The script was written for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney to score again against Reading, but that doesn't mean he played well.
Indeed, some of the things we learned were not conducive to United walking away with the Premier League title.
Nevertheless, they say that great teams win ugly, and that is what United did. Reading were workmanlike, but frankly on this form they are already "dead and buried" in the Premier League. So sacking January's Manager of the Month, Brian McDermott, seems to have been pointless.
And that's how the "Royals" left Old Trafford. But luckily for United, Manchester City left Goodison Park in the same condition, so their title challenge seems to be equally doomed.
But it's not all over "till the fat lady sings..."
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Anderson of Manchester United
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Rooney and Alexander Buttner
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Indeed, some of the things we learned were not conducive to United walking away with the Premier League title.
Nevertheless, they say that great teams win ugly, and that is what United did. Reading were workmanlike, but frankly on this form they are already "dead and buried" in the Premier League. So sacking January's Manager of the Month, Brian McDermott, seems to have been pointless.
And that's how the "Royals" left Old Trafford. But luckily for United, Manchester City left Goodison Park in the same condition, so their title challenge seems to be equally doomed.
But it's not all over "till the fat lady sings..."
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Anderson of Manchester United
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Rooney and Alexander Buttner
Michael Regan/Getty Images
And probably so is Fabio da Silva, judging by his recent performances for QPR.
Buttner doesn't yet quite have the attacking edge that Patrice Evra has, despite having graduated from wing forward to wing back before he came to United. However, he is a more than competent footballer and he is better at tackling.
Some people don't seem to get Ashley Young, but they probably overlook the fact that his defensive skills are often needed when he is double-ganged with Evra down the left flank.
There is far less need with Buttner. He is fearless, heads the ball well, has good pace, is two-footed and can harry and tackle.
So that means less of a defensive worry down United's left if Nani or Zaha are playing in the future.
Buttner was one of the Under 21s' most effective players, being responsible for generating most of United's attacks against Wolves, despite patrolling the entire left flank on his own.
Today he was hardly under pressure and was able to display his attacking heritage.
That's one less signing United will need to make in the summer; especially with Fabio coming back from loan.
Nemanja Vidic Leaps High vs. Real Madrid
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Buttner doesn't yet quite have the attacking edge that Patrice Evra has, despite having graduated from wing forward to wing back before he came to United. However, he is a more than competent footballer and he is better at tackling.
Some people don't seem to get Ashley Young, but they probably overlook the fact that his defensive skills are often needed when he is double-ganged with Evra down the left flank.
There is far less need with Buttner. He is fearless, heads the ball well, has good pace, is two-footed and can harry and tackle.
So that means less of a defensive worry down United's left if Nani or Zaha are playing in the future.
Buttner was one of the Under 21s' most effective players, being responsible for generating most of United's attacks against Wolves, despite patrolling the entire left flank on his own.
Today he was hardly under pressure and was able to display his attacking heritage.
That's one less signing United will need to make in the summer; especially with Fabio coming back from loan.
Nemanja Vidic Leaps High vs. Real Madrid
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
Club captain Nemanja Vidic was outstanding against Real Madrid and did not deserve to be on the losing side.
Against Reading he was simply world class and, by a country mile, Man of the Match.
His heading was utterly fearless and he had Noel Hunt in his pocket for much of the match. But he knows when to do the simple thing, like shuffling the ball out for a throw to buy time for United to reorganise. Some of his colleagues would do well to note that rather than try the clever thing.
He didn't have much chance to head the goalkeeper's fists, but he is the main reason why United are once again keeping clean sheets.
The Red Devils have now conceded only three goals in their last 10 Premier League matches; Vidic has played in nine of those. Statistics don't lie.
He seems back to his fittest best, but we won't necessarily know until the City crunch match.
If he plays every match until United have an unassailable lead, there is no chance of them slipping up this season.
Rio Ferdinand
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Against Reading he was simply world class and, by a country mile, Man of the Match.
His heading was utterly fearless and he had Noel Hunt in his pocket for much of the match. But he knows when to do the simple thing, like shuffling the ball out for a throw to buy time for United to reorganise. Some of his colleagues would do well to note that rather than try the clever thing.
He didn't have much chance to head the goalkeeper's fists, but he is the main reason why United are once again keeping clean sheets.
