Wayne Rooney opened the scoring then got himself sent off on the hour mark as Manchester United captain held on for a 2-1 win over West Ham United in a Premier League match at Old Trafford.
After Radamel Falcao had gone close for the Red Devils with a header in the opening two minutes, Rooney got on the end of a cross from Rafael to curl in a first-time effort in the fifth minute.
The goal was the Manchester United captain’s 209th Premier League goal, making him the third highest goalscorer in the competition’s history. It was also his 12th Premier League goal against West Ham.
The visitors saw more of the ball after going behind but were let down by poor finishing which would be rued midway through the first half when Robin van Persie doubled the lead for the Red Devils.
West Ham striker Enner Valencia was robbed off the ball by Ander Herrera, with Falcao taking the loose ball and threading a paas to the Dutch forward who fired home across the West Ham keeper Adrian.
West Ham however pulled a goal back in the 37th minute through Diafra Sakho’s close range header, after David de Gea had mishandled a Stewart Downing cross which was headed on to the woodwork by Guy Demel.
Adrian then mishandled a cornerkick at the other end but was relieved to see Falcao’s ensuing header go wide while De Gea easily saved a Tomkins header on the stroke of half-time as the Red Devils went into the break in the lead.
West Ham made a bright start to the second half as the Hammers searched for an equaliser, but it was the Red Devils that went close to getting a goal as Falcao’s deflected effort was kept out by Adrian in the 53rd minute.
Rooney then got himself sent off on the hour mark, receiving a straight red card for a foul on Downing but despite sustained pressure from West Ham, Man. United held on to claim only its second league win this season.