One down, two to go for United

WHAT MORE is there left to say about the irrepressible Wayne Rooney?

He was left on the bench for the Carling Cup Final against Aston Villa with a sore knee and a stomach upset but such is his energy and hunger that he still came off it to win the trophy for Manchester United and underline just how far he has come since first lifting the trophy four years ago.

Rooney’s beautifully-placed header after 74 minutes gave United a 2-1 victory in the 50th anniversary of the League Cup and enabled United to successfully defend a trophy while also reminding the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea why the Old Trafford dynasty is so long-lasting.

Alex Ferguson’s safety-first decision to leave his talisman striker out of the team was greeted with raised eyebrows by many onlookers but as usual things seemed to work out for the United manager. Michael Owen’s injury after 42 minutes although disappointing gave Rooney an early chance to prove a point and he didn’t disappoint in a thoroughly entertaining game.

This competition has had its detractors over the years, in particular at Arsenal where they choose to play a youth team in every round, but looking back over half a century of finals it is also clear that England’s second cup competition can prove to be a springboard for future success – no wonder up-and-coming Aston Villa were so motivated for the occasion. Unfortunately, United are a club well aware of football history and of what winning trophies does for a team.

The League Cup was George Graham’s first trophy with Arsenal back in 1987, for instance, when his Gunners beat Liverpool 2-1 even though Ian Rush hit the net for the Anfield side – and in those days Liverpool never lost when Rushie scored.

Graham, of course, went on to build his formidable ‘one-nil to the Arsenal’ team on the back of that result and Jose Mourinho followed a similar path in 2005 when Chelsea beat Liverpool to earn the Portuguese coach his first trophy in England.

Rooney, too, has reason to remember the competition with fondness because it provided his first ever winners medal in a red shirt in 2006 when he scored in a 4-0 victory over Wigan.

The fact that he, and United, were so motivated to win it again says everything about why Ferguson’s team are so perennially successful – and you have to wonder if Arsene Wenger would be under a little less pressure at the Emirates if he adopted a similar approach.

Having said that, Ferguson’s decision to leave Rooney on the bench appeared to encourage Villa early on because they certainly started the match quickly, going ahead after only five minutes when Nemanja Vidic foolishly and unnecessarily tugged at Agbonlahor’s shirt and then completed the job by bringing him down.

Milner, who has been such a revelation for Villa since moving from the wing to centre-field as Gareth Barry’s replacement, converted the penalty with ease and Martin O’Neill’s men had the early advantage they so craved.

Unfortunately for them it didn’t last long because United levelled in the 12th minute and were the more constructive side for the remainder of the first half.

Their goal came thanks to a muscular run down the right from Berbatov and although Richard Dunne’s tackle appeared to have ended the danger the ball instead ran for Owen to sweep home with a first-time finish.

Having been given a rare chance to start a match for United it was a hugely important goal for the striker. But the footballing gods who smiled on him so regularly as a bright young thing at Liverpool seem to have turned their backs on Owen these days and instead he limped off with a hamstring injury after 42 minutes, bringing Rooney into play earlier than expected.

By that stage the game was finely balanced although United continued to create the better chances, Ji-Sun Park hitting the post just before half-time and Michae Carrick forcing Brad Friedel into a smart save shortly after the break.

Rooney, currently enjoying the hottest streak of form he has ever experienced, eventually made his presence felt in the 74th minute when Antonio Valencia collected a neat lay-off from Berbatov and crossed perfectly for Rooney to float a textbook header into the top corner of the net.

The striker headed against the post minutes later from another excellent Valencia cross and although Villa also struck the woodwork when Jonny Evans flicked a header onto his own crossbar, you have to conclude that United were worthy winners.

Villa, who could yet use this final as a springboard for their own ambitions, can be happy with their overall performance. But United, and Rooney in particular, have shown once again what it takes to be a winner. One trophy won, two more to aim for.

Match rating: **** – An exciting, free-flowing game that was a credit to the League Cup and which provided plenty of entertainment for both sets of fans

Referee: Phil Dowd 6 – He appeared to lose his senses in the first half but controlled the game better in the second. Correctly gave Villa an early penalty but why didn’t he even book Vidic?