26 | 5 | 6 | 15 | -21 | 21 |
| 20 | QPR | 26 | 2 | 11 | 13 | -22 | 17 |
Ferguson's decision to go for the kill paid off handsomely as first half goals from Ryan Giggs and Robin van Persie left United with one hand on the trophy with 12 games to play.
"I was going to make about seven changes to the game but when I saw yesterday's result I changed that because we knew if we got a result it would put us in a fantastic position,'' Ferguson said.
"We've got to win our games regardless of what happens with City and if we concentrate on our own games we'll be okay.''
United's 12-point lead is their biggest advantage at the top of the Premier League table since May 2001 and Ferguson agreed his men are in pole position to regain the title from arch rivals City.
But the Scot knows United blew an eight-point lead in the closing weeks of the season just a year ago, with Everton's 4-4 draw at Old Trafford one of the decisive results, so he was relieved to see off the Toffees this time.
"I thought they dominated for 20 minutes and they did a couple of new things,'' Ferguson said.
"They've got great delivery from corner kicks with (Leighton) Baines but I thought we were really in control.
"You have to remember your bad experiences and that was one last year. We showed a steely determination this time.''
Meanwhile, United winger Giggs expects his squad's strength in depth will be the decisive factor in the title run-in.
"Now we just have to continue our good form. If we get the results, we'll be okay,'' he said.
"We've got players on the bench and not even getting on the bench who would walk into a lot of other teams.
"I think we've got enough experience in there but you never take anything for granted. The strength of the squad should see us through.''
Meanwhile at Villa Park, Charles N'Zogbia inspired Aston Villa to a crucial 2-1 win over West Ham United as the Premier League strugglers climbed out of the relegation zone.
Paul Lambert's team have endured a miserable campaign filled with embarrassing cup exits and woeful league defeats, but N'Zogbia's influential display gave Villa renewed hope that they can at least avoid sinking into the nPower Championship.
N'Zogbia won the penalty that Christian Benteke converted to break the deadlock in the closing stages and the former Wigan Athletic winger then curled in a superb free-kick to give the hosts much-needed breathing space.
An own goal from Villa's Ashley Westwood ensured a nervous finale, but Lambert's men held on for their first league win in 10 matches, a dismal run that stretched back to a victory at Liverpool in December.
Villa now sit one point clear of the bottom three but their battle to preserve their long-held top-flight status looks certain to go down to the wire.
"I think it will be huge for us. We've taken a lot of knocks but football is a funny game and we are only three points behind Newcastle now,'' Lambert said.
"We know what we have got to do and there's 12 games to go. Every game is really tough, but that was a huge win for us, especially with the results for the teams around us this weekend.''
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