Premier League round-up: Rooney double saves lacklustre Man United

Manchester United strengthened their hold on a top-four spot despite another abject performance, with a Wayne Rooney brace securing a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Sunderland.

The Red Devils failed to really get going in front of the Old Trafford faithful, with Black Cats defender Wes Brown keeping £50million man Radamel Falcao, who returned to the starting line-up following Robin van Persie's injury, in his pocket throughout.

Former United stars John O’Shea and Brown were a rock at the back for Gus Poyet, but while the Ireland international saved his side once with a brilliant goal-line clearance, he stitched up team-mate Brown to concede the spot-kick, with Brown being sent off for a foul on Falcao despite not even touching the forward.

Again it wasn’t record signing Angel di Maria - who was pulled off at half-time - who starred for United but Ashley Young, who fired a chance over bar and was later thwarted by a superb, and perhaps a bit fortunate, clearance from O’Shea, who tipped his volley up onto the crossbar.

Sunderland’s best chance of the game came early in the first half when Connor Wickham was allowed to trot up the pitch and let fly, though his effort was well saved by a diving David de Gea.

There was a lack of clear-cut chances after the break but United got the breakthrough when Falcao was bundled over in the area on 66 minutes, with - after the drama of referee Roger East’s mistaken identity - Rooney making no mistake from the spot.

The hosts continued to tentatively probe forward but posed no real threat until Rooney added his second with five minutes remaining, the captain nodding in a rebound after Adnan Januzaj’s shot was saved.

Another three points sees Louis van Gaal’s men rise to third, while Sunderland remain just three points clear of the relegation places.

Elsewhere, West Brom’s renaissance under Tony Pulis continued with a 1-0 victory over top-four hopefuls Southampton at the Hawthorns.

Saido Berahino netted the game’s only goal after just two minutes, the young Englishman lashing a volley right into the top corner to secure a win which lifts his side up to 13th place - and eight points clear of the bottom-three - while the Saints sit in fifth.

Burnley were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of the net as an own goal from defender Kieran Trippier handed Swansea a 1-0 triumph at Turf Moor.

The Clarets remain just inside a closely contested relegation zone, along with Aston Villa who stay just behind in 19th following a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle, with Papiss Cisse netting in the first half to continue Tim Sherwood’s winless start to life as Villans manager.

Finally, a textbook header from Stoke frontman Peter Crouch saw the Potters close out a 1-0 win over Hull at the Britannia Stadium.

Premier League results:

Burnley 0-1 Swansea City

Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

Newcastle 1-0 Aston Villa

Stoke 1-0 Hull

West Brom 1-0 Southampton