LONDON, April 2: Wayne Rooney struck a second-half hat-trick as Manchester United came from two goals down to beat West Ham 4-2 and strengthen their position at the top of the English Premier League. Mark Noble had struck two penalties for the hosts at Upton Park but also felt Nemanja Vidic should have been dismissed by referee Lee Mason for denying Demba Ba a goal scoring opportunity.

United took full advantage in the second half, with Rooney pulling a goal back before levelling with his 100th league goal for his club.

The England striker then established a lead with a penalty after Matthew Upson’s handball, before Javier Hernandez grabbed another.

After 10 minutes another decision went against his team when the hosts took the lead through Noble’s first penalty, after a move that started on the edge of West Ham’s penalty area.

Thomas Hitzlsperger’s long pass out of defence released Carlton Cole, whose attempt to lob the ball over Patrice Evra resulted in the France international handling.

Noble kept his nerve and sent Tomasz Kuszczak the wrong way to establish a lead, then doubled the advantage in the 25th minute with another spot-kick.

Noble went for power with his second penalty, and in the opposite corner, with his finish angling into the roof of the net.

United were inevitably going to see more of the ball as they chased the game, but their first sight of goal led to an athletic save from Robert Green.

Results: West Ham 2........................Man United 4 Birmingham 2...............................Bolton 1 Everton 2...............................Aston Villa 2 Newcastle 4..................................Wolves 1 Stoke 1.........................................Chelsea 1 West Brom 2.............................Liverpool 1 Wigan 0..................................Tottenham 0 —AFP