United hammers Hammers
04/05/2008 8:38 AM
Curbishley feels deserve to win the title, more a lack of ability.
Carrick was offered more room to run into than he could believe before firing home his second goal of the campaign, with Neill again providing the accidental deflection.
The unconnected arrival of Ryan Giggs and departure of Ronaldo were significant in that it took the Welshman to within one game of equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's revised appearance record of 758 and also suggested some element of doubt over Rooney returning as it offered United's major attacking force a rest even though he remained on a hat-trick and apparently full of energy.
Ronaldo's replacement, Darren Fletcher, struck a post with his precise shot, although by then it hardly mattered.
United thanked its supporters for a season of effort with a lap of the pitch at the end. In eight days' time they could be celebrating for real.
English Premier League
Manchester United 4 (Ronaldo 3, 24, Tevez 26, Carrick 59)
West Ham 1 (Ashton 28)