HULL CITY 2, MAN UNITED 3
David Moyes saluted his comeback kings as Manchester United overturned a two-goal deficit to snatch a 3-2 victory at Hull City.
United’s manager was understandably elated after witnessing a nightmare opening twelve-and-a-half minutes on Humberside.
He said: “To be 2-0 down and come back to win was a great result. I thought it would be a long road back, but these players have done this is the past and we did well to get back into the game.
“There’s a long way to go in the league and we have to keep picking up points. There’s a lot to do, but we’ll keep at it. I believe we can be in the mix and challenge whoever is near the top.”
United made it five straight wins in all competitions, their best run of the season, as they are producing their most consistent form of the campaign.
There was also the delight of Darren Fletcher making his first start for 12 months following the midfield man’s recovery from a chronic bowel condition
And Wayne Rooney also reached another landmark as he scored his 150th Premier League goal for the Reds. He also joined Thierry Henry as being the only player to reach that total for one club.
It was an altogether different story for former Reds’ captain Steve Bruce who still has beaten his former club in management, a sequence now stretching to 19 matches.
City took the lead in the fourth minute, ironically through a former United player as James Chesters found the net.
Manager’s son Alex headed on Tom Huddlestone’s corner and Chesters rifled a close-range shot into the roof of the net.
It got even worse for United as Hull quickly doubled their advantage when David Meyler’s miss-hit shot deflected off Jonny Evans and bounced over the prostrate body of keeper David De Gea.
United made an early substitution as Adnan Januzaj replaced Rafael and it was a foul on the teenage winger which sparked United’s comeback in the 19th minute when Chris Smalling headed home Rooney’s free kick.
Suddenly United had the bit between their teeth as Danny Welbeck had an effort deflected for a corner while Tom Cleverley forced a fine save from Allan McGregor.
United made it 2-2 and still 26 minutes of an absorbing contest had yet been completed when Rooney flicked the ball up and found the net with a fabulous volley from 25 yards high to the right of McGregor.
Bruce could have restored the lead for City, but his header from Huddlestone’s corner struck the top of the upright.
United’s winner came midway through the second period when Ashley Young crossed from the right and Chesters, who got in front of Rooney to intercept, could only manage to head the ball past his own keeper.
There was drama at the end as United had Antonio Valencia, already booked, sent off for stupidly kicking the ball away after he committed another foul.
City also had a chance to equalise in stoppage time, but United keeper De Gea stood up well to deny Huddlestone as United climbed to seventh spot and only five points adrift of a top four Champions League place.