GreenBkk.com MAN UTD | West Ham 2 Noble (11, 24) v Man United 4 Rooney (66, 72, 78), Hernandez (83)

West Ham 2 Noble (11, 24) v Man United 4 Rooney (66, 72, 78), Hernandez (83)

2 APRIL 2011, UPTON PARK ATTENDANCE: TBC

Report by Steve Bartram

Wayne Rooney struck a stunning second half hat-trick as United roared back from two goals down to register a pulsating victory over West Ham at Upton Park.

Mark Noble converted a pair of first-half penalties for Avram Grant’s Hammers to seemingly deal the Reds’ title hopes an untimely setback. United had bossed the match despite Noble’s double, however, and deservedly overturned an unjust scoreline in the second period.

Rooney curled home a magnificent long-range free-kick, thundered in a superb leveller and converted a penalty in a breathless 15 minutes spell, before substitute Javier Hernandez turned home a late clincher and cap another rousing fightback from the Reds.

Watching from the stands in the second instalment of his touchline ban, Sir Alex Ferguson will again wonder how his side insist on putting all their followers through the wringer, before switching his attention to Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Stamford Bridge.

The visit to Chelsea impacted on Sir Alex’s pre-match team selection. Nani, Dimitar Berbatov and Chicharito all started on the bench, while Edwin van der Sar was a precautionary absentee with a minor groin injury. The Boss’ defensive selection was essentially preordained, with Rio Ferdinand continuing his comeback from injury, Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Rafael all injured and Jonny Evans starting his three match ban. Fabio and Patrice Evra started at full-back, flanking a central-defensive partnership of Chris Smalling and the returning Nemanja Vidic.

The reunited duo set about their task with vigour, out-jumping West Ham’s forwards to a host of high balls. Smalling then applied his spring at the other end of the field, where he rose to powerfully meet Giggs’ corner, but Rob Green comfortably tipped the effort over.

United seemed comfortably in control of proceedings until an unnecessary concession. Another Giggs corner was pumped clear by the hosts, finding Carlton Cole in space. The striker advanced and flicked the ball over Evra, whose raised hand blocked the ball’s path. Few protests met referee Lee Mason’s award of a penalty, which Noble duly dispatched past Kuszczak.

Despite the shock of falling behind in such unforeseen circumstances, United’s response was bright, with Antonio Valencia particularly prominent in some menacing forward probes. The Ecuadorian’s crosses prompted a succession of scrambled clearances from the hosts, as did a Wayne Rooney centre which narrowly eluded Ji-sung Park’s attempted diving header.

The Reds’ steady attempts to find a route back into the game were handed a fatal blow after 23 minutes as Cole won his second penalty, advancing into the area and tumbling over the outstretched leg of Vidic. Unquestionably a foul, but outside the area according to the Serbian, inside it in the view of the striker and, most importantly, referee Mason. Noble steered home another unerring finish.

Strangely, the flow of the game continued in the same vein, with United comfortably bossing possession. The Reds’ first real opening fell to Ji-sung Park, whose stinging half-volley was somehow turned over the bar by Green. From the subsequent corner Smalling rose highest again, but steered his header wide.

On the break, Thomas Hitzelsperger thrashed a half-volley wide with the hosts’ first notable attempt in open play. The German then came within a yard of West Ham’s third goal with a superb curling free-kick, awarded after Vidic had missed a header and subsequently hauled down Demba Ba. Much to the hosts’ ire, the Serbian was merely booked, while the home support bayed for a red card.

The interval came and went with the deficit stood at two goals, and Sir Alex endeavoured to prompt a revival by introducing Chicharito at the expense of Evra, and moving Giggs to left-back. Little more than 30 seconds of the second period had passed when the makeshift full-back crossed for the substitute, who stabbed an effort over the bar.

Though West Ham defended stoutly, with Manuel da Costa particularly outstanding in the centre, it seemed a matter of time before United’s growing pressure yielded the dividends it deserved. When it arrived, in keeping with the game’s previous goals, it came from a set-piece.

With 25 minutes remaining, Noble brought down Carrick outside the West Ham area. Rooney stepped up before steering a wonderful free-kick round the wall and inside Green’s left-hand post. United’s dander was up: game on.

Within seconds of the restart, Gibson’s long-range effort was deflected wide, while Carrick’s hooked effort from the subsequent corner only fractionally cleared Green’s crossbar. The England goalkeeper then had to be alert to turn away a near-post poke from substitute Dimitar Berbatov, who had replaced Park.

As West Ham’s defence creaked, Rooney again struck. A patient passing move culminated in Valencia flashing a left-footed pass inside for Rooney, and the striker’s superb first touch took him away from a cluster of bodies and created the room for a devastating low finish past Green. United’s travelling contingent went wild, and time remained for another notch of delirium.

Berbatov drew a fine save from Green with a stinging effort from just inside the area as the white-shirted visitors poured forward. Fabio’s marauding run down the right flank culminated in a cross which struck Matthew Upson’s arm, prompting the award of the game’s third penalty, which Rooney duly slotted home to complete his own treble and United’s comeback.

Still, the Reds pressed for more and looked to exploit gaps in the increasingly ragged home defence. With six minutes remaining, Chicharito notched his now customary goal by sliding in from close range after Giggs’ cross-shot had deflected through the legs of two defenders.

“We shall not be moved,” roared the jubilant away support, who had witnessed yet another instance of the sheer bloody-mindedness that has so often separated United from all the rest.

Credit: Manchester United (www.manutd.com)