Rooney helps United keep pressure on Chelsea

Manchester United closed to within one point of Premier League leaders Chelsea after a Wayne Rooney double helped the defending champions to a 3-0 win over West Ham on Tuesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who have played a game more than Chelsea, bounced back from Saturday’s defeat at Everton thanks to in-form England forward Rooney, who scored either side of half-time at Old Trafford to take his goal total for the season to 27 in all competitions.

Ferguson made five changes to the side beaten at Everton, with goalkeeper Ben Foster handed a rare start and Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic back from injury, and the alterations paid off as Rooney gave United the lead in the 38th minute.

Antonio Valencia collected Dimitar Berbatov’s pass on the right and volleyed a perfect cross for Rooney to head past Robert Green for his 26th goal of the season.

United winger Park Ji-Sung hit the bar at the start of the second half before Rooney, who has 11 goals in his last eight appearances, headed the second goal from another Valencia cross in the 55th minute.

Michael Owen came off the bench in the closing stages and the United striker capped his side’s victory in the 80th minute when he slotted home a pass from Paul Scholes for his first league goal since September.