Source: PA
Rooney shines again as United go top
Wayne Rooney collected the Barclays Player of the Month award before kick-off and then helped steer Manchester United back to the top of the table with a resounding 5-0 victory over struggling Portsmouth.
The England striker broke Pompey's resistance with his 23rd goal of the season, equalling a career-best total.
The only surprise, given United's possession, was it took them until the 40th minute to make the breakthrough. However, Rooney's strike gave Sir Alex Ferguson's side the impetus they needed and Portsmouth collapsed.
United added a second on the stroke of half time with Nani's effort taking two deflections.
Michael Carrick had similar luck in the second half and Dimitar Berbatov was also on target before Marc Wilson put the ball into his own net.
It was poignant day at Old Trafford as the club commemorated the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster in which 23 people, eight of them players, died. Old Trafford boss Ferguson will no doubt feel the result did the occasion justice.
