WAYNE ROONEY INSPIRED Manchester United to come from behind and beat Aston Villa 4-1 on Saturday in a game marked by fresh protests against United manager David Moyes.
A small aeroplane towing an anti-Moyes banner flew over Old Trafford shortly after kick-off and the under-fire former Everton manager then saw his side fall behind to an Ashley Westwood free-kick.
However, Rooney scored twice before half-time, with Juan Mata and Javier Hernandez adding further goals as the under-performing champions provisionally moved to within nine points of the Premier League’s top four.
There were fewer than two minutes on the clock on a sunny afternoon in Manchester when the plane, chartered by a group of disgruntled fans, made its appearance, trailing a banner that read: ‘WRONG ONE – MOYES OUT’.
It was a response to the pro-Moyes ‘THE CHOSEN ONE’ banner that has adorned the Stretford End since the beginning of the season, but the man himself received a warm reception when he emerged before kick-off.
Applause turned to silence, though, in the 13th minute when Westwood curled a delicate free-kick over the United wall and inside the left-hand post to put Villa ahead.
Villa centre-back Ciaran Clark then put a free header over, but Rooney equalised in the 20th minute when he exploited slack marking to convert Shinji Kagawa’s left-wing cross with a deft glancing header.
The England striker completed the turnaround shortly before half-time, burying a penalty into the bottom-right corner after Mata had been cleaned out by Leandro Bacuna.
Villa striker Christian Benteke gave United two big scares early in the second half, miskicking right in front of goal and then heading just over, but Mata’s 57th-minute strike gave the hosts breathing space.
After Marouane Fellaini tried to bundle his way through in the Villa area, the ball popped out to Mata, who thrashed home right-footed to claim his first United goal since his club-record £37.1 million ($61.2 million, 44.8 million euros) move from Chelsea in January.
Substitute Hernandez made it 4-1 in injury time, touching home an Adnan Januzaj cross to complete an encouraging display ahead of United’s mid-week Champions League date with Bayern Munich.
Later on Saturday, leaders Chelsea can provisionally extend their advantage over second-place Liverpool to four points by winning at fourth-bottom Crystal Palace.
Third-place Manchester City will look to maintain the pressure on Jose Mourinho’s side when they travel to fourth-place Arsenal, who are in danger of being eliminated from the title race.
At the other end of the table, second-bottom Cardiff City visit fellow relegation contenders West Bromwich Albion hoping to bridge the three-point gap that separates them from the Midlands club.
Elsewhere, Swansea City host Norwich City, Hull City travel to Stoke City, and Southampton tackle Newcastle United.
Stupid stunt, he deserves another season and a chance to strengthen properly in the summer. If the Fergie Out brigade were listened to when he first took over at United, who knows where the club would be
Why is it Rooney can only score against weaker teams.where was he against city and Liverpool?
Jaymie the problem again city on Tuesday was he had to play so deep to try get the ball he was head a d shoulders above any United player on Tuesday night
What was the score Tuesday night again?he must have played fierce well
See previous comment by colm
Jaymie you’re a clown
Jaymie, Rooney is the highest scorer in the history of Manchester derbies.
Did he score on Tuesday when it mattered.
No he scored two last year in the Emirates though? Suppose that didn’t matter though…
So you have to go back as far as last year for goals he scored against a good team.that says a lot for a guy on 300k a week.
You obviously know nothin about football or jus real hateful man.rooney is by far the best player in england and up there wit the best in the world.watch a bit of football and save your ridiculous comments for something else
Noel you can’t honestly say he’s in the same league as Ronaldo or messi.he hasn’t been in form since Ronaldo carried him at united.hes over weight and he’s over rated he’s Wayne Rooney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Going way over the top there. Rooney is not World Class. Far from it.
Wat about his goals today r his goal of the season las weekend.wake up and smell coffee. Your a Liverpool fan jus jealous of uniteds success for the past 20 years.no brains
Who do you support Jaymie? Because if it’s City I only have to go back to last May when we won the league at a canter! It’s us who wear the gold premier league badge!
Ciaran as a neutral supporter you sound like a Liverpool supporter .Ie living in the past move on what will united win this year?or next year?
