Wayne Rooney scored a second-half hat-trick as Manchester United FC came from 2-0 down to beat West Ham United FC 4-2 and stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points.

The London side led 2-0 at the break thanks to a pair of Mark Noble penalties, but Rooney got United back into the game on 65 minutes. Two more strikes in the next 14 minutes – his third, a penalty, bringing up his century of Premier League goals for the club – turned the game around. Half-time substitute Javier Hernández then completed the scoring with six minutes left as United increased their lead over Arsenal FC, who could only draw 0-0 at home against ten-man Blackburn Rovers FC, the visitors losing Steven N'Zonzi to a 76th-minute red card.

Third-placed Chelsea FC also lost ground on the leaders and had to be thankful for a Didier Drogba strike in their 1-1 draw at Stoke City FC, while Tottenham Hotspur FC, in fourth, drew 0-0 at Wigan Athletic FC. West Bromwich Albion FC manager Roy Hodgson got the better of his former side Liverpool FC 2-1, as a pair of Chris Brunt penalties eased the victors' relegation worries.

Newcastle United FC were they day's biggest winners, 4-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, while Birmingham City FC beat Bolton Wanderers FC 2-1 and Aston Villa drew 2-2 at Everton FC.

Results

Standings

Photo gallery