Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham 2 Manchester United 4: Wayne Rooney fires hat-trick as Reds seal fightback
Wayne Rooney scored a dramatic hat-trick as Manchester United produced another sensational late comeback to beat West Ham and edge closer to the Barclays Premier League title. [LNB]United appeared certain to open the door for Arsenal and Chelsea whentheir defence went into meltdown, gifting the Hammers two first-half penalties which Mark Noble duly dispatched. [LNB] United we stand: Rooney fires home his first from a free-kick just outside the West Ham penalty area [LNB]But the leaders were rewarded for going for broke in the second half, Rooney starting the fightback with just 25 minutes remaining, completing his 14-minute treble from the spot before substitute Javier Hernandez sealed the points. [LNB]The result moved United eight points clear ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea before their respective games, while dragging West Ham back into the drop zone on goal difference. [LNB]Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson spent the build-up to today's game bemoaning refereeing decisions he claimed had gone against his side this season. [LNB]But United got the rub of the green today, with returning captain Nemanja Vidic lucky to stay on the field when it was still 2-0. [LNB] Make mine a double: The United striker scores his second goal after 73 minutes [LNB]United went into the game having won only four away league games thisseason and were facing a Hammers side who had won their last three homegames in all competitions. [LNB]They also thrashed United 4-0 in the Carling Cup in November but that was against a weakened side. [LNB]And the visitors showed they were more serious about today's game in the fourth minute when Robert Green was forced to tip over Chris Smalling's header from Ryan Giggs' fourth-minute corner.[LNB]United were dominant but fell behind in dramatic fashion in the 10th minute when a long ball from Thomas Hitzlsperger cleared the entire defence to put Carlton Cole clean through. [LNB]The striker hesitated and Patrice Evra looked to have recovered but the full-back inexplicably handled the ball and Lee Mason rightly pointed to the spot. [LNB]Noble sent Tomasz Kuszczak - in for the injured Edwin van der Sar - the wrong way and Upton Park erupted, but West Ham were immediately on the back foot again, giving United far too much time and space out wide.[LNB] Brace yourself: West Ham midfielder Mark Noble converted two first-half penalties [LNB]A desperate clearance from Manuel da Costa denied Giggs but the Hammers settled and United pressed the self-destruct button again in the24th minute. [LNB] Cole teased Vidic on the edge of the box and the Serbian took the bait, tripping the forward for an obvious foul. [LNB]It was tight as to whether the offence took place outside the box butMason had no doubt and Noble blasted penalty number two into the roof of the net. [LNB]The bizarre pattern of the game continued and United looked certain to pull one back just past the half hour, the fit-again Park Ji-sung blasting a left-foot drive too close to Robert Green, who nevertheless pulled off a superb reaction save. [LNB] The visitors' frustration boiled over when Darron Gibson was booked for kicking out at Noble. [LNB]Hitzlsperger blasted a difficult volley from Gary O'Neils' cross wideand although the visitors ended the half stronger, Vidic pressed the self-destruct button again when he hauled down Demba Ba three minutes from the break. [LNB] Going over: Cole is hauled down by Vidic and West Ham are controversially awarded their second penalty [LNB]The United captain was last man but was spared a red card, with Masoncontroversially appearing to decide Ba would not have retrieved the loose ball. [LNB]Ferguson threw on Hernandez for Evra after the interval, moving Giggs to left-back. [LNB]The substitute almost made an instant impression when his improvised flick from Giggs' cross sailed over. [LNB] Vidic could easily have earned a second yellow card after tangling again with Ba. [LNB] Rooney, who had orchestrated United's good play in the first half began to look lost. [LNB] His hesitation soon got him a hefty kick on the ankle from Da Costa, who was rightly yellow carded. [LNB]United went for broke in the 64th minute when Dimitar Berbatov replaced Park as they were awarded a free-kick, which saw them finally get back in the game as Rooney curled home from 25 yards. [LNB] That's handy: United defender Evra is penalised for handling the ball in his own area [LNB]Cole was replaced by Frederic Piquionne before Green saved from Berbatov from the tightest of angles. [LNB]Rooney came to the rescue again when Antonio Valencia's ball found him on the edge of the box and West Ham's defence allowed him to take a touch and fire low across Green. [LNB] United were rampant and were awarded a penalty of their own for handball with 12 minutes remaining. [LNB]Fabio's skill left Matthew Upson on the deck and when the defender got back up, the full-back kicked the ball against his arm. [LNB]While the Hammers opposed the decision Rooney stepped up to complete the most unlikely of hat-tricks. [LNB]Gibson should have made it 4-2 before West Ham threw on Victor Obinna and Robbie Keane for O'Neil and Noble. [LNB]Smalling survived another handball shout before Hernandez pounced on apiece of terrible defending six minutes from time to turn in Giggs' cross. [LNB] Rooney was withdrawn for Nani as United comfortably saw out their latest fightback[LNB] Spot on: Noble sends Kuszczak the wrong way, successfully converting his first penalty[LNB] LIVE: West Ham v Manchester United - the action as it happened from Upton ParkLet the respect campaign begin: Remember we will be naming and shamingWest Ham United FC news, features and opinion Manchester United FC news, features and opinion [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Wayne Rooney, Alex Ferguson, Matthew Upson, Robert Green, Robbie Keane, Ryan Giggs, Carlton Cole, Antonio Valencia, Edwin Van Der Sar, Tomasz Kuszczak, Nemanja Vidic, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Dimitar Berbatov, Park Ji-sung, Patrice Evra, Nani
