A quick fire Wayne Rooney [ Images ] hat-trick rescued Manchester United [ Images ] on Saturday as they went eight points clear at the top of the Premier League after coming from two goals down to beat West Ham United 4-2.

Sloppy defensive mistakes looked like they might be costly as United found themselves 2-0 down in 25 minutes after Patrice Evra [ Images ] and Nemanja Vidic [ Images ] gave away penalties that Hammers midfielder Mark Noble converted.

Reinvigorated by the introduction of Javier Hernandez [ Images ] and Dimitar Berbatov [ Images ], United put themselves back in the match with a curling Rooney free kick midway through the second half before levelling through his low drive.

The England [ Images ] striker completed a 14-minute treble by converting a penalty given for Matthew Upson's unlucky handball before Hernandez put the seal on the fight back with a well-taken goal from close range.

United have 66 points from 31 games while second-placed Arsenal [ Images ] are on 58 having played two games fewer.