ManUtd: Back ON TOP !! (ManUtd 4 – 0 Hull City)

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United 4 Hull 0

United returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League table with a 4-0 victory that was inspired by the imperious quality of Wayne Rooney, who scored all four goals.

Up until the last ten minutes, the performance had perhaps not been completely convincing, but the same could not be said of Rooney’s 90 minutes.

The Reds’ no.10 turned what was a fairly ordinary match into a healthy victory that catapults United above Arsenal and Chelsea, who both play league fixtures in midweek. His first arrived in the eighth minute during a first-half display that was energetic and provided plenty of attacking intent. But United struggled to back it up in the second period, that is until Rooney took matters into his own hands. The final eight minutes were a gold rush for Rooney as he bagged the match ball in brilliant style.

Sir Alex was able to recall Rio Ferdinand for his first match since defeat to Liverpool at Anfield back in October, while Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney started together for only the fourth time in the league.

The United boss made clear that the target on an otherwise free weekend in the Barclays Premier League was to take top spot from new leaders Arsenal. United’s determination to achieve it was clear from the start as Rooney broke through down the left channel and cut the ball back for Owen in the third minute. The United no.7’s shot, however, was deflected wide by Hull captain Anthony Gardner.

An early breakthrough was still achieved, four minutes later, when Paul Scholes’ fizzing long-range effort was parried by Boaz

Myhill into the path of Rooney, who steadied himself and drilled the ball into the net.

Hull, who are without win on the road and only eight away goals scored this season, found themselves increasingly pinned in the defensive third of the field with Nani blazing a shot over the bar, and Park inches away from connecting with an inviting Fletcher cross.

The visitors had a brief spell of pressure when they earned a series of corner kicks, but otherwise United looked sharp and dangerous in attack, with Rooney looking lively and Owen constantly seeking to link up with his strike partner. Midway through the half Rooney had a volley deflected over the bar for a corner, before a delightful flick from United’s no.10 almost played in Owen, but Gardner had sensed the danger.

The excellent Rooney was tantalisingly close to scoring with a curling free-kick from 25 yards out on 37 minutes. The performance was far livelier than the sluggish display against Burnley a week ago, and Sir Alex will have wondered how his team didn’t have a healthier lead at the halfway stage.

Nani was proving to be a constant outlet for the Reds on the right flank, delivering a number of dangerous deliveries into the area. One low centre almost found Rooney and Owen, but neither could find the decisive touch.

The fragility of the 1-0 scoreline did not match the balance of play and with the Tigers characteristically refusing to give in, United required another goal to make the points safe. Rooney was still doing his best to provide it, watching a long-distance

snap-shot zip narrowly past the post.

With less than 20 minutes to play, Sir Alex wasn’t so much shoring up victory as trying to ensure it; Owen and Scholes making way for Dimitar Berbatov and Darron Gibson to provide much-needed fresh legs to a display that had lost just a little bit of its vigour.

There was a heart-in-mouth moment when substitute Kamel Ghilas almost turned in Paul McShane’s cross with a shot that trickled past the post. Victory at this point seemed far from a certainty. Seconds later, however, a rapid United counter almost led to the Reds’ second goal, Gibson’s lobbed effort landing on the roof of the net rather than in it.

United emerged from a cagey spell thanks to three quality finishes from Rooney. First, the Reds striker blasted the ball home from just inside the area after being teed up by Gibson. Then he expertly headed in his third after a fine cross from the impressive Nani.

Rooney wasn’t finished there. His fourth arrived on 90 minutes when, surrounded by a posse of Hull defenders, he still managed to find a way through past Myhill. The victory was only emphatic because of Rooney’s outstanding contribution. He’s notched up 20 goals for the season and is now only three goals short of matching his best season return for United. Now for City…