Source: Daily_Mail
Hull City 1 Man United 3: Rooney runs the show...and Wiley lends a hand, too
Sir Alex Ferguson might have dared suggest that the fat boys done good, that Alan Wiley and Wayne Rooney both played their part on Sunday in helping Manchester United secure a most important victory.[LNB]Wiley, reunited with Ferguson for the first time since that infamous blast of the hairdryer, did his bit in awarding Hull City just one of the two penalties their efforts so richly deserved.[LNB]Had Hull got the first one in the 21st minute, and taken the lead against a United side travelling here on the back of two defeats in three Barclays Premier League matches, it might have been very different. Another example, as Rooney put it, of what a 'mad league' it is this season.[LNB]But Wiley's failure to see that Wes Brown had fouled Richard Garcia enabled the other slightly thick-set chap to shine with a performance that reminded us of his importance not just to his club but his country. Rooney finished wearing the captain's armband, and rightly so.[LNB] Title charge: Rooney celebrates as Andy Dawson turns his cross past Boaz Myhill[LNB][LNB]His ubiquity almost proved his undoing at one point, because had he not chosen to drop into the left-back position he would not have delivered the poorly executed backpass that presented Hull with the opportunity to equalise.[LNB]But this nevertheless amounted to a remarkable contribution from England's finest player, another demonstration of his strength of mind, his skills and his truly extraordinary reserves of energy.[LNB]Rooney might have always looked a bit heavy but don't let the appearance fool you. The man is a phenomenal athlete one of those rare examples of someone who combines explosive power and pace with the stamina of a middle-distance specialist.[LNB]With that fitness, however, comes the kind of finesse that makes him the heartbeat of this United side in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.[LNB]On Sunday he was predator as well as provider, the manner in which he delivered the final ball for Dimitar Berbatov to score United's third goal simply joyous in its execution. Rooney looked up not once but three times before guiding an exquisite pass across the Hull penalty area and into the Bulgarian's path. Brilliant. Just brilliant.[LNB] [LNB] Double act: Rooney and Berbatov celebrate victory[LNB][LNB]Rooney scored his 13th league goal of the season on Sunday and United owe much to him for the fact they remain as close as they are to Chelsea. [LNB]They might have suffered five defeats already this season but they have made it to halfway only two points behind their rivals, and a point down on the number they amassed after 19 games last year, because in Rooney they have a player who wins them so many matches.[LNB]Never was that more apparent here against the not-so-easy Tigers. Hull were impressive not least in defence, where Anthony Gardner and Kamil Zayatte were terrific, and in midfield where Seyi Olofinjana and George Boateng also excelled.[LNB]But in Rooney, United had the one player capable of breaking them, the one player capable of fighting back even after making the mistake that led to Craig Fagan's equaliser and landing the decisive blows.[LNB]United started well enough with a couple of decent chances for Ryan Giggs and were strengthened by the return of Nemanja Vidic and Brown to their defence.[LNB]But, if confidence remained an issue after losing 3-0 to Fulham last weekend, it certainly showed when Brown took Garcia rather than the ball midway through the first half. Nobody here is suggesting Wiley was a little laboured in covering the ground but had the referee been a bit closer to the action he might have seen that for himself.[LNB]United survived that particular scare and they escaped again when Tomasz Kuszczak produced a terrific save to deny Olofinjana from close range. It was a super move featuring a fine cross from Fagan and a sweetly taken half-volley from his powerfully built colleague. Stephen Hunt also threatened.[LNB] Level pegging: Craig Fagan made it 1-1 from the spot[LNB] [LNB]Such was the frenetic nature of the encounter, Hull were also under pressure. Boaz Myhill did well to deny both Rooney and Rafael da Silva and, when the Hull goalkeeper sliced a clearance, it was Boateng who rushed to his rescue.[LNB]But when Darren Fletcher drove in a cross moments before the interval, Giggs did enough to divert the ball beyond Zayatte and so allow Rooney to strike from inside the six-yard box. Wiley was not that popular with Hull's supporters after failing to award that first-half penalty. [LNB]'You're in Fergie's pocket,' they cried, not least for the leniency he showed towards Patrice Evra for giving him only one yellow card.[LNB]But the Staffordshire official did go some way to making amends when he invited Fagan to level the scores. It was fair enough, given Da Silva's nudge in the back on a fast-advancing Jozy Altidore after Rooney had guided his back pass into the path of Fagan.[LNB]That United responded at all owed much to Rooney. It was a neat ball from Giggs that ignited the move but Rooney's perfectly timed run and a perfectly weighted cross that was intended for Ji-Sung Park lured Andy Dawson into scoring a 73rd-minute own goal he will wince at when he watches it again.[LNB]The best, however, was yet to come when, after 82 minutes, we got another demonstration of the rapid counter-attacking football that has long been United's trademark, but also a reflection of Rooney's amazing football brain.[LNB]A long punt from the Hull goalkeeper was met by the head of Vidic outside his own penalty box, and within five seconds, United had scored again. [LNB]Rooney collected a bouncing ball effortlessly, then opened his stride and, with three driving touches, advanced towards the Hull area. Looking up and looking dangerous, he angled a perfect pass for Berbatov to tap in from close range. Football looks so simple when it's played like this.[LNB] [LNB] Mourinho wants United job: Jose snubbed City to take over from FergieReal set to beat Arsenal and United in race to sign Lille star Eden HazardHull 1 United 3: The action as it happenedHULL CITY FC
