Fergie:
On the match:
"It was a terrific result for a lot of reasons.
"One, it is sometimes difficult after a Wednesday night, the emotions when it is an important night for the club.
"Rio Ferdinand did a hamstring injury so he couldn't play. Roy Keane, I felt, had to be rested so I tried to freshen it up as best as I could.
"Gary Neville came off at half time and he has gone to hospital for an X-ray. I hope it is not serious.
"Wayne was by far our best player tonight. He is a winner and was truly magnificent."
Title chances:
"I thought it was running away from us and the sigh of relief at the goal was probably mine," admitted Ferguson.
"We should have put the game out of sight in the first half, so losing the goal right after half-time was a real kick in the teeth for us.
"But we have had many results like that over the years. We have seen it time and time again. It just emphasises the determination and perseverance of the team.
"Wayne was by far our best player tonight. He is a winner and was truly magnificent.
"We have to keep winning and you never know what can happen then."
Goalie situation:
"Roy Carroll made a big mistake on Wednesday.
"I don't think he was totally responsible but maybe he is better out of it so I can give Tim Howard his go.
"We have the important game in Milan looming in 10 days' time and I want to see how Tim responds to the challenge."
Wayne:
On the match:
"We possibly should have killed them off before they equalised.
"It was a tough game, as we knew it would be. They beat us down there, and we knew it would be the same sort of match. When they scored they put men behind the ball to make it difficult for us."
He likes Ruud:
"He is a top-class player and one of the best in the world."
"He played me in for my second goal, and it is a bonus for any side to have someone like him."
Joe Joe Joe Jordan:
Our title chances:
"They have done it before and it wasn't a one-off," said the Pompey coach.
"They have now collected 14 wins and three draws from their last 17 games and don't look like slipping up.
"There is still a big gap there but what has been said is true, Manchester United have been there and done it, Chelsea might have players who have done it in other leagues, but they haven't done it here.
"That doesn't mean they won't but I expect the gap to get smaller than it is now."
The match:
"When Wayne Rooney collected the pass, he probably had three decisions to make and the choices have ended up with him rolling the ball into our net.
"You can't blame the goalkeeper. He has been out-thought and out-manoeuvred.
"It is disappointing because I thought we were going to get a point but Manchester United have players capable of doing things like that to you."
Match Details
Man Utd: Howard, Gary Neville (Smith 45), Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, Ronaldo, O'Shea, Scholes (Giggs 65), Phil Neville, Rooney, van Nistelrooy (Fortune 85).
Subs Not Used: Saha, Ricardo.
Booked: Phil Neville.
Goals: Rooney 8, 81.
Portsmouth: Chalkias, Griffin, Stefanovic, De Zeeuw, Taylor, Stone, Skopelitis, O'Neil (Kamara 84), Hughes (Mezague 54), Yakubu, LuaLua.
Subs Not Used: Hislop, Primus, Fuller.
Booked: Taylor, Griffin.
Goals: O'Neil 47.
Att: 67,989
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).