West Ham United smashed League Cup holders Manchester United 4 – 0 at Upton Park last night with Old Trafford reject Jonathan Spector scoring twice in snowy conditions.

With the crowd scarcely believing their eyes, striker Carlton Cole added two second half goals as the Premier League’s bottom team blew away United’s 29-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal overcame Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the other all-Premier League quarterfinal clash on a freezing night in the capital.

Birmingham City host top flight rivals Aston Villa, last season’s losing finalists, in a Midlands derby on Wednesday when Roy Keane’s struggling Championship (second division) side Ipswich Town are at home to West Bromwich Albion.

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Manchester United‘s Sir Alex Ferguson squashed rumours that he may be retiring next summer from managing the English Premier League side.

Making it clear that he ends to stick around at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future, Manchester United’s manager said: “I’m in no mood for it; as long as my health is good I intend to carry on.

“If my health deteriorated it would be different but retirement is for young people – they can do something else. If I get off that treadmill where do you think I’d go – only one way, down.”

When it was put to him that three years ago he tentatively mentioned 2011 as a potential date for stepping down, Ferguson replied: “I’ve changed my mind – again.”

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Manchester United and Manchester City drew their derby match 0 – 0 last night and Michael Essien scored for the Blues to beat Fulham 1 – 0.

Derided by United manager Alex Ferguson as “noisy neighbours”, mega-rich City failed to rattle the 18-times champions but were spared the agony of last season when they lost both league meetings to last-gasp goals.

While City and United huffed and puffed to little effect, champions Chelsea stole a march in the title race as Essien’s first-half goal proved enough to beat Fulham, although the Ghanaian blotted his copybook when he was sent off late on for a two-footed lunge at Clint Dempsey.

Essien was unmarked on the half hour to head in Salomon Kalou’s cross but Chelsea, beaten 2-0 at Liverpool on Sunday, were slapdash in front of goal and failed to kill off their west London rivals who have not won at Stamford Bridge since 1964.

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Coleen and Wayne Rooney spent a week getaway in Dubai costing £30,000.00 this week. Most ladies would own a single bikini to go to the beach with (maybe two), but when your husband just received a pay-rise of £250,000 a week and you are a multi-millionairess is your own right, a bikini per day is more like it! The mother-of-one has lounged by the pool at the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel in a succession of trendy two pieces, with many costing into three figures.

The pair about to splash even more cash on their return to Manchester tonight too – they’re throwing another £90,000 at Wayne’s 25th birthday party in a marquee at their Cheshire home.

It appears that they have reconciled after the lurid allegations about the striker sleeping with prostitutes when Coleen was pregnant with their one-year-old son Kai.

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Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has made it clear in no uncertain terms that Sir Alex Ferguson can forget about luring Pepe Reina to Manchester United.

Ferguson was linked with a surprise move for Reds star Reina as the United boss looks for a long-term replacement for his veteran keeper Edwin Van der Sar.

It has been reported that Reina and other Liverpool stars like Fernando Torres may consider leaving Anfield due to the club’s recent financial problems and current poor form under Hodgson.

Liverpool are currently languishing in the Premier League relegation zone, but Reina only signed a six-year contract in April and Hodgson has no intention of letting the 28-year-old leave.

Hodgson told the Liverpool Echo: “It was just one of those stories that seems to occur – it’s just disappointing and annoying.

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Javier Hernandez is Manchester United‘s new hero as he scored the winning goal to see United through to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup be beating Wolves 3 – 2 at Old Trafford.

Hernandez came off the bench to secure victory at Old Trafford in the last minute of normal time in Tuesday night’s fourth-round tie and keep alive United’s quest to become the first side to win the trophy three times in a row.

Bebe, the relatively-unknown striker signed in the summer for £7.4million from Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes, crowned a promising first start with a fortunate opening goal before George Elokobi equalised.

Park Ji-Sung made it 2-1 to the home side but Kevin Foley hauled Wolves level again before Hernandez’s excellent finish took United into Saturday’s quarter-final draw.

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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney might have signed a new 5-year deal with the club, but won’t be facing Stoke City on Sunday.

Rooney, who has agreed a new five-year deal after days of intense media speculation, missed the Champions League win over Bursaspor after suffering an ankle injury in training and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.

Rio Ferdinand will return to the centre of defence at the Britannia Stadium after being rested on Wednesday, while Jonny Evans is back in training following a thigh injury. Ryan Giggs (hamstring) and Owen Hargreaves (calf) need another couple of weeks, leaving Antonio Valencia as the Reds’ only long-term absentee.

“We have almost a full complement of players for Sunday,” Sir Alex told MUTV on Friday. “Rio will play but Wayne is not fit: it’s ironic he picked up an ankle injury in training on Tuesday. I think we’re looking at three weeks for him.

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