Sir Alex Ferguson selfishly asked his players to give him an early birthday present he wants the most, all three points against Steve Coppell’s Reading and his team obliged in style beating Reading 3-2 at Old Trafford. 

Ferguson, who turns 65 on New Year's eve, persisted with Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer upfront, but was forced to make a host of changes, with Vidic and Scholes suspended for the match. However he started last game's hero Cristiano Ronaldo with Ryan Giggs on the bench.

After a listless first half an hour, United took the lead with Solskjaer heading home a Ronaldo cross, though technically Solskjaer was offside. Five minutes later Reading equalized through another header from Ibrahima Sonko after a great delivery from the free kick by Nicky Shorey.

Ferguson did what he had done in the last match against Wigan Athletic. Ryan Giggs came on after the break and once again looked pretty good, playing a crucial part in United's second and third goals. United increased the pressure on Reading goal and were rewarded in the 59th minute through some delightful one touch football.

Giggs found Rooney outside the area who passed the ball onto the feet of Solskjaer. The Norwegian steady himself and managed to beat Hahnemann only to see the post denying him his second goal. However the ball deflected straight to Ronaldo who gleefully pounced on to score in his third consecutive match.
   
United continued the pressure in search of the killer goal and were rewarded in the 77th minute when Giggs crossed in from the right to find Ronaldo free on the far post. The Portuguese winger slotted in from 6 yards out and after making sure that there was no offside decision, started his celebrations.

Reading pulled one back in the stoppage time through Leroy Lita but it was too little too late. The win was an apt birthday present for Ferguson, all the more important after Fulham held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, leaving United 6 points clear at the top of the table as they look forward to their first league title in 4 years.