Rooney may face charges over swearing

After completing his fifth hat-trick for Manchester United, first of the season, Wayne Rooney is to suffer consequences, as FA reveal they are to decide tomorrow whether he’ll be punished for inappropriate goal celebration.
Following yesterday’s incident, after he uttered a curse into a camera, for reasons unknown, Football Association’s director Sir Trevor Brooking stated for BBC Radio 5:
“Tomorrow there will be a decision.
“It was a surprise, after scoring a hat-trick, to react that way.
“It is something we will have to look at.”
Immediately after the incident, 25-year-old expressed his sincere apologies by saying:
“I want to apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my goal celebration, especially any parents or children that were watching.
“Emotions were running high, and on reflection my heat-of-the-moment reaction was inappropriate. It was not aimed at anyone in particular.”

Spur of the moment thing or not, Rooney won’t be able to escape punishment this time, as we all remember the moment he elbowed Wigan’s James McCarthy for which he was given the benefit of the doubt, however the rules are strict and very well defined, he’ll just have to abide. 

FA rules state: “A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.”

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Rooney hat-trick, United come back after 2 - 0 at West Ham

A quickfire Wayne Rooney hat-trick rescued Manchester United on Saturday as they stormed seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after coming from two goals down to beat West Ham United 4-2.

Their march towards a record 19th top-flight title was helped by second-placed Arsenal failing to break down Blackburn Rovers in a 0-0 draw at The Emirates that left Gunners manager Arsene Wenger concerned by his side's lack of energy.

Chelsea's hopes of retaining their title are all but over after being held 1-1 at Stoke City. The Londoners trail the leaders by 11 points in third spot.

Manchester United have 66 points from 31 matches, ahead of Arsenal with 59 from 30 and Chelsea on 55 from 30.

West Ham looked like recording a second victory over United this season, following a 4-0 rout in the League Cup, as sloppy mistakes by Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic gave away two penalties in the opening 25 minutes that Mark Noble converted.
Revived by the introduction of Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov and lucky to still have Vidic on the pitch after the Serbian defender escaped a red card for bringing down Demba Ba when the striker was set to go clear on goal, United fought back.
Rooney curled in a free kick midway through the second half before levelling with a low drive. The England striker completed a 14-minute treble by converting a penalty given for Matthew Upson's unlucky handball.
Hernandez added a well-taken goal from close range after being set up by Ryan Giggs and United manager Alex Ferguson said later that his team "played like champions."
HUGE BUMP
Rooney's joy at scoring his first league hat-trick of a below-par season culminated in him having to apologise for swearing on live television while celebrating.
"Emotions were running high and on reflection my heat of the moment reaction was inappropriate," he told the club's website (www.manutd.com) after chalking up 101 league goals for United.

One thing running high at The Emirates was Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri's huge bump on his head which bulged through his bandage when he opted to play on in the second period following a first-half clash of heads.

Arsenal's best chance came late on when a Nicklas Bendtner shot was blocked on the line and they could not make the most of Steven N'Zonzi's 76th-minute sending off for a two-footed challenge as relegation-threatened Blackburn held firm.

"Overall it was a flat performance with a lack of energy level, lack of sharpness, and it's quite a big concern to see what we have seen today," Wenger told a news conference.

"Very few players looked to have the resources to pick the pace up in the game ... before we speak about the title we have to focus on our performance level because it was not good enough today."

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April is the key to tittle race

Gary Neville believes April could be as big a month for Manchester United as he saw during his 20 years at the club.

United are eyeing a repeat of their historic 1999 treble and will be involved in some high-voltage encounters this month.

They'll face Chelsea over two legs in the Champions League quarter-finals and Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final while trying to maintain their five-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League title-race.

Neville, who retired earlier this season after a stellar career believes manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be primarily concerned with keeping his players fit.

In comments quoted on the club's official website, he said: "I think it's just simple things, there's no complication. Keep the players fit, make sure they're fresh and not over-trained, make sure they're prepared.

"You really have got games now every weekend and midweek - it's probably as big a month as I've seen in my 20 years here when you look at the matches coming up in the next four or five weeks and the scale of them.

"From that perspective, it's just about making sure the preparations are the same and keeping the players fit and you don't get sending offs. So discipline is important - they're the ones out of your control a little bit as the manager needs his full squad at this time of the season."

The injury-hit United defence was dealt a further blow during their last Premier League encounter when Jonny Evans was shown red for a reckless tackle on Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden.

With Rio Ferdinand still nursing a niggle and doubts over the fitness of captain Nemanja Vidic, there is an air of vulnerability to the United backline. Luckily for them though, challengers Arsenal have problems of their own as well.

However, Neville still thinks they, along with Chelsea are the biggest obstacles to United's title charge. The Red Devils play West Ham at Upton Park while Arsenal host Blackburn at the Emirates this weekend.

"I think it probably is Chelsea and Arsenal ," he said.

"Arsenal had a couple of bad results when they could've put some pressure on us, particularly in the week we lost to Chelsea and Liverpool. But it is there for us and we've got so close. It is the run-in.

"I think Saturday's a big one to be honest with you, coming back from the internationals and playing away to West Ham with a lunchtime kick-off. That's got a danger to it. That's good in some ways though because the lads have been there before.

'It's really, really important, they'll know it's a danger game. We've seen those times and how difficult those games are. I think we'll be ready for it."

However, Neville cautioned against entertaining thoughts of a treble just yet.

"You never know with the Treble," he explained. "If you get past the FA Cup final on the Saturday, you think it's here now but you never think to win a treble.

"It doesn't enter your thinking as a player. With all the matches ahead of us, you haven't got time to think about [what might happen] in six weeks' time.

"I would love to see us win the league as that's our bread and butter but the cups are always a bonus and the Champions League is massive and, when the games come around, you always want to win them. But let's just win that championship first."

