Wayne Rooney fired Manchester United to the top of the Premier League as the champions defeated 10-man West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to take full advantage of Manchester City’s 1-0 loss to Swansea City on Sunday.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side secured their fourth successive league win thanks to a brace from England striker Rooney and that allowed the champions to move one point clear of bitter rivals City, who surrendered top spot when Luke Moore scored Swansea’s winner with just seven minutes left at the Liberty Stadium.
“I hope it is a significant day. We’ve turned it around and credit to the players for that,” Ferguson said after his team took pole position for the first time since October last year. “They have shown great resilience and determination. We had a period of injuries, but we have come through that now. We won’t get nervous, we have the experience, we will keep on playing and it is good to see that type of temperament.”
Photo: AFP
At Old Trafford, United made a slow start and Albion midfielder Keith Andrews prodded wide from close range, before firing in a powerful drive that David de Gea did well to save, but the hosts gradually found their rhythm and took the lead in the 35th minute thanks to Rooney’s 23rd goal of the season.
Paul Scholes picked out Javier Hernandez and the Mexican forward made an incisive run in the penalty area, before flicking a cross toward Rooney, who was just onside as he diverted the ball past Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster.
Albion’s hopes of a comeback began to fade in the 66th minute when Swedish defender Jonas Olsson was sent off for a second booking after fouling Hernandez and Ferguson’s team put the result beyond doubt when Rooney stroked home a penalty five minutes later after Andrews fouled Ashley Young.
Photo: Reuters
United’s success was made even sweeter by City’s first defeat in five league matches and their second reverse of the week following a Europa League loss to Portugal’s Sporting.
“Swansea played very well for the first 30 minutes, but we had the control of the game in the second half and had chances to score. If we don’t score, you can pay with a goal by making a mistake,” City boss Roberto Mancini said. “We are in second position now. The lead can change every game, but it is important to start winning and scoring again. All the players in this moment are tired, but we have a lot of energy to go top again and there are 10 games to play.”
Mancini’s men were fortunate not to fall behind in the sixth minute when referee Lee Mason ruled that England goalkeeper Joe Hart had fouled Wayne Routledge as he tried to save at the winger’s feet.
Scott Sinclair took the spot-kick, but Hart plunged to his right to save the Swansea forward’s tame strike.
Swansea continued to dominate despite Sinclair’s miss and Mancini responded by sending on Argentina international striker Sergio Aguero before halftime in place of Gareth Barry, who appeared to exchange words with City assistant coach David Platt as he trudged off.
City’s frustration appeared to boil over again at halftime, with reports of a tunnel argument between Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure.
Balotelli appealed in vain for a penalty early in the second half when the Italian striker made a theatrical tumble after a slight nudge from Joe Allen, but City just could not get into their stride and smooth-passing Swansea made them pay in the 83rd minute.
Stefan Savic gave the ball away and Routledge crossed for unmarked substitute Moore to head past Hart.
Micah Richards thought he had equalized in the closing moments, but the defender’s header was rightly ruled out for offside.
In the day’s other game, bottom of the table Wigan Athletic snatched a 1-1 draw at Norwich City to move within two points of safety.
Wes Hoolahan put Norwich ahead in the 10th minute with a volley from Simeon Jackson’s cross, but Wigan equalized in the 68th minute when Victor Moses ran onto Shaun Maloney’s pass and rounded goalkeeper John Ruddy, before shooting into the empty net.
“We know that Norwich at home can play with real momentum and we got heavily punished in the first 50 minutes, but after that we grew into the game and in the end we created the best chances,” Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez said.
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