Rooney fires hat-trick in United win

Wayne Rooney consigned his 10-match goalscoring drought to history with a hat-trick as Manchester United humiliated Bolton 4-0 at the Reebok Stadium.

Rooney rasped home a magnificent treble as United ousted Chelsea from top spot in the Premiership with a scintillating display.

It took him precisely 10 minutes to make his mark. Rooney had already come agonisingly close to turning home Ryan Giggs' low cross, when he was picked out brilliantly by Michael Carrick, who lofted a first-time pass over the Bolton defence.

If there was any anxiety lurking deep within the young striker he did not show it, allowing the ball to bounce twice before letting fly with a first-time volley which gave Jussi Jaaskelainen no chance.

The Finn was equally helpless with Rooney's second five minutes later, which was true eye-of-the-needle stuff.

Tal Ben Haim provided the accidental assist when he slid in to rob Gary Neville. Unfortunately for the Israel defender, he toed the ball to Rooney, who found the only gap available to curl a shot wide of the nearest defender but inside Jaaskelainen's left-hand post.

Louis Saha and Giggs, twice, nearly increased United`s lead, Jaaskelainen denying the Welshman on the latter occasion after Abdoulaye Faye set him up for a volley when attempting to cut out a cross.

The second period was more even. Bolton had the edge and if Edwin van der Sar not turned away Ivan Campo's strike 15 minutes from time, the Trotters might have launched a comeback bid.

United's defence stood firm and the fight seemed to have ebbed out of the Trotters long before Saha presented Cristiano Ronaldo with a tap-in.

Bolton were on their knees by the end. But Darren Fletcher seized on Abdoulaye Meite's mistake and set up Rooney for his third.