Man Utd 1
Tevez 25
Birmingham 0
Manchester United 1 Birmingham 0 January 01 2008
Manchester United got 2008 underway with a win as Carlos Tevez's excellent first-half strike was enough to beat Birmingham 1-0 at Old Trafford.
Blues were fortunate not to fall behind in the sixth minute when Tevez headed Patrice Evra's cross onto the base of Maik Taylor's post.
Cristiano Ronaldo and John O'Shea had further chances for United and they took the lead in the 25th minute, with a superb build-up ending with Tevez coolly slotting home after being put clean through.
Ronaldo headed straight at Taylor at the start of the second period, blasted straight at Liam Ridgewell with a second effort and was denied by a Gary McSheffrey block after a jinking run in the box soon after that.
Tevez hit the post for a secont time with a 10-yard effort midway through the second half but the Red Devils had to settle for a narrow success.