SOCCER: It was not until yesterday's Manchester derby lurched into stoppage time that Wayne Rooney bowed to the abuse raining down on him from the stands. The chorus of "Once a blue . . ." spat from the home fans prompted a wry smile, a nod of the head and, finally, a flicked reminder of the 2-0 scoreline to those behind the goal. He would have been better to appear oblivious to the end.

This was a mere taster of the vitriol that will greet Rooney on his return to Goodison Park in the Cup on Saturday, so his reaction, however slight and belated, was troubling.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with my discipline," muttered the striker. "I've had four yellow cards all year; I had 11 last season."

The fourth was flashed before half-time here for a foul on Richard Dunne and, while he maintained his composure for the rest of this contest, he was riled at the end.

It may seem churlish to be overly critical of a teenager subjected to such poison every week, but the reality is that, if selected, Rooney will have to restrain his natural instincts to be the calmest figure in a cauldron of hate at Everton in a few days.

Resentment has festered on Merseyside since his summer move to Manchester United. Those who once hailed him from the sidelines at Everton will have noted how he was provoked here.

They must recognise, too, that, temperament aside, he invariably revels in such adversity, and that will prompt shivers of apprehension at what the striker may inspire in the FA Cup fifth-round tie this weekend.

He has scored six times in eight games, and this match was meandering until Rooney turned in Gary Neville's cross, via Dunne.

And it was his centre which the hapless former Everton defender later deflected into his net to settle the contest.

"Wayne has been fantastic," said Alex Ferguson. "He's getting better all the time. He can raise his game when it really matters, which is what great players can do. "He's got wonderful self-confidence and belief in himself. He and Cristiano Ronaldo are going to be great players. He rises to the challenge of big games like this."

Victory stretched United's unbeaten league run to 16 matches, 13 of which have been won, though they remain nine points off the summit. It also avenged last year's 4-1 defeat here.

Kevin Keegan, a manager who once saw a 12-point advantage dwindle to United while at Newcastle, insisted the title race was still on.

"It's possible for Chelsea to lose three games," he insisted, "though it'll be tougher for United to win all their matches."