Rooney ends goal drought as United climb to third

Manchester United's Columbian forward Radamel Falcao (front) falls after a foul by Sunderland's English defender Wes Brown (back, L) and Sunderland's Irish defender John O'Shea (back, R) for a penalty during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Sunderland at Old Trafford

Wayne Rooney ended his eight-game Premier League scoring drought with a brace as Manchester United climbed back above Arsenal into third with a 2-0 victory against a dogged Sunderland on Saturday.

United were booed during stages of another underwhelming first half at Old Trafford but Rooney, restored to his favoured forward position, dispatched a 66th-minute penalty after Radamel Falcao was impeded by John O'Shea.