Manchester United’s unbeaten EPL record continues. This midweek’s win over Aston Villa equalled the previous club record of 29 unbeaten games, set between 1998 and 1999, during which time United won the ‘treble’ – EPL, FA Cup and Champions League.

So it was understandable that manager Alex Ferguson chose not to dabble in the market during the just-closed transfer window, despite United being persistently linked with players throughout January.

United’s unbeaten record was under threat at Blackpool last week, when they found themselves two goals down at the interval.

And they survived a confident penalty shout against them before eventually pulling a goal back through Dimitar Berbatov on 72 minutes, which set up a 3-2 victory.

 

An understrength United squeezed past League One Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend, thanks to late goals from Michael Owen and Javier Hernandez.

And a welcome return to goalscoring form for the much-maligned Wayne Rooney underpinned their record-equalling win over Villa.

After the match, manager Alex Ferguson set Rooney a seemingly modest target of reaching double figures for the season, although that would entail nearly a goal every two EPL games in the title run-in.

One player who won’t be involved in that title run-in is veteran defender Gary Neville, who announced his retirement from professional football with immediate effect this week.

The 35-year-old right-back played 602 times for United, scoring seven goals, and was capped 85 times for England. He said: “I have been a Manchester United fan all my life and fulfilled every dream I’ve ever had.”

His sudden decision has been linked to his omission from United’s 25-man squad for the Champions League knock-out stages. He added:

“I am disappointed that my playing days have come to an end. However, it comes to us all and it’s knowing when that time is. And for me that time is now.”

There was another United retirement this week, although Ferguson will be more pleased with South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung’s voluntary departure from international football after his country’s third place in the recent Asian Cup.

29-year-old Park said that knee problems left him with “no choice” but to retire after winning his 100^th cap during the tournament.

United visit struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers in the EPL this Saturday evening, hoping to make it a record-breaking 30EPL games unbeaten.

However, both Chelsea and Manchester City have been beaten at Wolves this season.