obamamtoto

IT'S the season of giving and receiving gifts and Wayne Rooney was in a festive mood.

The United striker was involved in all FOUR goals as United regained second spot from Arsenal in the Premier League.

No 1. Roo taps in on the stroke of half-time to give United the lead.

No 2. Roo's woeful backpass leads to a penalty gift for Hull's equaliser.

No 3. Roo's cross from the right is turned into the Hull net by the unfortunate Andy Dawson.

No 4. Roo plays the cheekiest of passes through a defender's legs for Dimitar Berbatov to tap in.

And all this after keeping a bedside vigil over Christmas for wife Coleen's poorly little sister, Rosie.

SUPER ROO ... Wayne Rooney celebrates putting United in the lead

This was a rip-roaring encounter, with added spice given by the appointment of referee Alan Wiley, who was torn a strip off by Alex Ferguson for being 'unfit' the last time he officiated on a United game.

But don't forget Hull, who fully played their part, after a spirited first-half showing proved they were anything but toothless Tigers.

The home side had loud appeals for a penalty waved away after making a rare break on 21 minutes.

Wes Brown upended Richard Garcia as he raced on to a Craig Fagan pass and the midfielder was incensed that ref Wiley failed to point to the spot.

United dominated possession and Rooney went close. As Hull waited in vain for an offside flag, he forced Boaz Myhill to palm over with a stinging shot.

Hull could have taken a shock lead after piecing together a brilliant move in the 28th minute.

Garcia sparked the attack with a weaving run before finding Fagan out wide.

The cross was perfect and was met on the volley by Olofinjana on the six-yard line but Tomas Kuszczak saved to his right.

Hull survived a real scare when Myhill sliced a clearance but Ryan Giggs and Rooney were unable to take advantage of an unexpected opening.

Rafael then beat the offside trap at the end of an intricate move on the edge of the box but Myhill saved brilliantly from the Brazilian.

Pressure finally paid off as Hull failed to clear a Darren Fletcher cross and Rooney tapped in from close range in first-half injury time.

Hull were gifted a route back into the game just before the hour after an horrendous error by Rooney.

The United striker played Kuszczak into trouble with a weak backpass and Fagan nipped in to win the ball.

Fagan's touch took it too wide to shoot but he lofted back in a cross for Altidore and the American was bundled over by the backtracking Rafael.

Wiley pointed to the spot and Fagan, taking over spot-kick duties, stepped up to coolly slot an equaliser.

United almost reclaimed the lead moments later as Brown rose to meet a corner but Myhill clawed the ball away from under his bar as Rooney threatened.

The reprieve only lasted until the 73rd minute.

Rooney latched on to Ryan Giggs' through ball and with Park Ji Sung haring in at the far post, Dawson could only turn the England striker's cross into his own net.

The game was made safe from a final piece of genius from Rooney.

He pulled away on the left and just as it looked as if his options had disappeared, he picked out the most impudent of passes to find Berbatov all on his own at the far post.

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