Rooney hat-trick inspires Manchester United comeback

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

Sloppy defensive mistakes looked like they might be costly as United found themselves 2-0 down in 25 minutes after Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic gave away penalties that Hammers midfielder Mark Noble converted.

Reinvigorated by the introduction of Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov, United put themselves back in the match with a curling Rooney free kick midway through the second half before levelling through his low drive. The England striker completed a 14-minute treble by converting a penalty given for Matthew Upson's unlucky handball before Hernandez put the seal on the fightback with a well-taken goal from close range after being set up by Ryan Giggs.

Giggs had switched to an unfamiliar left back role as manager Alex Ferguson, watching from the stands while serving the second of a five-match touchline ban, shuffled his team in a second-half transformation that has become a hallmark of their season.

"It sends out a sign we don't give up. No matter what the score is in the game we keep going and we're grinding out results," Giggs told Sky Sports.

"Some games we are not playing at our best but I thought today we were brilliant all over the park. Even when we've not been playing well we've been grinding out results so hopefully now with seven games to go we can keep doing that."

United have 66 points from 31 matches while second-placed Arsenal are on 58 having played two games fewer.

The Londoners face Blackburn Rovers later in the day (1630 GMT) and will rue what might have been at Upton Park, as will relegation-threatened West Ham.

The Hammers had looked like recording a second victory over United this season, following the 4-0 rout in the League Cup, as the visitors struggled.

Captain Vidic, returning after injury and suspension, had a miserable first half as he gave away a penalty and was lucky to escape a red card for hauling down Demba Ba when the striker was poised to go clear on goal.

But Rooney showed he was still a class act, despite a below-par season, as he chalked up 101 league goals for United.

He said his 101st was the key strike as United edged closer to a record 19th league title.

"To score the goal that put us in front ... we were going to win the game from there so I'm delighted with that," said Rooney.