Ferguson fear factor lifted Rooney

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney admitted his fear of letting Alex Ferguson and the team down sparked his match-winning display against Hull.

Rooney had a bitter-sweet afternoon at the KC Stadium yesterday with a fine attacking display almost offset by a calamitous error.

The England striker opened the scoring in first-half injury time but then gifted Hull a route back into the game with a poor backpass which led to Craig Fagan's penalty equaliser.

Rooney redeemed himself by forcing an Andy Dawson own goal and then set up Dimitar Berbatov to complete a 3-1 win late on.

‘Obviously when they got the equaliser it was a mistake by myself, but thankfully we got the win,’ the 24-year-old told Sky Sports.

‘I don't think the manager would've been too pleased if we hadn't at the end.

‘It's the first time it's ever happened to me. It wasn't a nice feeling.

‘I didn't want to let the lads down and at the time it looked like that. It was more what the manager would say, probably!’

United's victory lifted them back above Arsenal - winners earlier in the day - into second and within two points of leaders Chelsea.
Ferguson hailed the spirit and determination of Rooney after his unshrinking display.

The Scot said: ‘He's been a threat all day to them, the penetration behind their back line was very good.

‘He made a mistake in giving the ball away for the goal, that was his one bad moment in the game, but I thought he was exceptionally good.

‘He's got that (desire), it's inborn in him, he'll never lose that.

‘He's a natural winner, he's always had that great attitude and determination to do well and he would be even more sick than anyone when he made a mistake.

‘He rectified it and everything's fine.’

The result left Hull 19th in the table but manager Phil Brown was encouraged by his side's performance ahead of a crucial trip to relegation rivals Bolton tomorrow.

Hull created numerous opportunities throughout the game and went close through Seyi Olofinjana and Stephen Hunt, while Richard Garcia felt he was denied another penalty.

Brown, whose side lost after a battling display at Arsenal last week, said: ‘There have been a lot of great performances.

‘It is disappointing we haven't got anything from the last two games in terms of points.

‘But it is no good bringing that level of commitment to the table against the top four, getting nothing and then going to Bolton and not giving that level of commitment.

‘That is non-negotiable and is something that has been at Hull City since I came here. We need to continue with it.’