Wayne Rooney's four goals lighten mood among angry Manchester United fans

The most open title race in recent memory took another turn when Manchester United became the third team in a week to lead the Premier League. Wayne Rooney scored all the goals in their 4-0 demolition of relegation-threatened Hull City. The England striker became the first United player to contribute four in a match since Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer in the 5-1 thrashing of Everton in December, 1999. In emulating the Norwegian's feat, Rooney lifted the defending champions above Arsenal, who themselves had displaced Chelsea at the top of the table in midweek. The player widely seen as key to England's World Cup aspirations took his total for the season to 19 goals in 21 league appearances. After scoring his first in the eighth minute, he had to wait until the 82nd for the second, then added two more, the last in added time. Sir Alex Ferguson, his grateful manager and No1 fan, said: "Wayne is obviously going to beat his previous record of 23 goals in a season. He's in great scoring form at the moment." Phil Brown, the Hull manager, said: "After what I've just witnessed, I'd have to say Rooney is one of the best players in the world." Rooney's heroics dramatically changed the mood at Old Trafford, which was not full for the first time for a league fixture this season, and where United supporters spent most of the afternoon berating the Glazer family, who own the club through a holding company mired in £716m of debt. Throughout the match the crowd chanted: "We love United, we hate the Glazers." In an attempt to quell this protest, which is expected to continue in Wednesday's decisive home leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Ferguson wrote in his programme notes: "The family of Manchester United is under pressure as a result of all the issues and controversies surrounding the ownership and financial situation of our club. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and to express disapproval if they don't like what they see around them. I'm not slow to express disapproval myself if there is something I don't agree with – even in the boardroom with the directors. But we mustn't allow the situation to become divisive. This is not about stifling criticism, it's simply a plea to stand together." There was unrest among supporters at Portsmouth, too – but also a possibility of good news for the Premier League's bottom club this week. Fratton Park sources say the club's transfer embargo should be lifted by tomorrow, and the expected sale of David Nugent and Mike Williamson would raise money for manager Avram Grant to spend. Fans voiced their anger at the club's plight before the FA Cup tie against Sunderland. The match, which Portsmouth won 2-1, was interrupted when two fans went on the pitch to make gestures at the directors' box.