CRISTIANO RONALDO continued his unbelievable Christmas campaign with his third successive double as Manchester United overcame 10-man Reading's brave resistance at Old Trafford. The visitors had already held United to one draw this season and had a chance of repeating the feat when Ibrahima Sonko levelled after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's opener.

But the Royals simply had no way of stopping Ronaldo, who bundled home the rebound after Solskjaer had struck a post, then volleyed home Ryan Giggs cross from close range after Reading substitute Sam Sodje had been sent off.

Ronaldo came off the bench to inspire the Red Devils' victory over Wigan on Tuesday and was quickly into the action, having an early shot blocked. Glen Little, playing against the team he has supported all his life, booted a clearance out of his own penalty area as Gabriel Heinze tried to find Wayne Rooney with a far-post cross.

Wes Brown robbed Brynjar Gunnarsson on halfway, then fed Ronaldo, who sped into the box only to fire straight at Marcus Hahnemann from an acute angle.

Ronaldo then supplied a superb pass to Solskjaer, but the Norwegian cut his cross back just too far for Park JiSung and John O'Shea. Reading were keen to push forward themselves though and after Steve Sidwell had blazed Nicky Shorey's lay-off over, Leroy Lita flashed a shot just wide.

Rio Ferdinand had an ambitious 30-yard shot deflected wide by James Harper but Reading were quick to counter and Heinze needed to make an important clearance to prevent Lita getting on the end of Kevin Doyle's cross.

The visitors had an even better opportunity shortly afterwards when Doyle pulled the ball back for an unmarked Little. However, from 12 yards, the winger could not find the target.

Another well-timed Nicky Shorey intervention denied O'Shea a clear sight of goal as he tried to reach Rooney's inspired chipped pass. The Reading goal was under pressure again when Ronaldo leapt to meet a Carrick corner. Hahnemann fumbled and then proved himself equal to Solskjaer's shot on the turn.

Ferdinand threw himself in the way of Harper's shot as Reading pressed, referee Mike Dean waving away claims for a penalty when the ball seemed to strike Wes Brown's hand inside the area.

Rooney nodded Ferdinand's cross into Hahnemann's arms but just as it appeared United were going to be frustrated in their attempts to gain a first-half breakthrough, up popped Solskjaer, who lost Ibrahima Sonko and rose at the near post to nod Ronaldo's inchperfect cross into the bottom corner. It was the 33-yearold's eighth goal of the campaign, an amazing return for a player who spent virtually all the previous three seasons sidelined by injury.

Sonko was quick to make amends though, beating both Edwin van der Sar and Heinze to Shorey's teasing free-kick and then guiding his header into an empty net. Ronaldo headed a Michael Carrick corner against the bar as United looked for a swift response to Reading's equaliser.

Just as he did on St Stephen's Day, Ferguson brought on a winger at the break and this time veteran Ryan Giggs replaced Park.

United showed their intentions immediately after the re-start, pouring forward in numbers. Solskjaer brought an excellent save out of Hahnemann with a near-post header, then Rooney fired over from Carrick's lay-off.

Ronaldo then found Rooney with a superb through-ball.

The England striker quickly stepped inside Murty only for his precise curling shot to sail just over. Giggs stabbed Ronaldo's cross into the sidenetting as United increased the tempo still further. A goal seemed sure to come and it duly arrived after 58 minutes when a couple of excellent passes from Giggs and Rooney sent Solskjaer tearing past Sonko.

The Norwegian's shot got the faintest of touches from Hahnemann before it bounced back off the far post.

But fortunately for United, Ronaldo was on hand to bundle home the rebound.

Reading were now being pressed back inside their own half, although Rooney was unable to increase the hosts' advantage with an ambitious 25-yard shot. The visitors suffered a major setback 21 minutes from time when substitute Sodje, who had only been on the field five minutes, was sent off for his second bookable offence, referee Dean indicating the Reading man had pulled Rooney back.

It appeared a harsh decision, particularly as his assistant was flagging for offside at the time.

United prodded away in search of a third, which arrived 14 minutes from time when Giggs floated a cross to the far post when Ronaldo arrived unattended to volley home from five yards. With the game won, Ferguson replaced Ronaldo and Rooney, who both exited to standing ovations, with Kieran Richardson and Darren Fletcher introduced.

Hahnemann tipped a Giggs effort wide after Richardson had released the veteran Welshman but, with the game entering stoppage time, Reading gave United some anxious moments they could have done without as Lita outmuscled Mikael Silvestre to fire home.