United far from impressive

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Hull City 1 Manchester United 3:WAYNE ROONEY was so irrepressible that he insisted on paving the way for Hull City's goal in the few moments he took off from winning the match for Manchester United. The net contribution from the striker hoisted his club to within two points of the Premier League leaders, Chelsea. This, all the same, did not have the feel of an irresistible charge for glory.

The English scene no longer features that sort of streamlined excellence. Perhaps the dip in standards should not be lamented too much if interest in the struggle for the title is on the rise.

Hull will have little sense of an increasing competitiveness since they sit in one of the relegation places and have prised a mere two points out of the last five fixtures.

They will have to take the familiar and often brief encouragement of recognising that a leading team was subjected to discomfort.

United, in truth, are no longer accomplished enough to saunter to victory. The squad without the departed Cristiano Ronaldo appreciates that sweeping wins will be less common.

Hull conducted themselves as if they might inflict a sixth defeat on United from a league programme that has merely reached the halfway mark.

Perhaps there was delusion in such a notion since the home side’s means are so clearly limited. It may be that nothing would have prevented United from making off with a win but they could have been in deeper difficulties if Alan Wiley had detected Wes Brown’s contact on Richard Garcia inside the penalty area after 33 minutes.

The official was blameless, since it took not just any television replay to expose the offence but one from exactly the right angle.

After all the discussion of the way in which the United back four has been razed by injury, imposing fortifications are now rising from the dust.

Rio Ferdinand’s back problems continue to sideline him but United looked well-served by the rearguard sent out by Ferguson. There might have been exasperation for the manager in other areas, with Ryan Giggs seeming jaded and Dimitar Berbatov annoyingly minimalist despite his late goal, but Ferguson should still have been gladdened by the cumulative impact.

While this, by the standard of days gone by, is a scuffling United it is still well capable of putting itself to the fore in a Premier League that lacks an outstanding force.

On the other hand, prospects would be radically altered for the worse if Rooney were to be ruled out for a noteworthy period. He dominated this game even when, by paving the way for Hull’s equaliser, he would have preferred not to do so. When he was overshadowed by a team-mate’s set-up work he still took the minor role of applying a simple finish to send United into a 1-0 lead.

Ronaldo himself would have been proud of Darren Fletcher’s delivery from the right in first-half stoppage-time that bounced towards the six-yard line. Giggs was a useful distraction at the near post before Rooney knocked home that cross.

Having put United in front, the ebullient attacker was then at fault for the penalty with which a bold Hull levelled.

Rooney aimed a loose and senseless pass back into his penalty area and put Craig Fagan in possession. The striker lifted a high cross and the visitors’ right-back Rafael da Silva barged Jozy Altidore from behind. Fagan converted the 60th-minute kick with confidence and force.

There was a vigorous reaction to that equaliser. Giggs was to the fore as United burst down the right and Rooney’s low, driven cross into the middle was so treacherous that Andy Dawson could not avoid knocking the ball into his own net. The pugnacity then ebbed out of Hull. That was wholly understandable and the intent shown until then by Phil Brown’s team had been admirable. Berbatov added a further United goal after Rooney had provided him with an elementary finish.

This was an encouraging occasion for Ferguson. The date of Ferdinand’s return is unknown but the defence worked well yesterday. Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic were particularly trenchant against opponents who acquitted themselves with conviction.

Tomasz Kuszczak may not have been in constant jeopardy but the goalkeeper still looked like an acceptable choice for a job that has turned into an issue for conjecture. He made an important stop from a Seya Olofinjana drive when the match was still goalless.

Hull should have no trouble in finding other reasons for encouragement. Without the exceptional Rooney, this would have been a tight contest. Brown evidently has maintained morale in adversity. The single worry will be that the vigour of the side was a reaction to the fame of the visitors. The matches that will really decide their fate are sure to lack all trace of glamour.

- Guardian Service