London: Wayne Rooney inspired Manchester United to come from behind and beat Aston Villa 4-1 on Saturday in a game marked by fresh protests against United manager David Moyes.
A small aeroplane towing an anti-Moyes banner flew over Old Trafford shortly after kick-off and the under-fire former Everton manager then saw his side fall behind to an Ashley Westwood free-kick.
However, Rooney scored twice before half-time, with Juan Mata and Javier Hernandez adding further goals as the under-performing champions provisionally moved to within nine points of the Premier League’s top four.
Moyes received a warm reception when he emerged before kick-off. Applause turned to silence, though, in the 13th minute when Westwood curled a delicate free-kick over the United wall and inside the left-hand post to put Villa ahead.
Villa centre-back Ciaran Clark then put a free header over, but Rooney equalised in the 20th minute when he exploited slack marking to convert Shinji Kagawa’s left-wing cross with a deft glancing header.
The England striker completed the turnaround shortly before half-time, burying a penalty into the bottom-right corner after Mata had been cleaned out by Leandro Bacuna. Villa striker Christian Benteke gave United two big scares early in the second half, but Mata’s 57th-minute strike gave the hosts breathing space.
After Marouane Fellaini tried to bundle his way through in the Villa area, the ball popped out to Mata, who thrashed home to claim his first United goal since his club-record £37.1 million move from rivals Chelsea in January.
Restive Man U supporters fly foul
Manchester, March 29: A plane trailing a banner calling for the dismissal of beleaguered Manchester United manager David Moyes flew over Old Trafford during the club’s game against Aston Villa on Saturday. The stunt, funded by a group of disgruntled United fans, is the biggest sign of open supporter dissent that Moyes has faced since succeeding Alex Ferguson last year.
Shortly after kick-off in the Premier League game on a sunny afternoon in Manchester, a small white plane was seen to fly over the stadium towing a banner that read, “Wrong one — Moyes out” in giant red letters. The protest is a response to a pro-Moyes banner, branding him “The chosen one”, that has been displayed by supporters in Old Trafford’s Stretford End since the beginning of the season.
Moyes was granted a warm welcome by fans inside the stadium as he walked down the touchline to the dug-out prior to kick-off and the plane’s appearance was greeted by boos. Moyes, 50, has endured a torrid debut campaign at United, who have fallen 18 points behind leaders Chelsea in the EPL. Moyes continues to receive the backing of the club’s board, however, with director and ex-player Bobby Charlton declaring: “I’m absolutely certain that we picked the right man.”
