Manchester United 2 Sheffield United 0: Carrick continues hot streak to ensure United stay on top

The cry from the away end was "Chelsea are going to catch you" - although not if Sir Alex Ferguson's team continue to pick off the opposition as clinically as this. Five games left, six points clear - now the test of nerve falls upon Jose Mourinho's side tonight at Upton Park as the Premiership waits to see who blinks first at the top.

Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney did the damage, while the Blades provided the needle, although Sheffield United were grossly unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Gabriel Heinze tripped Luton Shelton. The injury to Patrice Evra will be of greater concern to Ferguson; apart from that his team resisted some gentle provocation.

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Patched up in defence, unstoppable in attack. Manchester United have nothing to fear when they tear sides apart as comprehensively as they did Sheffield United in the early stages last night, but it will be in defending against the likes of Milan and Chelsea that they may have more concern. With just 21 minutes gone last night an injured Evra took his leave of the game.

He joined Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic among the injured: the first-choice back four at United are now all in different stages of recovery, while Mikaël Silvestre is not due back this season. Ferguson could blame a very crude challenge from Colin Kazim-Richards, studs up on Evra's calf, for that one.

In fact, there was much for the Manchester United manager to shake his head at in the first half, despite his side taking the lead within five minutes. There was also a lunge from Matthew Kilgallon, studs up again, that connected with Alan Smith's thigh and tore his shorts.

Neil Warnock's side had lined up with Phil Jagielka playing in front of a back four that often became a back five and they did well to calm the early blitz from the home side without conceding more than one. The Premiership leaders passed the ball beautifully, red shirts flowing in torrents around and past their opponents, a murderous scoreline in the offing.

The goal came from Carrick who, of late, seems to have reinvented himself as the Frank Lampard of the North-west. This was his sixth goal of the season, so he has some way to go to catch the midfielder with 21 already, but he seems to be cropping up in much more advanced positions. Smith knocked the ball down to Cristiano Ronaldo, who slipped it through the away defence and Carrick sent a low chip over Paddy Kenny.

There should have been another a minute later when Rooney took a long ball down, beat Rob Kozluk and hit his shot straight at Kenny. The England striker never really settled after that, his temper worn away by some close attention by Warnock's defence and a burst of "You let your country down" from the away fans. He was booked for a lunge at Phil Jagielka.

There was a speck of hope for Sheffield United in the frustration of the home side and the pace of Shelton running at Wes Brown and Heinze. The hope was brutally extinguished when, five minutes into the second half, Ryan Giggs clipped a perfect ball that Rooney took with the outside of his right foot and then dispatched past Kenny.

That goal should have been the end of it but for all the lateness of their challenges and edgy tackling, Warnock's side did not roll over. Mourinho will have raised an eyebrow at a late nip at Carrick which had the man of the moment hobbling for a few minutes. Mourinho will have noticed that the away support broke into a chant of his name - in a desperate attempt to wake the soporific home crowd from their quiet contemplation.

Shelton's pace was a concern, even if his finishing was not. The Jamaican international should have done better when Kilgallon teed him up on 53 minutes, although he was desperately unlucky later in the half. Displaying devastating pace to get away from the defence he blazed past Kieran Richardson and had the goal at his mercy before Heinze intervened.

On the first viewing it looked like a penalty; on the replays there was absolutely no doubt. While Rob Styles might not have had the benefit of a second look the referee was close enough to make the call, which he got wrong. Heinze took nothing of the ball and plenty of the man.

That was hard on Warnock's side, who refused to give in, and Michael Tonge clipped the bar in the closing stages. There was a booking for Ronaldo for a bit of face slapping with Chris Morgan that did not amount to a great deal. United kept their tempers and were comfortable in the end.

Goals: Carrick (1-0) 4; Rooney (50) 2-0.

Manchester United (4-3-3): Kuszczak; Fletcher, Brown, Heinze, Evra (Richardson, 21); Carrick, Scholes, Giggs (Solskjaer, 80); Ronaldo, Smith, Rooney. Substitutes not used: Van der Sar (gk), O'Shea, Cathcart.

Sheffield United (4-1-4-1): Kenny; Geary, Kozluk (Armstrong, 77), Morgan, Kilgallon; Jagielka; Webber, Montgomery, Tonge, Kazim-Richards (Gillespie, 75); Shelton (Nade, 87). Substitutes not used: A Quinn, Fathi.

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).

Booked: Manchester United - Ronaldo, Rooney, Smith; Sheffield United - Geary, Morgan, Armstrong.

Man of the match: Carrick.

Attendance: 75, 540.