Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation
Ryan Giggs
Jonathan Spector of West Ham, right, brings down Ryan Giggs to concede a penalty in the first half at Old Trafford. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Jonathan Spector of West Ham, right, brings down Ryan Giggs to concede a penalty in the first half at Old Trafford. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney breaks drought in defeat of West Ham

This article is more than 13 years old

Only in the universe that surrounds Wayne Rooney could this summer be called a drought. Until he converted a first-half penalty here, the most naturally gifted footballer Old Trafford has seen since Bobby Charlton had not scored in more than 18 and a half hours of competitive football.

Now, the clocks will stop, the counting will cease and, since Rooney's goals have always come in waves, there should be a frisson of anxiety among the Bulgaria back four when he appears in an England shirt on Friday night.

This was not so much a comfortable victory as a cashmere-covered one over a West Ham United side that have lost their first three Premier League matches and struggled to overcome Oxford in the Carling Cup. Not since 1977 have West Ham started a season this badly, and that campaign culminated in relegation.

Avram Grant has signed six players already, none of whom started this match, and hopes to sign "one or two more". Frankly, given Manchester United's dominance and the number of thrashings that have pockmarked the season already, this was a scoreline he might have settled for.

Only in terms of statistics and headlines was Rooney the game's outstanding figure. Nani was constantly threatening, while the most exquisite goal was the falling volley from Dimitar Berbatov, who has eclipsed his strike partner in the opening matches. "He and Paul Scholes orchestrated most of the football," Sir Alex Ferguson said. "Nemanja Vidic put in two fantastic tackles, one in each half. It was a great team effort but we should have scored more."

As it has for most of the summer, it was raining in Manchester, the same rain that soaked the most famous encounter between Ferguson and Grant, the 2008 Champions League final. Rain, United's great helmsman had cackled afterwards, was his favourite playing condition; Ferguson has won three European trophies when it has poured down and he would thoroughly have expected to win this, more modest, contest.

Whether he would have expected Rooney to score was another matter. The 24-year-old had not done so since the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in March. When, early in the contest, he swung his boot and misconnected it seemed symptomatic of his malaise until Jonathan Spector, the third right-back Grant has employed in as many matches, took Ryan Giggs's legs from beneath him.

In similar circumstances at Fulham last Sunday, Nani snatched the ball when Ferguson had expected the penalty to be taken by Giggs, and the Portuguese's shot was saved. There was no doubt who would be taking the spot-kick in front of the Stretford End. Given the number of training sessions they would have shared at England's World Cup headquarters in Rustenburg, Rob Green would have had a fair idea of where the ball was going. He called wrong.

Fabio Capello was in the Old Trafford directors' box and, probably too late, Green gave him a full display of his abilities, especially against Nani who, maybe because he was stung by his failure at Fulham, appeared determined to shoot on sight. A few minutes into the second half the boy from the Cape Verde Islands received his reward as he sprinted into the area, left Danny Gabbidon on his backside and drove his shot into the top corner of the net.

Green had thwarted him throughout a first half during which Manchester United should have ended the evening as a contest. A brilliant curling shot, set up by a casual back-flick from Berbatov, was punched on to the crossbar and Green sprinted off his line decisively enough to ensure that a one-on-one finished in the Stretford End.

Nani had been set up by a superbly weighted chip from Giggs, whose international days, like those of Scholes and Berbatov, are done. Capello would have watched Scholes with something of a sigh. Those such as Sir Trevor Brooking, who sat beside the England manager, may have had the same emotions watching Kieron Dyer. England's great lost talent provided West Ham's sole flicker of resistance and could have matched Scholes for international caps had he steered clear of injury and the nightclubs of Tyneside.

THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

SHAUN O'DONNELL, Observer reader We were brilliant up front: very fluid . The result was never really in doubt and, once the first goal went in, it was game over. Berbatov showed some sublime touches and his movement was excellent. He's starting to show his worth to the team and to look like a United player. Nani played well, but he needs to keep it simple and remember he's not Ronaldo. I was a bit disappointed by the substitutions because we could have got a hatful of goals without them – and he should have put on Hernández to give him experience, not Owen. West Ham were lacking all over the pitch. I can see them going down.

The fan's player ratings Van der Sar 7; Evra 7, Vidic 8, Evans 7 (Smalling 74 6), O'Shea 6; Giggs 8, Nani 8, Scholes 9 (Carrick 74 6), Fletcher 7; Berbatov 9 (Owen 74 6), Rooney 8

HAMISH MACKAY, Over Land and Sea We all expected the worst before we left home, so to end up losing 3-0 is actually better than we feared. We were holding our own until the first goal went in but after that, there was only going to be one result. After they scored their third, they eased off which enabled us to get away with not losing by more. But, generally, we weren't as bad as we have been this season, especially at the back. Upson was outstanding. He and Gabbidon, plus Green in goal, all had good games, which bodes well. We know it's going to be another long, hard season but today no one played that badly so there was a little hope.

The fan's player ratings Green 8; Spector 6, Gabbidon 7, Upson 8, Ilunga 6; Noble 6, Parker 6, Boa Morte 6 (Stanislas 90 n/a); Faubert 5 (Barrera 61 6), Dyer 6 (Piquionne 75 5); Cole 6

To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

Most viewed

Most viewed