Rooney blasts hat-trick at Bolton

Wayne Rooney scored a second hat-trick in successive Barclays Premier League games as Manchester United blasted five past Bolton in a 5-0 victory at the Reebok Stadium.

Rooney follows Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright and Didier Drogba in becoming only the fourth player in Premier League history to achieve the feat, part of an overall 18-goal tally for the Red Devils, the best start since the new league was formed in 1992.

Indeed, aside from Manchester City, Rooney has now scored more league goals on his own this season than any other club in the league - with Javier Hernandez adding two more on his first start of the campaign.

Four minutes was all it took for United to rediscover the scoring form that devastated Arsenal a fortnight ago.

Nani danced down the right wing and when he flashed over a low cross, Hernandez left Gary Cahill standing with some exemplary movement before nicking the ball home at the near post.

Rooney took a leaf out of Hernandez's book when he netted a carbon copy of his strike partner's early effort.

Phil Jones' pass released Nani for that assist and the former Blackburn defender had a big hand in United's third after his solo run ended with a save from Jussi Jaaskelainen. Rooney was on hand to stroke home the rebound.

Hernandez had another ruled out for offside before the half-time whistle blew but he was not to be denied for long.

After Jaaskelainen had produced an excellent save to deny Anderson, United again laid siege to the Bolton goal and when Michael Carrick's shot was deflected into Hernandez's path, the Mexican wasted no time in belting home.