New year, new Rooney as United stay top

Manchester United put up 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Saturday as Wayne Rooney scored his first goal in open play since March last year. The striker scored after just three minutes heading home from a Patrice Evra cross to end his marathon goal drought. But United’s lead had to end prematurely as James Morrison fired a spectacular 25-yard equalizer, volleying past Tomasz Kuszczak into the top left corner after 14 minutes.
And West Brom ought to have gone ahead in the 62nd minute when referee Chris Foy awarded them a penalty when Rio Ferdinand brought down Jerome Thomas. But Peter Odemwingie could only drag his spot kick wide of the Kuszczak’s right post. It was a miss that the Baggies were swiftly made to pay for as Javier Hernandez (who came on for Dimitar Berbatov after 60 minutes) headed home unopposed from a Wayne Rooney corner with quarter of an hour remaining.