And there was I tweeting how Wayne Rooney’s zip was missing and how, had I been manager of Manchester United, he would have been back in the Upton Park dugout. Within seconds I was a Twitter embarrassment. Rooney had curled his first goal into the back of the Wet Ham net. There would be two more and a fourth from Javier Hernandez.

It was yet another example of the indefatigable nature of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team. At two nil down he sent them out in the second half with the instruction just to play. That, of course, was the message delivered by Sir Matt Busby 50 years ago. Just play.

You wonder how Busby would have dealt with Rooney after the brainless close-up to camera following the penalty that sealed his hat-trick? George Best gave Busby sleepless nights but never imposed a hooligan reflex upon the nation.
    
Rooney’s boneheaded tendencies apart, it was a good weekend for United.Chelsea’s draw at Stoke and Arsenal’s at home to Blackburn shifted the championship momentum back towards Old Trafford. The London clubs have both made much of their games in hand but as Saturday’s experience demonstrates, assuming points is not the same as winning them.
    
Arsenal must hope that the Champions League quarter-final between Chelsea and United, the first leg of which takes place at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, has a negative impact on their Premier League form. United have traditionally suffered on Saturday’s following European away fixtures but that might not be quite the drain on this occasion since the travel is not disruptive. The fact that two English teams are involved might, however, prove more taxing emotionally.
    
United played their best 45 minutes away from Old Trafford at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League and Rooney scored with a collector’s item. The Chelsea fightback was ignited by David Luiz. His absence in the Champions League might persuade United to go after Chelsea as they did Arsenal in 2009, when Ferguson surprised Arsene Wenger’s team with a sense of adventure at the Emirates.
    
Ferguson was able to win with a weakened team at West Ham. Chelsea and Arsenal were full strength and failed. That is the hallmark of Ferguson’s management, his ability to recycle without sustaining too much damage. A home game follows the European engagement, which is also a benefit, though Fulham will not donate points.
    
Chelsea host Wigan on Saturday, Arsenal visit Blackpool. Wins on paper? They better not fall for that thinking again.