Sheff Wed 0-1 Man Utd

Teddy Sheringham pressed his claims for a long-term Old Trafford future with his second vital goal in 10 days to take Manchester United three points clear in the Premiership.

The former England striker is embroiled in transfer talks with the club and has been linked with a move to West Ham this week, after struggling to win a first-team place all season.

But, after scoring the equaliser against Arsenal last week, he claimed the winning goal against struggling Sheffield Wednesday to take United another step closer to the title.

Sheringham's strike 17 minutes from time ended the visitors' Hillsborough hoodoo, giving them their first away win against the Owls since October 1993.

Defeat was a bitter blow for Wednesday boss Danny Wilson, as the newly-crowned manager of the month saw his team miss the chance of moving further off the foot of the table.

Wednesday were the more impressive team in the first half but after the break United - with Ryan Giggs at the heart of much of their brightest moments - transformed the match.

Sheringham's goal was the least Sir Alex Ferguson's men deserved and but for a virtuoso display of goalkeeping from Pavel Srnicek, their victiory would have been more resounding.

Wednesday were much the more impressive side early on as Wim Jonk and Gilles De Bilde caused problems for the United defence.

Mark Bosnich was tested by a Jonk pile-driver and the home side then felt they should have had a penalty when Phillip Scott went down under Gary Neville's challenge.

United created virtually nothing in the first half, but Pavel Srnicek was forced to save from Sheringham after Dwight Yorke flicked the ball through.

Scholes returns

The half-time introduction of the fit-again Paul Scholes for Nicky Butt seemed to rejuvenate United.

The visitors took control of the contest at the start of the second half - and but for the inspired Srnicek they would have gone in front.

The Czech keeper kept out a Yorke effort and then spectacularly turned a glancing header from Sheringham over the bar, as United piled forward at every opportunity.

Srnicek's save from Roy Keane after Ryan Giggs had created the opening on the left was arguably the best of the lot - and from the subsequent corner Yorke's strike was cleared off the line by Andy Hinchcliffe.

Wednesday's rearguard was taking a real battering and eventually the United dominance told.

A precise volleyed through-ball from Giggs beat the off-side trap and Sheringham raced clear before beating Srnicek with a low shot that went through the luckless keeper's legs.

Teams:

Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Nolan, Atherton, Walker, Hinchcliffe, Alexandersson, Jonk, Scott, Haslam, De Bilde, Sibon.
Subs: Pressman, Cresswell, Rudi, Donnelly, Staniforth.

Man Utd: Bosnich, G Neville, Stam, Silvestre, Irwin, Beckham, Butt, Keane, Giggs, Sheringham, Yorke.
Subs: Van Der Gouw, Cole, P Neville, Scholes, Solskjaer.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol