BOLTON(AFP) – Wayne Rooney’s second
consecutive hat-trick saw Manchester United
reclaim top spot in the Premier League after
losing it to Manchester City for just a few
hours.

Rooney, who scored a treble in the 8-2
demolition of Arsenal, scored twice before the
break to set Sir Alex Ferguson’s side on the
way to eclipsing the efforts of closest rivals
City, who had beaten Wigan 3-0 earlier in the
day.

The England striker scored his third in the
second half as his efforts, along with a brace
from Javier Hernandez, mean United have
scored 18 times in their four opening league
games.

Both Manchester clubs have signalled that
this year’s duel for the title will be a two-horse
race, but it is United who lead the way at this
early stage on goal difference.

It was an afternoon where the old guard
shone alongside a new generation of stars as
Rooney combined brilliantly with Hernandez
and summer signing Phil Jones.

Ferguson fielded an arguably stronger line-up
than the one that hammered Arsenal at Old
Trafford in their last match before the
international break.

Mexican Hernandez returned to partner
Rooney in place of Danny Welbeck, while Rio
Ferdinand replaced Chris Smalling in the
centre of defence.

The architect of this latest victory, perhaps
even more so than Rooney, was Nani. His hat-
trick of assists, and two more from the
impressive Jones, was as much a part of this
triumph as the fine finishing of Rooney and
Hernandez.

The champions began the game at break-
neck speed and Ferguson was left cursing
referee Andre Marriner for not booking Kevin
Davies after his challenge forced the United
boss to replace Tom Cleverley with Michael
Carrick.

The Bolton skipper escaped with a talking to
and the angry United manager had only just
caught up with play when his side took a
fifth-minute lead.

Wayne Rooney found Nani on the right and
the Portuguese crossed into the six-yard box
where Harnandez arrived and beat Jussi
Jaaskelainen at the near post.

United were immediately forced into the
change when Cleverley limped off, and they
also found themselves on the back foot in
their own box.

The ball was cleared by Jonny Evans and fell
to Chris Eagles, whose shot was cleared by
Rooney when an equaliser looked odds-on.
Davies finally found his way into Marriner’s
notebook when his tackle on Patrice Evra
earned him a yellow card. Within seven
minutes, United were further ahead.
Phil Jones exchanged passes with Nani after a
throw-in and Rooney finished the cross after
reaching the ball ahead of Gary Cahill and
Dedryck Boyata.
Then in the 25th minute, United made it
three. Former Blackburn midfielder Jones was
involved again as he raced through home
defence unchallenged.

He evaded Zat Knight’s attempted block
before seeing his shot saved by Jaaskelainen’s
legs. But Rooney was on hand to tap in the
rebound. Hernandez thought he had added a
fourth, only to see it ruled out by the referee’s
assistant for offside.

He did, however, make it four in the 59th
minute following good work from Nani. The
winger weaved into the box and teed up
Carrick, and the former Spurs midfielder saw
his shot blocked and run loose into the path
of the Mexican, who pounced once again.

Nine minutes later, the job was complete
when Rooney completed his hat-trick with a
right-footed strike after more creative magic
by Nani.

United also missed countless chances to get
closer to the eight goals put past Arsenal in
their last outing, with Hernandez guilty of
misfiring at least twice.

Source-vanguardnewsnigBOLTON(AFP) – Wayne Rooney’s second
consecutive hat-trick saw Manchester United
reclaim top spot in the Premier League after
losing it to Manchester City for just a few
hours.

Rooney, who scored a treble in the 8-2
demolition of Arsenal, scored twice before the
break to set Sir Alex Ferguson’s side on the
way to eclipsing the efforts of closest rivals
City, who had beaten Wigan 3-0 earlier in the
day.

The England striker scored his third in the
second half as his efforts, along with a brace
from Javier Hernandez, mean United have
scored 18 times in their four opening league
games.

Both Manchester clubs have signalled that
this year’s duel for the title will be a two-horse
race, but it is United who lead the way at this
early stage on goal difference.

It was an afternoon where the old guard
shone alongside a new generation of stars as
Rooney combined brilliantly with Hernandez
and summer signing Phil Jones.

Ferguson fielded an arguably stronger line-up
than the one that hammered Arsenal at Old
Trafford in their last match before the
international break.

Mexican Hernandez returned to partner
Rooney in place of Danny Welbeck, while Rio
Ferdinand replaced Chris Smalling in the
centre of defence.

The architect of this latest victory, perhaps
even more so than Rooney, was Nani. His hat-
trick of assists, and two more from the
impressive Jones, was as much a part of this
triumph as the fine finishing of Rooney and
Hernandez.

The champions began the game at break-
neck speed and Ferguson was left cursing
referee Andre Marriner for not booking Kevin
Davies after his challenge forced the United
boss to replace Tom Cleverley with Michael
Carrick.

The Bolton skipper escaped with a talking to
and the angry United manager had only just
caught up with play when his side took a
fifth-minute lead.

Wayne Rooney found Nani on the right and
the Portuguese crossed into the six-yard box
where Harnandez arrived and beat Jussi
Jaaskelainen at the near post.

United were immediately forced into the
change when Cleverley limped off, and they
also found themselves on the back foot in
their own box.

The ball was cleared by Jonny Evans and fell
to Chris Eagles, whose shot was cleared by
Rooney when an equaliser looked odds-on.
Davies finally found his way into Marriner’s
notebook when his tackle on Patrice Evra
earned him a yellow card. Within seven
minutes, United were further ahead.
Phil Jones exchanged passes with Nani after a
throw-in and Rooney finished the cross after
reaching the ball ahead of Gary Cahill and
Dedryck Boyata.
Then in the 25th minute, United made it
three. Former Blackburn midfielder Jones was
involved again as he raced through home
defence unchallenged.

He evaded Zat Knight’s attempted block
before seeing his shot saved by Jaaskelainen’s
legs. But Rooney was on hand to tap in the
rebound. Hernandez thought he had added a
fourth, only to see it ruled out by the referee’s
assistant for offside.

He did, however, make it four in the 59th
minute following good work from Nani. The
winger weaved into the box and teed up
Carrick, and the former Spurs midfielder saw
his shot blocked and run loose into the path
of the Mexican, who pounced once again.

Nine minutes later, the job was complete
when Rooney completed his hat-trick with a
right-footed strike after more creative magic
by Nani.

United also missed countless chances to get
closer to the eight goals put past Arsenal in
their last outing, with Hernandez guilty of
misfiring at least twice.

Source-vanguardnewsnig