Source: Manchester_EveningNews
Rooney eyes goals target
WAYNE Rooney gift wrapped Sir Alex Ferguson a 68th birthday present by promising to deliver his best ever goal haul for a season. The England striker opened the scoring in a 5-0 United win against Wigan to bring his tally for the campaign to 15. His previous best was 23 goals in all competitions in the 2006-07 term and he is certain he'll smash that statistic by May. I would hope to beat my best total. If I don't get another eight goals from now until the end of the season there is something seriously wrong, said Rooney after United's romp against the Latics. We are happy with the result. To score five goals in the Premier League is quite rare these days. It was our best performances of the season. We played quick, counter-attacking football in the first-half and scored some good goals at the right times. We knew before the game we were seven goals behind Chelsea and we wanted to get closer. To score five has done that, so we are pleased. It is fairly close at the top. Arsenal are up there as well. The team who is most consistent from now on will win the league. Ferguson saw the champions end the decade closing the gap on title leaders Chelsea to two points and reducing the goal difference deficit to two. Michael Carrick, Rafael, Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia were the other men on target. I am not picking any individuals out because everybody is going to play their part and tonight they did, he said. I think the first 45 minutes was one of the best this season. We were fluid and the movement and tempo was terrific. We created a lot of chances. It was marvellous stuff. We kept our momentum going even though we were 3-0 up at half time. We kept it going all night and I think the players realised there was an opportunity to get goals. Goal difference could be important at the end of the season and now we have got within two of Chelsea and are one ahead of Arsenal so it was a good night for us. We have a great chance now. We are in good form. What do you think? Have your say. [LNB]