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Wayne Rooney desperate for no 19

Wayne Rooney has stoked up his bitter feud with Liverpool by revealing just how desperate he is to help Manchester United finally overtake their record title haul. The arch rivals each possess 18 titles but United are on course to make it 19 as they enter the crucial run-in at the top of the Barclays Premier League. Roo beauty: The United ace scoring one of the goals of the season in the derby win over City at Old Trafford Rooney, who is despised by Liverpoolfans after growing up as a vocal Everton fan as well as going on toplay for United, is determined to finally complete Sir Alex Ferguson'swish of 'knocking them off their f****** perch'. Rooney, who is hardly welcome in theblue half of Merseyside either, also revealed how he is keen to curryfavour with Everton fans by pouring more misery on their neighbours. Ferguson's side are on course to winthe league as they prepare to face West Ham on Saturday. United arefive points clear of Arsenal, who have a game in hand, while reigningchampions Chelsea and Manchester City complete the top four. International duty: Rooney starred for England in their 2-0 win over Wales on Saturday Rooney said: 'I grew up an Evertonfan so to be part of the team to overtake Liverpool's record would bebrilliant. It would mean so much to us players as well as the fans. 'It is something I have been thinking about a lot. I know all the Everton fans want us to do it and hopefully we can. 'You look forward to every game atthis stage and you've got to enjoy it, especially when you are in therunning for a few trophies. 'It is exciting for the fans andit's exciting for the players knowing that you are just a few weeksaway from possibly winning a major trophy or two.' Once a blue: Rooney began his career with Everton before his mega-money move to United in the summer of 2004 United face Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final first leg next week and City in the FA Cup semi-final next month. Rooney is convinced they willbanish their local rivals and told Inside United: 'I am confident wecan beat them. I am desperate to win the competition, having lost twofinals. We have a great chance of going all the way this year. 'It is a massive competition with alot of history. I watched it religiously growing up and going so closetwice has been hard to take.' Rooney believes it is a massivebonus to have Antonio Valencia fit for the run-in and said: 'I amprobably the happiest person in the team to see him back. 'Having Nani on one wing and Antonio on the other is fantastic because they each bring something different.'  Fergie: My referee comments are fair... and I'm not paranoid about treatment!He has one goal in his last 15 games: When will we see the real Rooney? Big match dossier: Rooney hits 70 with plenty to prove after poor season  Explore more:People: Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia Places: Liverpool

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Man Utd 2-1 Marseille

Hernandez double puts United throughJavier Hernandez is already a Manchester United cult hero but two goals from the Mexico striker opened the door to European success in his debut season at Old Trafford.The summer signing scored in each half, propelling the club into the quarter-finals of the Champions League for a fifth successive season as Marseille were beaten 2-1.An own goal by Wes Brown in the 82nd minute ensured a nervous finish but United were not breached again by Marseille and secured their passage.The only downside for manager Sir Alex Ferguson was that both John O'Shea and his replacement Rafael went off with suspected hamstring injuries.United, with Hernandez selected ahead of Dimitar Berbatov, got off to a flying start with an opening goal from the Mexican in the fifth minute.A minute earlier, however, they had shown their intentions when Wayne Rooney played the ball out to Ryan Giggs but his cross was blocked by Souleymane Diawara.United took the lead with a sweeping move, Giggs finding Rooney from the left flank with a short pass. The striker played the ball to the far post with Hernandez tapping it in.It was just what Ferguson was looking for as it put his side one goal ahead on aggregate.However Marseille, who came into the match on the back of five wins in six league games, responded in the ninth minute.Andre-Pierre Gignac found himself in the clear, only to hook the ball high and wide from a good position.United had the momentum, though, with Giggs finding plenty of space on the left. The Welsh veteran delivered a cross into the box in the 19th minute but goalkeeper Steve Mandanda made the interception.Hernandez was then booked two minutes later for a challenge on former Old Trafford favourite Gabriel Heinze before testing Mandanda in the 23rd minute with a header after being released by Rooney.United maintained the momentum and O'Shea picked out Nani but he dragged his effort wide of the post.They poured forward again in the 35th minute following a break by O'Shea. However he sent his cross behind Hernandez before limping off.Marseille should have equalised when Diawara got on the end of a cross from Taye Taiwo but from six yards out and unmarked he somehow contrived to head wide.It was a scare for United and showed just how finely balanced this tie was despite Hernandez's early goal.Hernandez then had a claim for a penalty waved away after he went to ground under pressure from Taiwo before Loic Remy went close for Marseille.United were looking to build on their lead at the start of the second half and Rooney slipped the ball through to Hernandez in the 54th minute but he had strayed offside.Rooney was beginning to see more of the ball and tried to release Hernandez three minutes later when it had seemed he would go for goal. It proved to be the wrong option as his pass was cut out.Back came Marseille and Remy skipped to the byline but failed to pick out anyone with his cross.Ferguson made a switch in the 61st minute, bringing on Antonio Valencia for Nani who had failed to make an impact after a quick recovery from a gashed leg.Valencia had only returned to action in the victory against Arsenal on Saturday after being out since September with a broken ankle.United were finding it hard to carve out any openings after a bright start and Marseille were coming more into the game as it entered a crucial phase.The home side made another enforced change with Rafael also appearing to suffer a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Fabio.Hernandez extended United's lead in the 76th minute with another clinical finish for his fifth goal in five games, taking his tally to 16 for the season.Giggs started the move by releasing Valencia and he in turn whipped the ball across to Hernandez, who made no mistake.But Marseille responded and Brown headed into his own net in the 82nd minute under fierce pressure from Heinze.That set up a nerve-shredding final few minutes but United held firm to reach the last eight.

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