We are five minutes into play at Old Trafford and you have not missed much. United will be eager to extend their lead at the summit of the Premier League table by putting Reading to the sword this evening.

Here are your belated line-ups:

United: De Gea, Ferdinand, Smalling, Vidic, Buttner, Anderson, Giggs, Young, Rooney, Welbeck, Van Persie

Reading: Taylor; Shorey, Pearce, Mariappa, Kelly, Karca, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu, Hunt, McCleary.

United with their first chance to get a few bodies in the box, on nine minutes, as Rooney delivers a free kick but Reading deal with it handily enough.

Ashley Young gets in a dangerous cross that is smothered, just about, by Taylor in the Reading goal.

The visitors creeping forward now as they sense a hesitant United start. 16 minutes on the clock now.

GOAL: (Wayne Rooney ’21) Man Utd 1-0 Reading

Rio Ferdinand strode forward and beat two men before teeing up Rooney on the edge of the box. His finish was crisp and clinical. The party starts up in the stands.

Giggs sticks on the afterburners and zips down the left but his cross is comfortable for Taylor who gathers on the edge of the six-yard box.

Rooney cushions a pass back into the path of van Persie who only has one thing on his mind as he steps on to it from 25 yards out. It’s straight at Taylor though.

Warning for United there. Robson-Kanu’s first touch is a little bit heavy but he still manages to dig the ball out from under his feet before Vidic and Smalling can close. He curls his shot towards de Gea’s right post but it’s just off the mark as the keeper scrambles across.

Weather report, courtesy of ESPN’s Jon Champion: “We now have proper rain in Old Trafford.”

Cheers Jon.

Five minutes to the break here at Old Trafford and, the goal aside, Reading have done a good job of sticking to their game plan and stifling United.

Noel Hunt picks up a yellow card for a rash challenge on Chris Smalling.

We’re in to one minute of added time.

HALF TIME: Manchester United 1-0 Reading

So Reading caretaker boss Eamonn Dolan heads off down the tunnel into the bowels of Old Trafford. He’ll be happy enough with what he’s seen but it’s United who lead, thanks to Rooney’s strike and a generous deflection off Alex Pearce.

Back in five.

Close call for United there. Nemanja Vidic shoves Mariappa as he tries to clear Nicky Shorey’s corner. The ball bounces off Van Persie after a scramble in the box and Reading protest.

The visitors are getting a footing in this game, in the driving rain, as Shorey delivers another dangerous ball into the box. Buttner must be on the verge of a yellow card as he fouls Robson-Kanu again.

Stephen Kelly gets a yellow after clipping Ashley Young. 62 minutes gone. Welbeck is one of the brightest players on show so far. Van Persie seems to have run out of steam in recent weeks.

Adam Le Fondre about to come on for Reading as Shorey whips in another free. Pearce gets a weak touch to it before Rooney is felled in the box and United get a free out.

Young comes off for United to be replaced by Michael Carrick, who talkSport describe as a player having the best season of his career. I do not agree but he has had his moments, such as the beauty of a pass for the Hernandez goal last week.

75 minutes gone.

Anderson puts a good ball into the box but only one United player is there and nowhere near goalkeeper Taylor. United seem happy to see out this tie and take the win that would make their lead 15 points.

16 goals in 31 games for Rooney this season. (Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Into the final 10 minutes now as Taylor saves well from a low Giggs drive after a short corner with Carrick. Second corner comes in. Vidic is close at the back post but the ball is cleared. United get possession back as Van Persie finds Smalling. His drive flashes across the six yard box.

Giggs retrieves, finds Welbeck. He squares for Rooney but Taylor gets a touch and it is just over.

United closing out the game effectively as Morrison replaces Kelly for Reading. Five minutes of added time being put up but the fans stream out regardless.

Next up for Reading are Arsenal and it will not get easier for caretaker coach Eamonn Dolan, who will need to get his sodden suit dry-cleaned professionally. United have Sunderland next.

Kagawa, on as a sub, floats in a cross that finds Van Persie on the penalty spot. He unfurls an overhead scissor kick that goes just over. I’m cursing the friend that swoe to me I’d do well by making him Fantasy Football captain.

90 seconds remain.

That is that. United wrap up the win. 15 points clear and they better start changing the ribbons on the trophy. Cheers for the company.