Wayne Rooney scored four goals Saturday to send Manchester United top of the Premier League with a 4-0 victory over Hull. Rooney took just eight minutes to beat Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, latching onto the rebound after a shot from Paul Scholes was parried. But it proved tough for United until Rooney added three more in the last 10 minutes to take his tally for the season to 20 goals. United has a two point lead over both Arsenal and Chelsea. Arsenal, though, has a game in hand over United and Chelsea has played two fewer matches than the champion. United profited early on from Myhill's failure to hold onto Scholes' shot and Rooney pounced on the loose ball. With Michael Owen making a rare start, United struggled to find a second goal until Dimitar Berbatov replaced the English striker with 17 minutes left. Rooney then exploited a chaotic situation in the area in the 82nd to make it 2-0 after Myhill fumbled Nani's free kick onto his own bar and then flattened defender Andy Dawson. The England forward then headed in Nani's cross four minutes later and added the fourth in stoppage time when he slotted home from Berbatov's cross. Champ Chelsea wins Champion Chelsea booked its place in the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-0 victory at Preston North End Saturday while Jermaine Beckford's last-gasp penalty earned Leeds United a 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur. Burnley was the day's fall guys, losing 1-0 to Championship (second division) Reading while fellow top flight side Wigan Athletic escaped by the skin of their teeth, drawing 2-2 at League Two (fourth tier) Notts County after trailing 2-0. Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers needed a late equalizer to draw 2-2 at home to Championship side Crystal Palace and Fulham had some tricky moments before winning 3-1 at the lowest-placed survivors Accrington Stanley. League Cup finalist Aston Villa had to work hard to advance with a 3-2 defeat of third-tier Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park while Birmingham City stretched its unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 with an impressive 2-1 win at Everton. In another all top-flight clash Portsmouth guaranteed some much-needed income with a 2-1 home victory over Sunderland. Five-time winner Chelsea took the lead when Nicolas Anelka shot powerfully past goalkeeper Andy Lonergan in the 36th minute before doubling its advantage when Daniel Sturridge finished from close range two minutes after the restart. Championship side Preston, managed by Darren Ferguson, son of Manchester United boss Alex, missed a gilt-edged chance when Darren Carter shot over an open goal in the first half. Two sides battling for promotion back to the Premier League met at the Hawthorns where West Bromwich Albion beat Championship leader Newcastle United 4-2. After two successive Premier League defeats by Arsenal, Owen Coyle enjoyed his first victory as Bolton Wanderers manager when his side beat Championship team Sheffield United 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium.
