After a week when Wayne Rooney hogged the headlines, his stand-in Javier Hernandez scored twice to secure Manchester United's first away win in the English Premier League this season when it triumphed 2-1 at Stoke City yesterday.

Rooney, whose stated desire to leave Old Trafford was followed by an immediate U-turn and a five-year contract, missed the game with an ankle injury but for the second week running his replacement, Hernandez, opened the scoring.

Last week United threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home with West Bromwich Albion, which, after four successive away draws, was its fifth stalemate in eight league games.

It looked like a sixth was on the cards after Tuncay Sanli canceled out Hernandez's opener in the 81st only for the Mexican to snatch the winner four minutes from time.

It took United's points tally to 17, level with second-placed Manchester City, which was hosting Arsenal later yesterday, and five behind leader Chelsea which beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 on Saturday.

Rooney, who turned 25 on Sunday, was reported to have flown to Dubai for a holiday while his ankle injury heals.

Tottenham Hotspur rose to third, seven points behind Chelsea, after Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart made it five goals in seven since joining the north London club.

The midfielder notched the equalizer in a 1-1 draw at home to improving Everton.

West Brom continued its dream start to life back in the top flight, moving into fourth place with a 2-1 home defeat of Fulham while Birmingham City beat Blackpool 2-0.

West Ham United stayed bottom after a 1-2 home defeat by Newcastle United.