A moment of red card confusion helped Wayne Rooney return Manchester United to winning ways with a brace in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland in their English Premier League football match.
Wayne Rooney of Man Utd celebrates after scoring. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Beaten 2-1 at Swansea City the previous weekend, Louis van Gaal's United were frustrated by Sunderland until the 64th minute at Old Trafford, when Radamel Falcao won a penalty after being brought down in the visitors' box.
John O'Shea appeared to be the culprit, but referee Roger East elected to send off Wes Brown -- like O'Shea, a former United player -- despite protests from Sunderland's players that he had got the wrong man.
Rooney planted the penalty into the bottom-left corner and then added a second goal to take United up to third place in the table, two points above Arsenal, who host Everton tomorrow (Monday morning NZ time).
Asked about the red card mix-up, United manager Louis van Gaal told a television reporter, "That's a mistake. You make mistakes as well, and so do I. It can happen."
He added, "We are on our way and we have been in the top four for more than 10 or 12 weeks. I think we are a stable team in the top four. I hope at the end of the season, we are still there."
Professional Game Match Officials Limited, the body that manages Premier League referees, later released a statement explaining that East felt that Brown had also fouled Falcao and was more deserving of a red card.
Van Gaal made five changes to his starting XI, with Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Falcao brought in as the Dutchman switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Rooney at number 10.
Falcao brilliantly brought down a right-wing cross and was taken down while darting away from O'Shea and Brown.
O'Shea hauled the Colombian back, but it was an incredulous Brown who was shown the red card.
Rooney's goal ended an eight-game scoring drought in the league and he claimed a second in the 84th minute, heading in after a shot was parried by visiting goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.
Southampton lost further ground in the battle for Champions League qualification after sinking to a second successive defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
Saido Berahino scored the only goal in the first minute, slamming home left-footed when Chris Brunt's free kick was partially cleared by Maya Yoshida, but was later forced off by injury.
Southampton now trail fourth-place Arsenal by two points and could be overtaken by Liverpool -- who won 2-0 at Southampton last weekend -- if Brendan Rodgers's side win at home to second-place Manchester City tomorrow (Monday NZ time).
Leaders Chelsea are not in league action this weekend as they play Tottenham Hotspur in tomorrow's (Monday NZ time) League Cup final.
Out-of-form West Ham United have now gone five matches without victory after losing 3-1 at home to London rivals Crystal Palace, who made club history with a fifth successive away win in all competitions.
West Ham have slipped to 9th place.
Tim Sherwood's wait for his first points as Aston Villa manager continued as his second-bottom side lost 1-0 at Newcastle United, with Papiss Cisse scoring a 37th-minute winner.
Burnley also remain in the bottom three after a Kieran Trippier own goal gave Swansea City a 1-0 win at Turf Moor, while a Peter Crouch header earned Stoke City a 1-0 victory at home to Hull City.
