Reigning champions United's victory left City knowing that if they
lost away to Arsenal later on Sunday they would be eight points behind their
cross-town foes with just six games of the season left.
"Today for us is like a final, otherwise eight points is too
much," City manager Roberto Mancini told Sky Sports before kick-off at the
Emirates Stadium.
Goals from Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes saw United to victory but
Rooney's opener was controversial.
The England striker gave United a 15th minute lead from the
penalty spot after QPR captain Shaun Derry was sent off for bringing down
Ashley Young inside the area, with referee Lee Mason ruling he'd denied a clear
goalscoring chance.
Mason's decision was harsh on Rangers, who are still above the
relegation zone on goal difference. Derry's contact appeared minimal and Young
looked to be offside.
"I thought it was offside," said United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson.
"There have been lots of decisions like that in the last few
weeks. The boy (Derry) did just enough to off-balance Ashley and, being the
last defender, the referee felt he had no option.
"I felt we were a little bit out of our comfort zone after
that, I didn't enjoy it," he added.
"Before the sending-off our speed was terrific, we had some
good play, but the sending-off unsettled us and put us out of our comfort
zone."
Even though QPR keeper Paddy Kenny correctly dived to his right,
Rooney's well-struck penalty gave him his 30th goal of the season and left the
visitors, managed by former United striker Mark Hughes, with a mountain to
climb.
Kenny saved from Rafael da Silva and Danny Welbeck to keep QPR in
the game until the 68th minute when he was beaten by a 20-yard shot from
veteran midfielder Scholes, recalled from retirement this season by Ferguson.
Hughes confirmed QPR would appeal Derry's red card in a bid to
have him available for Wednesday's match at home to Swansea.
"We'll obviously try and appeal that and hopefully get that
overturned by Wednesday," he said. "We can ill-afford to have any
more out.
"I think everybody understood that the boy (Young) was
offside and that there was minimal contact. The boy has gone over too
readily."
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