Manchester United hammered out a statement of intent to their title rivals as the champions returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at West Ham yesterday. Sir Alex Ferguson's side had arrived in east London in second place after Liverpool's late 3-2 fightback at Portsmouth 24 hours earlier. United showed they have no intention of relinquishing their crown as 35-year-old Ryan Giggs' second half goal sent them two points clear of Liverpool. By the time Liverpool are next in action that lead will have extended to five points if United win their game in hand against Fulham on February 18. Champions' stuff The Old Trafford outfit are beginning to have the look of champions again and this was the kind of obdurate display that has become their hallmark this season. For decades Ferguson has prided himself on producing teams who dazzle with their flair, but this crop of United stars are just as happy to grind out a 1-0 victory as they are to put on a show. United's defensive excellence in recent weeks has reached record-breaking levels and they chalked up another milestone en route to a 13th consecutive cleansheet and an eighth successive win. Ferguson's back-four needed to be at their best again as West Ham made a tigerish start. Nemanja Vidic sent Lucas Neill's cross looping just over his own crossbar and from the resulting corner, Australia defender Neill forced Edwin van der Sar into action for the first time with a low strike. After a relatively subdued opening, United began to find some momentum. Dimitar Berbatov had the ball in West Ham's net midway through the first half when he poked home Paul Scholes' deflected shot, but the United striker's effort was correctly ruled out for offside. A clever corner to the edge of the penalty area by Giggs caught West Ham flat-footed and when Cristiano Ronaldo nudged Scholes' strike towards the top corner, Robert Green was forced to make a reflex tip over. West Ham's eight-match unbeaten run testified to their own fortitude and they pushed forward at the start of the second half, with Neill drawing a smart save from van der Sar. But United's array of flicks and feints ensured the Hammers could never be comfortable.

Manchester United hammered out a statement of intent to their title rivals as the champions returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at West Ham yesterday.

Ryan Giggs scores in Manchester United's win over West Ham

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Ryan Giggs scores in Manchester United's win over West Ham

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