Rooney inspires Man U to 3-1 win
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-15 09:47

Wayne Rooney has scored twice and Ruud van Nistelrooy converted a penalty as Manchester United beat Newcastle United 3-1 away to record their first win in three Premier League matches.

Former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson, meanwhile, had an unhappy start as West Bromwich Albion manager as his struggling side went down 2-1 at home to Middlesbrough on the ground he once graced as a budding England midfielder.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0 against Newcastle during today's Premiership clash at St James' Park, Newcastle. [AFP]

United remain 11 points behind leaders Chelsea, who won 4-1 at Fulham on Saturday when champions Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-4 at White Hart Lane in a remarkable north London derby to stay two points behind in second place.

Newcastle are now 16 points off the pace after a third successive home defeat in domestic competition.

United manager Alex Ferguson, telling Sky Sports his side can still fight for the title, said: "We've come away with a victory that maybe some others won't get (at Newcastle)."

Rooney put United ahead after seven minutes when he volleyed his second goal in six league matches and fifth altogether since Ferguson won the race against Newcastle for the England striker's transfer from Everton in August.

Newcastle captain Alan Shearer equalised in the 71st minute after robbing substitute defender Wes Brown of the ball but complained bitterly about the penalty awarded to United three minutes later.

Keeper Shay Given palmed down a Rooney effort but then brought down Paul Scholes as they went for the loose ball and Van Nistelrooy converted from the spot for his third league goal and 12th overall this season.

Shearer said Rooney had pushed substitute defender Andy O'Brien, who went to ground as the pair went into the box tussling for the ball.

"At 1-1 they were rocking," Shearer said. "A decision like that has completely changed the game."

Rooney took his league tally to three with his second goal in stoppage time when he blasted home the loose ball after centre back Titus Bramble had cleared a Van Nistelrooy effort off the line.

BORO FOURTH

Middlesbrough, under former Manchester United coach Steve McClaren, climbed to fourth on 22 points with goal difference putting them above Bolton Wanderers, who lost 2-1 at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

At the Hawthorns, West Brom fell behind just past the half hour mark when their defender Darren Purse scored an own goal.

Wales striker Robbie Earnshaw scored the first West Brom goal of the new era under former Boro manager Robson when he swept in a pull-back from the right by winger Cosmin Contra to equalise five minutes later.

Dutch winger Boudewijn Zenden headed what was to be the winner seven minutes after the break, heading a cross from the left by midfielder Stewart Downing into the top far corner.

West Brom should have equalised in the final minute but Nigerian forward Nwankwo Kanu turned substitute Geoff Horsfield's low cross over the bar from less than a metre with the goal at his mercy.

"It would seem to be impossible to do what he actually did with the ball, it was so much easier to score a goal," Robson said before focusing his attention on the work ahead to prepare for next weekend's daunting trip to Arsenal.

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