Manchester United 2 West Brom 0

MANCHESTER UNITED returned to the Premier League summit thanks to Wayne Rooney's double and a favour from Swansea. Alex Ferguson's men slumped to a 3-2 defeat to Athletico Bilbao in the Europa League in midweek but it was normal service resumed today as Rooney opened the scoring with a neat flick after 35 minutes.

Baggies defender Jonas Olsson was then dismissed for picking up a second yellow card, before Ashley Young was brought down by Keith Andrews for a blatant penalty.

Rooney coolly dispatched the spot-kick and with rivals Manchester City losing 1-0 at Swansea, the result left United sitting pretty in first place.

It was the visitors who created the first clear-cut opening after Phil Jones got himself in trouble deep in the United half.

Liam Ridgewell was quickly released down the right flank and when he crossed, Andrews was sliding in at the near post, only to turn the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

Jones went down under Ridgewell's challenge at the other end but referee Lee Probert waved away the penalty appeals.

It was an open start and after some good work from Danny Welbeck, the impressive Young fired in a shot which was beaten away by former United keeper Ben Foster.

Chris Brunt took it short to Andrews and his shot was heading for the bottom corner until David De Gea pushed it away at full stretch. Welbeck nodded Young's corner over after Paul Scholes had started a United attack with a brilliant cross-field pass to the England winger.

A marvellous burst from inside his own half by Patrice Evra helped create another opening for United as Young drifted a cross to the far post.

Rooney managed to reach it but could not get any power behind his attempt to steer the ball goalwards and Foster made a comfortable save.

United were turning the screw, though, and when Javier Hernandez drilled over a low cross from the right, Rooney was on hand to touch it past Foster.

At first glance, it did appear the Red Devils' top-scorer was offside. But TV replays showed the officials had got it right as Rooney bagged his 23rd goal of the season. Olsson received his first booking in the early moments of the second period for a foul on Rooney.

Peter Odemwingie went down rather easily under Evra's challenge and Probert was unimpressed.

There was no touch on the ball from the Frenchman, though, and the decision could easily have gone the other way.

United almost took advantage of their good fortune as Hernandez drove a shot against a post.

Hernandez flicked Jones' near-post cross goalwards as the pressure started to mount again, Foster making the save once more. A sublime pass over the West Brom defence by Scholes should have led to a second United goal as Foster misjudged it.

Welbeck slid forward to turn the ball into an empty net but instead contrived to send it rolling beyond the far post, to the disbelief of Ferguson and his coaching team sat on the bench.

It was already looking an outside bet for West Brom to drag themselves back into it when Hernandez beat Olsson to Welbeck's pass and went down under the defender's challenge.

There was little alternative to the second yellow card, which left the visitors to complete the final 25 minutes with 10 men. Foster made an excellent save to deny Young's deflected shot as United went for the jugular.

But the keeper's save merely delayed the inevitable as Andrews brought down Young in the area, giving Probert no option but to award a penalty.

Up stepped Rooney, who coolly slotted home for his second of the afternoon.

Shane Long had a late effort well saved by De Gea but the result never looked in doubt as United's victory propelled them above City and to the top of the league.

Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Young, Carrick, Scholes (Pogba 72), Welbeck (Cleverley 77), Rooney, Hernandez. Subs Not Used: Amos, Berbatov, Giggs, Park, Rafael Da Silva.

Goals: Rooney 36, 71 pen.

West Brom: Foster, Tamas, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Odemwingie, Andrews (Scharner 72), Morrison, Mulumbu, Brunt (Shorey 72), Fortune (Long 77). Subs Not Used: Daniels, Tchoyi, Dorrans, Cox.

Sent Off: Olsson (66). Booked: Olsson.

Att: 75,598

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Source: thesun.co.uk