A Wayne Rooney hat-trick fired Manchester United back to within two points of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League as the champions inflicted a 4-1 defeat on Portsmouth in Avram Grant’s first match in charge.
The England striker converted two penalties either side of a first-time finish from a Ryan Giggs pass to help United to a win that increases the pressure on Chelsea to take something from Sunday’s trip to Arsenal.
Giggs completed a good afternoon’s work for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side by claiming the 100th Premier League goal of his career with a late free-kick.
Portsmouth had appeared galvanised by the new manager but their good early work was undone when Michael Brown pulled down Rooney to concede the opening penalty.
Kevin-Prince Boateng equalised with another penalty after Tomasz Kuszczak was adjudged to have fouled Frederic Piquionne.