The Red Devils have now conceded only three goals in their last 10 Premier League matches; Vidic has played in nine of those. Statistics don't lie.
He seems back to his fittest best, but we won't necessarily know until the City crunch match.
If he plays every match until United have an unassailable lead, there is no chance of them slipping up this season.
Rio Ferdinand
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Frankly, Rio Ferdinand has been treated outrageously by England.
He should never have had the captaincy taken off him and given to John Terry. Fabio Capello has a lot to account for. For Roy Hodgson to leave him out "for footballing reasons" was a nonsense. Did he really make that decision, or was there influence from the FA?
Having sorted out his back problems, he has been close to his best form this season.
Today he showed us why he could have been a world-class sweeper and should far more often have the courage to bring the ball out from the back.
Twice in the first half he showed attacking brilliance. He brought the ball out and hit a 50-yard diagonal pass that landed plum in front of Ashley Young to create a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity.
Then he repeated the dose, but kept his run going before slipping Wayne Rooney a pass at the last minute from which the striker scored the winning goal.
Sir Alex has given his permission and, with Rio surely being a certainty for at least one of England's World Cup qualifiers, they will qualify easily.
Robin van Persie
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He should never have had the captaincy taken off him and given to John Terry. Fabio Capello has a lot to account for. For Roy Hodgson to leave him out "for footballing reasons" was a nonsense. Did he really make that decision, or was there influence from the FA?
Having sorted out his back problems, he has been close to his best form this season.
Today he showed us why he could have been a world-class sweeper and should far more often have the courage to bring the ball out from the back.
Twice in the first half he showed attacking brilliance. He brought the ball out and hit a 50-yard diagonal pass that landed plum in front of Ashley Young to create a clear-cut goal-scoring opportunity.
Then he repeated the dose, but kept his run going before slipping Wayne Rooney a pass at the last minute from which the striker scored the winning goal.
Sir Alex has given his permission and, with Rio surely being a certainty for at least one of England's World Cup qualifiers, they will qualify easily.
Robin van Persie
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But not Wayne Rooney.
Robin van Persie looked jaded on Saturday night. He has now failed to score in his last seven matches for United. Let's hope it has nothing to do with age. He carried the team with his goals earlier in the season.
Those who don't think he has done enough to win the PFA Player of the Year award should look at the shift he puts in for the defence. Today, for example, he threw himself into a points-saving block in his own penalty area.
But while he is not the only player looking tired, rotation doesn't necessarily always work.
As we said earlier, Vidic is playing almost every EPL match now and the defence is rock-solid. Meanwhile, Evans and Ferdinand are rotated, which works.
But while Anderson is finally finding some fitness, he frankly isn't in the same league as Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley or even Ryan Giggs.
He still gives the ball away too much, although he is showing signs of his former creative brilliance.
Sir Alex made eight changes to the team that played Chelsea only six days ago and it showed. It looked like once again they had to introduce themselves to each other.
Some of the passing and interplay was sterile and lacking in imagination or penetration. Some of the rotated players still have a lot to do to justify their place.
Danny Welbeck, for example, was excellent in the two Real Madrid ties. But he was ordinary today, which is a pity for Chicharito.
Michael Carrick Against Chelsea
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Robin van Persie looked jaded on Saturday night. He has now failed to score in his last seven matches for United. Let's hope it has nothing to do with age. He carried the team with his goals earlier in the season.
Those who don't think he has done enough to win the PFA Player of the Year award should look at the shift he puts in for the defence. Today, for example, he threw himself into a points-saving block in his own penalty area.
But while he is not the only player looking tired, rotation doesn't necessarily always work.
As we said earlier, Vidic is playing almost every EPL match now and the defence is rock-solid. Meanwhile, Evans and Ferdinand are rotated, which works.
But while Anderson is finally finding some fitness, he frankly isn't in the same league as Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley or even Ryan Giggs.
He still gives the ball away too much, although he is showing signs of his former creative brilliance.
Sir Alex made eight changes to the team that played Chelsea only six days ago and it showed. It looked like once again they had to introduce themselves to each other.
Some of the passing and interplay was sterile and lacking in imagination or penetration. Some of the rotated players still have a lot to do to justify their place.
Danny Welbeck, for example, was excellent in the two Real Madrid ties. But he was ordinary today, which is a pity for Chicharito.
Michael Carrick Against Chelsea
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