HISTORY MAN
Rooney hits 200th goal to haunt old rivals City
WAYNE ROONEY stunned 10-man Manchester City with his 200th Premier League goal last night — then set his sights on an England return.
Rooney said: ‘It was a sweet moment. I’m sure the red half of Manchester will enjoy that as well.’
England manager Gareth Southgate was watching in the stands as he prepares to name his squad on Thursday for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia.
On possible selection, Rooney added: ‘We’ll see. I’ll speak to Gareth Southgate over the next few days, we’ll have a
conversation and see what happens. I’m just concentrating on Everton.’ Both teams finished the game with 10 men after City’s new £54million defender Kyle Walker and Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin were both booked twice in controversial circumstances by referee Bobby Madley. City manager Pep Guardiola was clearly unhappy with Madley’s decision to show Walker a second yellow before half-time for barging into Dominic Calvert-Lewin. It came less than two minutes after booking him for a foul on Leighton Baines. Guardiola approached fourth official Michael Oliver in the tunnel at the interval but refused to discuss the officials afterwards. ‘We had a meeting and we said we cannot speak with the referees,’ said the City boss. ‘You cannot ask. I’m not going to talk about the referees. I’m sad because we wanted to start well at home. ‘No one can say we didn’t try but the result was not good enough.’ Everton manager Ronald Koeman claimed Walker was harshly treated and that Madley was atoning for his error when he showed Schneiderlin a second yellow for a foul on Sergio Aguero. ‘The Walker one was doubtful,’ said Koeman. ‘I was in a better position for the second yellow of Walker and he played the ball. But away at City, sending off a player of City and you know what the referee will do then.’ Rooney said: ‘Before the game a point would have been good, but we are a bit frustrated. We felt we could see the game out, maybe get another goal. But give City credit, they changed positions and made it difficult for us with some big chances.’