Rooney 40

                                                       Vanden Borre (og) 45 + 1

                                                                        Carrick 59

                                                                     Berbatov 62

Manchester United returned to the top of the EPL when they cruised to victory over a half-strength, half-hearted Portsmouth side.

But United may regret not being more ruthless, as goal difference may yet decide this season’s EPL title.

United attacked at will early on, yet Portsmouth’s Nadir Belhadj came closest with a left-foot shot cleared off the line by Jonny Evans.

Wayne Rooney eventually, broke the deadlock just moments after Dimitar Berbatov had side-footed an easy chance wide from six yards.

Rooney showed his strike partner how it should be done, nodding home Darren Fletcher’s cross from the right on 40 minutes.

Nani helped double the advantage when his cross went into the net off Anthony Vanden Borre and the outstretched foot of keeper David James.

Michael Carrick’s 59^th minute shot looped over James and in off the crossbar after a Richard Hughes deflection.

Three minutes later, Berbatov was given shocking amounts of time and space to place a shot past James’ left hand from the edge of the box.

And United declared on 69 minutes when Marc Wilson slammed Patrice Evra’s cross into the roof of his own net, although substitute Mame Diouf wasted another clear chance before full-time.