The Argentine striker was quoted in the Sunday papers saying he felt unwanted at Old Trafford and expected to be elsewhere next season.

But despite that he was included in Sir Alex Ferguson's starting line-up with Wayne Rooney left on the bench.

And he repaid the Scot's faith by rifling home what turned out to a second killer goal for United on the stroke of half-time.

He blasted a right-footer past Shay Given from the edge of the box after magnificent control from Dimitar Berbatov set up the opportunity.

Tevez had already hit the post with a super strike that had Given beaten all ends up and he hit the woodwork after the interval too with a close-range header.

United's first goal had come on 18 minutes after they won a free-kick 25 yards out when Berbatov was fouled by Stephen Ireland.

Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to take it and his low shot deflected off Nigel De Jong to leave Shay Given wrong-footed. He did get a hand to it but couldn't stop the effort from finding the corner of the net.

City, who enjoyed plenty of possession at times, did make a better fist of things after the break.

But they wasted their best opening when Robinho fired wide from 10 yards out, while a piledriver from sub Martin Petrov was tipped round a post by Edwin van der Sar.

The win takes United three points clear of Liverpool with a game still in hand, and four points from their final three games would guarantee a third consecutive Premier League title.

(Soccer365.com)