Manchester United 3 West Bromwich 0: United on song after Robson's key loss

The turning point was the head injury to Albion's Paul Robinson after 26 minutes in which United were frustrated by a massed defence. The former Watford player, who was man-marking Wayne Rooney to considerable effect, no sooner departed on a stretcher with concussion than Scholes' third goal in six matches fired Sir Alex Ferguson's side in front.

Ferdinand, having gone three and a half years without a goal before scoring against Wigan in the previous home match, repeated the feat before half-time. Van Nistelrooy, a more frequent marksman, rendered the last 25 minutes academic with his 16th goal of the campaign.

Bryan Robson, the Albion manager and former United icon, claimed Rooney had pushed Robinson into the hip of his colleague, Thomas Gaardsoe.

"Rooney has been running games for United and we wanted him out of the game," Robson said. "But as soon as Robinson went off, we switched off."

Ferguson, basking in a sequence of 22 points out of 24, praised his players for the way they have reacted to elimination from the Champions' League. "The defeat by Benfica really hurt," admitted the United manager. "The boys don't like losing and they've turned it round since then. All we can do is carry on winning and hope something happens to Chelsea. If it does, we want to be the team nearest to them."

Albion have now won only once at Old Trafford in 46 years, a 5-3 triumph under Ron Atkinson in 1978. That game, too, was played in December, with steady snow and an orange ball colouring the memories of Cyrille Regis, Tony Brown, Laurie Cunningham and an emerging young midfielder named Robson picking United apart.

This time, however, Robson's game plan was the antithesis of Atkinson's. He started with a bank of five at the back and another of four shielding them, with Nathan Ellington left to forage alone up front.

An early goal for United might have forced Albion out of their shell, but Scholes headed over following a fourth-minute cross by Gary Neville and Park Ji-Sung was just wide with a left-footed shot from 25 yards after cutting across the face of a congested penalty area from the right.

Robinson's misfortune transformed the complexion of the contest. Medical staff attended him for more than six minutes on the pitch, and when the game restarted it was swiftly apparent that the hiatus had affected Albion's concentration, as well as forcing Robson to abandon his five-man rearguard with no defenders on the bench.

Within two minutes, United were ahead. Park, inside the home half, sent Ferdinand galloping along the right like an overlapping full-back. His cross was deflected by an Albion player to Park, who laid the ball back to Scholes as it became clear that too many bodies barred his route to goal. A swing of the former England player's left boot buried the ball beyond Tomasz Kuszczak from just inside the 18-yard area.

In time added on for treatment to Robinson, United doubled their advantage. Curtis Davies, who lists Ferdinand among his heroes, was possibly star-struck as Ryan Giggs' corner swung in. His failure to track Ferdinand's run left the defender free to score with a glancing header.

Albion mustered only two efforts on target, both by Ronnie Wallwork, the first in the 55th minute and the second in stoppage time. United were playing well within their capabilities, but Ferguson seemed to feel they had settled too readily for a two-goal advantage and soon introduced Alan Smith to stirring effect. Released down the right by the impressive Park, the former Leeds player's centre was met by a clinical downward header by Van Nistelrooy to bring the carols belatedly cascading from the stands.

Goals: Scholes (34) 1-0; Ferdinand (45) 2-0; Van Nistelrooy (63) 3-0.

Manchester United (4-4-2): Van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Brown (Richardson, h-t), O'Shea; Park, Fletcher, Scholes (Smith, 62), Giggs; Rooney, Van Nistelrooy (Saha, 66). Substitutes not used: Howard (gk), Bardsley.

West Bromwich Albion (5-4-1): Kuszczak; Albrechtsen, Robinson (Kamara, 32), Davies, Gaardsoe (Gera, 67), Watson; Greening, Wallwork, Chaplow, Carter; Ellington (Campbell, 61). Substitutes not used: Kirkland (gk), Horsfield.

Referee: M Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Booked: Manchester United O'Shea.

Man of the match: Park.

Attendance: 67,972.