Manchester United 1 - 0 West Ham United: Rooney nails Hammers in scoring return

SCORERS:

He also missed a second-half penalty after a Jordan Spence handball – the fifth time United have failed from the spot this season – as the Reds survived a spirited second-half rally from West Ham.

The winner was Rooney’s ninth goal of the season and extended a purple patch that began prior to the knee injury he suffered in training on Christmas Day, since when Robin van Persie, Hernandez and Danny Welbeck have all impressed, underlining the strength within Sir Alex Ferguson’s striking department.

Another of the men returning from injury, Anderson, provided the slide-rule pass for Hernandez to set up Rooney. No-one enjoyed themselves more than Ryan Giggs, who exploited the vast gaps to produce a virtuoso display that made him look far younger than 39.

Afterwards, Giggs admitted he was slightly relieved. He said: “When you’ve got players coming back from injury it can be tough sometimes. And we have to give credit to West Ham, they were tough to play against.”

West Ham did reach half-time still in contention, but the hosts should have sealed their fourth-round spot after Spence handled Giggs’ cross. Rooney, though, blazed the ball well over the bar.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce felt his side should have been awarded a penalty for Rafael’s apparent handball shortly after the interval.

“There’s no doubt about the difference between Rafael’s handball and Jordan Spence’s,” he said.

“Spence plays for West Ham and the away team, while Rafael plays for the home side at Old Trafford.

“With Rafael, the ball hits his hand but no penalty is given. With Jordan Spence, the ball hits his hand and it’s a penalty..

“You see it time and time again at Old Trafford.”

Man United: Lindegaard, Da Silva, Jones, Smalling, Buttner, Valencia, Anderson (Carrick 67), Giggs, Nani (Scholes 77), Rooney, Hernandez. Subs not used: Amos, Ferdinand, Welbeck, van Persie, Kagawa.

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Spence, Reid, Tomkins, Potts, O’Neil, Diarra, Diame (Collison 65), Taylor, Vaz Te (Lee 78), C Cole (Nolan 65). Subs not used: Spiegel, Jarvis, Demel, Lletget.

Referee: P Dowd

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