Rooney nets hat-trick as Manchester Utd cut gap on leaders

By Ben James, London, Nov 29 : Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick as champions Manchester United won 4-1 at bottom side Portsmouth to move within two points of leaders Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League.

The England striker scored twice from the penalty spot while Ryan Giggs got the fourth Saturday as United dealt Avram Grant defeat in his first game in charge of Portsmouth.

Chelsea can extend their lead when they play Arsenal on Sunday.

Rooney put United ahead early on with the first of his two penalties after he was fouled by Michael Brown but Portsmouth pulled level when Kevin-Prince Boateng also equalised from the spot.

Rooney restored United's lead three minutes into the second half and then completed his hat-trick after a cross from Ryan Giggs before the Welshman made it four with a goal on his 36th birthday.

"It is a great result for us and some of the football was good," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "In the second half we kept our discipline very well and kept the ball very well and deserved the win in the end."

Grant said he was confident he could get Portsmouth out of trouble.

"Now our target is staying in the league, it won't be easy but it will be possible," he said. "The football was good and the spirit but there are things we have to do better - first to take points. When we play against teams close to us we need to win them."

Tottenham Hotspur moved above Arsenal into third with a 1-1 draw at fifth-place Aston Villa, with Michael Dawson equalizing after Gabriel Agbonlahor's goal for the home side.

Manchester City missed the chance to go fifth as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Hull City, making it seven successive draws for Mark Hughes's side.

"Of course it is a disappointing run we're on, because we're failing to see out victories when we have the lead," Hughes said.

"We're trying to get something started here but at times we look exactly what we are, a side that has been thrown together very quickly. That means we'll have bad days among the good ones."

Stoke and Fulham remain ninth and 10th respectively after both sides recorded draws. Stoke came away from Blackburn with a point after a 0-0 draw while Fulham were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Bolton.

West Ham United moved out of the relegation zone with a 5-3 victory over Burnley in a match which they led 5-0 but saw three late goals against them. Wigan beat Sunderland 1-0 in the day's other match.

--IANS