Man. United Move To Brink Of Claiming Title As Ronaldo Penalty Secures Derby Win At Man. City

Manchester United moved to within touching distance of the Premiership title after Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty gave them victory at Manchester City.

Ronaldo scored in the 34th minute after he was fouled by Michael Ball - who had earlier stamped viciously on the star.

City wasted their best chance when goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar saved Darius Vassell's penalty 11 minutes from time after Wes Brown fouled Ball.

Chelsea must now win at Arsenal on Sunday to keep alive the title race.

The game opened in shameful fashion, with City defender Ball guilty of a cowardly stamp on Ronaldo as the United winger lay on the ground.

Referee Rob Styles was unsighted but Ball is unlikely to have heard the last of the disgraceful foul and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was understandably raging on the touchline after watching a replay of the incident.

City, without a league goal at home since New Year's Day, had a half-chance to end that barren sequence after 16 minutes but Emile Mpenza shot straight at Van der Sar.

United were displaying all the real quality, despite City's rather obvious attempts to entice them into a physical battle as opposed to a football match.

Rio Ferdinand should have given the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute but he headed against the bar from close range after Ronaldo flicked on Ryan Giggs' corner.

Ronaldo exacted revenge on Ball after 34 minutes when he tempted the defender into a foul inside the area - the Portuguese star recovering to send Andreas Iskasson the wrong way from the spot.

The second half was a desperately tame affair, although Mpenza gave United a scare when he headed just off target.

City were offering more of a physical threat than a footballing one and Nemanja Vidic needed treatment after a late challenge by substitute Paul Dickov.

And yet Stuart Pearce's side were thrown a lifeline with 11 minutes left when Ball tumbled under Brown's challenge.

But in keeping with their hapless record in front of goal, Vassell blasted the spot-kick straight at Van der Sar's legs.

United held in on comfort - and the celebrations at the final whistle suggested Ferguson's side know the title is theirs, barring a Chelsea miracle.

Man City 0-1 Man Utd: The visitors almost take the lead in the 23rd minute when Rio Ferdinand's header hits the bar

The deadlock is broken soon after when Ronaldo wins and then converts a penalty after a foul by defender Michael Ball

Ball then wins a late penalty for City but Edwin van der Sar saves Darius Vassell's effort as Man Utd go eight points clear

Ferguson Will Avoid Chelsea Game:

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will not watch title rivals Chelsea's match at Arsenal on Sunday.

The Blues must win to keep the title race alive until Wednesday - when they take on United at Stamford Bridge.

"I won't be watching the game," said Ferguson, whose side moved eight points clear with a win at Manchester City.

"I'll go for a game of golf. Hopefully, Arsenal will get the result we want, but if we have to go to Chelsea to get something we'll look forward to it."

Ferguson also revealed he had planned to go and watch United youngster Gerard Pique, who is on loan at Real Zaragoza in La Liga, but abandoned those plans because of a problem with the flights.

If Chelsea do not beat Arsenal then Ferguson will clinch his ninth Premiership title at the Old Trafford helm.

The Scot praised his players' character after they bounced back from the Champions League exit in Milan with a 1-0 win at Eastlands and Ferguson said: "What you saw today was human courage.

"The players showed great courage to come back from Wednesday and we are happy with 1-0.

"It wasn't a great performance but derby games are like that and in the end we got through it."

Ferguson paid particular tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was stamped on early in the game by City's Michael Ball, but was tripped by the same player to earn the match-winning penalty, which the Portuguese winger dispatched.

"He was a victim of a really bad challenge early in the game and at that point it looked like the referee could have lost control," claimed Ferguson, who remonstrated from the touchline as match official Rob Styles waved play on after the incident.