Roo shows Van he’s still the man

CROUCH HEADS IN – CROWD NODS OFF

DEADLY Wayne Rooney answered Louis van Gaal’s call for goals at the double against 10- man Sunderland – with the help of referee Roger East.

The man in the middle correctly awarded the Reds a 63rd- minute spot- kick after John O’Shea tugged back Radamel Falcao in the box.

But East blundered by deciding Wes Brown was the guilty party and showed a straight red to the wrong man before Rooney calmly blasted home the penalty.

At least it was a chance for Rooney to show his Dutch boss that he didn’t know what he was talking about when he moaned that his club doesn’t have a natural goal- poacher as he made it 10 for the season.

And six minutes from time the England star repeated the trick when he stooped to head in from six yards after Costel Pantilimon parried Adnan Januzaj’s blast.

The goals also eased the pressure on United after last ARM THE MAN! Berahino salutes his winning goal week’s defeat at Swansea and a miserable opening hour against the Black Cats.

Fans were left frustrated by their team’s first- half show, and it might have been worse if Sunderland had taken one of their early chances.

Just six minutes had gone when Angel di Maria was robbed by Patrick van Aanholt, whose pass found Connor Wickham.

Dismal

The big forward sprinted to the edge of the box from where his shot was well saved by David de Gea.

Minutes later Rooney was caught by Lee Cattermole, leading to a Jermain Defoe shot which flew just over.

United shot themselves in the foot a third time when Falcao lost the ball to Brown which led to Defoe shooting and De Gea saving.

It was a dismal start from the Reds, although Rooney threatened when he headed wide from eight yards.

O’Shea might have been punished when he tangled in his area with Falcao as a Di Maria cross came over.

But when an Ashley Young corner ended with United passing the ball all the way back to their own keeper, the fans started the boos.

Finally the Reds got going and Young controlled a cross on his chest and turned to fire a powerful blast which was deflected onto the bar.

Marcos Rojo’s scrambled attempt was blocked near his own line by Seb Larsson as United finally threatened.

Mis- firing Di Maria was replaced with Januzaj at the break, but things didn’t get much better for United until the red card controversy.

Rojo and Januzaj blasted long shots over and, with the Black Cats tiring, Januzaj drew a couple of decent saves in between the two goals. TURNING POINT: Falcao is hauled back by O’Shea ( above), leaving Rooney to fire home from the spot

IMPACT: Peter Crouch