Chicken Kiev roasted....

Some say that Oleg 'The Horse' Luzhny is still mentally scarred from the six-goal thrashing that his former club Arsenal suffered on a visit to Old Trafford a few seasons ago. Others say that he was just plain chicken. They were among theories as to why the Dynamo Kiev manager left out his top goal-scorer and Rincon who scored in Kiev against United a couple of weeks ago. All we know is that United dished up another four goal feast and roasted Kiev again.

In truth despite the goals, it wasn't one of those memorable European Old Trafford nights. As Wayne Rooney later said 'it was a bit like a training session because Kiev hadn't come to play'.

Going into the game Fergie had said that there'd only be two to three changes, in point of fact he made five. At the back, out went Ferdinand and Brown, in came Gerard Pique - who opened the scoring from a first-half Ronaldo free-kick, which was firstly headed on by Michael Carrick who had been restored to midfield, the ball was then deflected onto the Spaniard who scored with a well directed header into the corner. Danny Simpson came in to replace Brown and he had a decent game, the highlight of his night was a second-half shot from which he nearly scored.

Darren Fletcher was restored to midfield and he worked hard without being outstanding, but it was that sort of night, United only had to do enough to easily beat a fairly down trodden looking Kiev side. Carlos Tevez made it two-nil before the half-time break when he linked up superbly with Rooney, the star-duo played a quick one-two which unlocked the visitors defence and the Argentine's finish gave the keeper no chance.

At half-time, Fergie felt so confident that he sent on Tomas Kuszczak, Van der Sar was apparently suffering with a toe injury. The second half was like the first, pretty much another walk in the park. The Reds extended their lead when Nani who'd replaced Giggs was found lurking wide on the right with an excellent ball by second half substitute Saha, the Portuguese winger played in a lovely dipping curving cross to the feet of Rooney who's stolen in unseen behind the visitors central defenders, Rooney rarely misses in these situations and he did not disappoint as he crashed home a fizzing drive to make it three-nil.

Ronaldo wasn't having the best of games, he looked to be fairly frustrated at times as players overlooked him when shooting instead of playing him in. Rooney was guilty on at least one occasion, but the player of the year got in on the scoring-act late on with a trademark run down the left flank, before cutting inside then outsmarting the full-back with one of his tricks which put him in on goal before finishing in style.

Fergie who has now been manager of United for 21 years cannot have had many easier European nights and many in the media are saying that it could the Reds year again.

Reds shine against Kiev but Anderson is the brightest star...

United went into their Champions League game with Dynamo Kiev knowing that victory would more or less secure their place in the knockout stages of the competition. Paul Scholes missed the game due to sustaining a knee injury and Patrice Evra pulled a muscle in the pre-match warm up.

Despite hinting that he would return at the weekend, Owen Hargreaves didn't figure in Fergie's squad for a game that turned out to be something of a walk in the park. For their part Dynamo looked demoralised and out of sorts, they have already sacked one manager this season, and going off Kiev's performance against United it wont be the last.

The hosts afforded the visitors time and space and when you do that against players of the quality of United then eventually you will pay the price and that is precisely what happened with the Reds rattling in three goals before half time.

It was all very nice to watch, Ronaldo's header in the first half was the pick of the United goals, it came after Giggs evaded the attentions of two defenders to pick out the footballer of the year who scored with a towering and well timed header which left the keeper helplessly rooted to his goal-line.

Before that Ronaldo goal, United had raced into a two-nil lead courtesy of another headed goal by Rio Ferdinand on eight minutes from another cross by Giggs, then Wazza Rooney doubled United's lead on 18 minutes with a tap-in, which had a hint of offside about it.

Just when we Reds looked like they'd take full advantage of Kiev's generosity, United's back four were found wanting from a corner when John O'Shea totally lost Rincon who scored with a well timed header on 33 minutes.

The Kiev goal did not stem the flow of United attacks with Anderson in particular standing out as the Reds star performer. The little Brazilian was popping up all over the field, one minute he was defending deep and running the ball to safety, the next he was supporting the attack and spraying passes to the front three. The former Porto star very nearly scored himself - if he had it would have been richly deserved for a man of the match winning performance.

Ronaldo effectively killed the game off on 68 minutes from the penalty-spot before Bangoura scored a late consolation goal from distance.

The partnership of Rooney and Tevez looks better by the game and Ronaldo is starting to spark and United have Hargreaves, Carrick and Saha to call upon. All of a sudden things are really looking good for the Reds, the questions about why the goals had dried up have all been forgotten with Fergie's side finding their attacking collective stride, in short normal service has been resumed.

Paul Scholes is a new injury concern, but United do have cover and so even if he's out for a few weeks, his loss wont be too much of a setback.

On this form it will take a very good team to knock United out of Europe and some Reds are already genuinely talking about making plans for Moscow next May.

Final score Kiev 2-4 United