Manchester United 2 - 0 Otelul Galati: Wayne Rooney banishes Old Trafford blues

WAYNE Rooney turned into a midfield star as Manchester United’s slow rehabilitation from the day it still hurts Sir Alex Ferguson to think of continued.

On their first appearance at Old Trafford since being thrashed 6-1 by Manchester City, Antonio Valencia’s eighth-minute tap-in and a late deflected effort from Rooney ensured United grabbed maximum points from their Champions League encounter with Otelul Galati.

It was hardly a command performance, but in rampaging right-back Phil Jones and Rooney – who netted his 27th Champions League goal from a starting position in central midfield – the home fans at least had a couple of happy memories to take away from a stadium where the ghosts in blue will linger for so long. United went in front when Dimitar Berbatov released Jones, the full-back eventually cutting a cross back that left Valencia with a tap-in

Rooney made sure of victory with a long-range effort that took a deflection off Sarghi three minutes from time.

Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Fabio Da Silva, Valencia, Anderson, Rooney, Nani, Berbatov, Owen. Subs: Lindegaard, Evra, Park, Hernandez, Welbeck, Pogba, Fryers.

Otelul Galati: Grahovac, Rapa, Costin, Sarghi, Salageanu, Neagu, Filip, Giurgiu, Antal, Pena, Ilie. Subs: Branet, Skubic, Benga, Iorga, Paraschiv, Frunza, Punosevac.

Referee: M Strahonja

Attendance: 74,847