Win is more important: C'Ron
Cristiano Ronaldo insisted Manchester United's return to the top of the Premier League was far more significant than his first ever hat-trick for the club in the six-goal rout of Newcastle United.
The 22-year-old Portuguese winger scored a second half treble as Sir Alex Ferguson's side responded to a goalless first-half by destroying manager less Newcastle in a thrilling second-half.
The goals took Ronaldo's haul for the season to 22 - just one short of his 23-goal tally that helped inspire United's successful title bid last year - and Ferguson insists there is more to come from the player.
But the Portuguese was adamant after the game that personal milestones were secondary to the priority of defending the title.
"It's a special day for me," said Ronaldo. "I'm very happy to win the game and go to the top of the league. This is the most important thing.
"It's always important to score and help my team. I feel proud and very happy. It's good to score a hat-trick but if I score two in every game I'll be very happy.
"If we keep playing like we did in the second half I am sure we will be the best team."
Ferguson enthused about his side's second half display after being frustrated by their faltering efforts before the break and singled out Ronaldo for special praise.
"I think his hat-trick was always coming," the manager said.
"He has been close on so many occasions and today he has capped a fine display and I think we are all delighted for him.
"He's a young lad who's improving, he's always practising, his decision-making is improving all the time. I expected him to score more this season and he is doing that."
Two goals from Carlos Tevez and a Rio Ferdinand effort ensured United capitalised on Arsenal's failure to beat Birmingham City earlier in the day and went top.
Ferguson added: "The reason we have are top of the league is because our home record has been great, the defensive part has been great.
"And these are important issues to add our home form to the one or two defeats we have had away from home.
"I think it's a hard league. When you see some of the results again today, teams are taking points off each other.
"Teams well below the top four are spending a lot of money to improve their teams and stay in the Premier League. Teams are taking points off the top teams. The winning points total could be lower this year."
The heavy defeat was yet another blow to Newcastle who had earlier in the day discovered Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp had no interest in succeeding the sacked Sam Allardyce.
Caretaker-manager Nigel Pearson admitted the club is in a difficult situation ahead of Wednesday's FA Cup third round replay with Stoke City when Pearson expects to once again be in charge.
"It was a very difficult day," Pearson said. "It's obvious that when a club is in this kind of transitional period it's preferable for things to be as smooth as possible and this result has made everything harder.
"It's been a tough week for all concerned but I'm not going to make excuses yet it's plain to see that it's best that the situation is resolved as soon as possible."
Alan Smith's last minute dismissal for dissent capped a miserable 90 minutes for Newcastle and Pearson admits the loss of the club captain to suspension comes as another blow.
"It compounds today's problems," he added.
"It was disappointing it happened at the end of the game. But I will say Alan is a player who is totally committed."
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