Wayne Rooney's four-goal performance helped ensure Manchester United's focus returned to on-field affairs as the defending Premier League champions moved to the top of the table for the first time in more than three months with a 4-0 victory over Hull
Wayne Rooney's four-goal performance helped ensure Manchester United's focus returned to on-field affairs as the defending Premier League champions moved to the top of the table for the first time in more than three months with a 4-0 victory over Hull.
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It took Rooney just seven minutes against struggling Hull to illustrate the point perfectly to his manager and also to ease the pressure and growing dissatisfaction around Old Trafford in the wake of recent developments off the field surrounding American owners the Glazer family.
The announcement this week that United's debts stand at 716 million pounds did not impress many of the club's supporters, even though a successful 500 million bond issue will allow the Glazers to re-structure that debt.
Ferguson felt moved, in his pre-match programme notes, to call upon supporters to show unity behind their club and cease their anti-Glazer agitating.
United's first goal came after Park Ji-Sung played the ball into the path of Paul Scholes, who drilled in a vicious shot which Hull goal keeper Boaz Myhill could only parry.
Rooney responded more quickly than anyone else on the field, gathering the loose ball and burying his 17th goal of the season.
Easy FA Cup tie win for Chelsea
Chelsea remain on course for their third FA Cup triumph in four seasons after a 2-0 victory at Preston on Saturday secured their place in the last 16 of the competition. Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge scored for The Blues.