Just explain to me “neutral ” neemee? You like soccer but you support no-one! That makes sense alright!
Neither Liverpool or united
Eh I’m a big United fan actually. And Rooney is way way over rated. He has been declining every season, hence falling out of favour with Fergie.
Doesn’t look after himself, every1 can see that.
Alright Kermit the frog pipe down already.
Kermit the frog? Great comeback. Well done.
‘Twas not employing that towards you
-_-
Maybe you shouldn’t click on the reply to my comment button.
I replied to Jaymie. But my comment ended up under yours, and as you also are part of this on going conversations it gonna come up as someone replied to you.
Stupid stunt. I don’t like the way things are at the moment but humiliating the man isn’t the way to go about it.
The banner was met with nothing but boos and chants of One David Moyes from the Old Trafford crowd and in particular the Stretford End , I’d love to see these fans that set this up , wouldnt be surprised if there was more then one Paddy Power stunt today
Not real fans, idiots with more money then sense. UNITED!
Those who paid and organised the banner should be banned from old Trafford. ..Absolute idiots
Agree! Wonder will class of ’92 get anywhere on rumoured plan to front a Middle Eastern based consortium to buy out Glaziers.
The latter seem a little tight fisted towards Moyes, on funds to replace ageing squad. Time could be right for Glaziers to cash in chips, cause shares are only going one way with current set-up. Moyes deserves a year or two to deliver, under new ownership and stronger squad.
After all Ferguson needed time in mid 80s to make his mark, and look what he achieved! MU won’t hang Moyes, just yet!
Glaziers will probably receive an offer they can’t refuse and clear off back to US, paving the way for more popular owners with deeper pockets and a new dawn at Old Trafford.
Stupid and shameful stunt in my opinion. As a Manchester United fan we have had it very good for the last 20 odd years, we have no right to think we should be up the top of the league every year. One horrible season after unprecedented success in the previous 20 and this how some ‘fans’ behave. Liverpool haven’t won a league title in almost 25 years, Arsenal haven’t won anything in almost a decade, Man City got relegated as far as the third tier of English football and I don’t remember their fans behaving in such a shameful manner. The real fans in the stadium today showed their class by booing the stunt and giving Moyes a great reception. It has been an awful season so far, but if it gets rid of these type of glory hunting fans then at least one good thing will come of it.
Well said Tom
Well said HonestTom!
Egeits…well done united fans on rejecting it from a Liverpool fan
I was proud as a utd fan today ,booing that stupid fly by was the right thing to do.
It was more than likely funded by one of the red top rags in the uk and made a big deal of by digital rags like the journal.
Moyes really needed that since they are going to get a total pasting on Tuesday.
And we will all look forward to watching that
If you can afford to hire a plane you must be a paid up member of the prawn sandwich brigade
That Jose … What a sense of humour!
Lol spoiled children, I wouldn’t expect anything less from utd fan’s
I support Utd and I’m having a laugh about it !!
Guess that debunks your theory !
Liverpool manager is Irish and there is a lot of links between Liverpool and Ireland as for that stunt by so called fans they are the same ones Roy keane was on about a few years ago
Normal service to resume on Tuesday…….another beating.
Nothing to be embarrassed about if beaten by the best team in world
I dont have much of an interest in football anymore but surely its not all down to the manager on how well the team plays. Some of them earn a fortune each week to provide a service. Ferdinand has always been fairly shite to be fair and he probably should have been given away a few years ago along with a few more players. If the first team dont put in 100% each week, the manager doesnt have a lot of options left. Moyes has massive boots to fill but to be fair its probably time the players git their fingers out and earned their wage
I always laugh when I see old footage of fans when Fergie first came to Old Trafford, waving their “Fergie out” banners. Wonder do they feel stupid when they see themselves?? It was always going to be a tough season, Moyes needs a chance to stamp his mark on the club. Real fans will appreciate this, and accept defeat (as long as City don’t win again, that is…!)
Ah jasus kept the football genius there he’s doing a great job
If Chelsea don’t win the league do that sack Mourinho? If City don’t, do they sack Pellegrini? If Arsenal don’t, do they sack Wenger? If Liverpool don’t , do they sack Rogers?
Good man luke !!!!