Sport

Pompey's hat-trick of own goals lift Man U

February 07, 2010 Edition 2

Manchester: Manchester United stormed to the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 demolition of struggling Portsmouth at Old Trafford yesterday.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side moved one point clear of previous leaders Chelsea, thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov and three Portsmouth own goals.

Although United have seized pole position, Chelsea can regain first place with a win against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge today.

The floodgates opened in the 40th minute when Darren Fletcher crossed into the six-yard box, and Rooney pounced to direct a header past David James. Rooney's 23rd goal in all competitions equalled his best total for a single season and five minutes later Vanden Borre deflected Nani's cross past James.

Another own goal increased United's lead in the 59th minute as Richard Hughes turned Michael Carrick's shot into his own net.

Berbatov added a fourth in the 62nd minute and Pompey defender Marc Wilson scored his side's third own goal seven minutes later.

At the other end of the table, Hull climbed out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win against Manchester City at the KC Stadium.

City defender Wayne Bridge, back from two months out with a knee injury, made his first appearance since reports that England teammate John Terry had an affair with the leftback's former girlfriend.

But his presence hardly inspired City and the visitors fell behind in the 31st minute when American striker Jozy Altidore slotted home his first league goal for the Tigers.

It got even worse for Roberto Mancini's team in the 54th minute when George Boateng smashed a ferocious strike past Shay Given after City failed to clear a corner.

Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor reduced the deficit in the 59th minute, but it wasn't enough to stop City's Champions League hopes suffering a blow.

Burnley moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a 2-1 win over West Ham which gave Brian Laws his first victory as Clarets manager.

David Nugent handed Burnley a dream start in the 14th minute and Danny Fox, signed by Laws from Celtic during the transfer window, curled a superb effort into the top corner in the 55th minute to plunge West Ham into the bottom three.

Bolton shared a goalless draw with Fulham at the Reebok Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur slipped to fifth in the table after a goalless draw at home to resilient Aston Villa in a late match. - Sapa-AFP