Football: United go top as Rooney tunes win over West Brom

City crash to shock 1-0 loss to Swansea in Premier League.

LONDON: Wayne Rooney fired Manchester United to the top of the Premier League as the champions defeated 10-man West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to take full advantage of Manchester City’s shock 1-0 loss at Swansea.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side secured their fourth successive league win thanks to a brace from England striker Rooney that allowed the club to move one point clear of rivals City.

United made a slow start as Albion midfielder Keith Andrews prodded wide from close-range before firing in a powerful drive that David de Gea did well to save.

The hosts took the lead in the 35th minute courtesy Rooney’s 23rd goal of the season. Scholes picked out Javier Hernandez and the Mexican forward made an incisive run in the penalty area before flicking a cross towards Rooney, who diverted the ball past Albion goal-keeper Ben Foster.

Albion’s hopes of a comeback began to fade in the 66th minute when Swedish defender Jonas Olsson was sent off for a second booking after tripping Hernandez. Ferguson’s team then put the result beyond doubt when Rooney stroked home a penalty five minutes later.

“I hope it is a significant day,” said Ferguson. “We’ve turned it around and credit to the players for that.

“They have shown great resilience and determination. We had a period of injuries but we have come through that now.”

City suffer first loss in five league games

Elsewhere, Roberto Mancini’s men were fortunate not to fall behind in the sixth minute when referee Lee Mason ruled that goal-keeper Joe Hart had fouled Wayne Routledge. Sinclair took the spot-kick, but Hart plunged to his right to save the Swansea forward’s tame strike.

City just could not get into their stride and smooth-passing Swansea made them pay for some sloppy defending in the 83rd minute. Savic gave the ball away and Routledge crossed for unmarked substitute Moore to head past Hart.

“We had control of the game in the second half and had chances to score,” said Mancini. “If you don’t score, you can be made to pay.

“The players are tired just now, but we have a lot of energy to go top of the league again with 10 games to play.”

Chelsea happy to win ugly, says di Matteo

Earlier, Roberto di Matteo signalled a break with Chelsea’s past by insisting his team must adopt a stronger winning mentality. Di Matteo oversaw a 1-0 victory over 10-man Stoke in his first Premier League game since being placed in caretaker control following the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas.

Villas-Boas had maintained the importance of playing with style but Di Matteo, conceding that the victory over Stoke had been hard-fought, insisted that Chelsea must maintain a similar approach during the final games of the season.

“Today was a step in the right direction,” said di Matteo. “Sometimes you have to win scrappy. I’m looking forward to getting the team into the right frame of mind.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2012.