Man United climbed above Arsenal into third in the Premier League table for 24 hours at least with a 2-0 win at home to Sunderland.
But while it was a good day for the United captain, referee Roger East had a Saturday afternoon to forget.
East bizarrely decided to dismiss Sunderland's Wes Brown after awarding the spot-kick from which Rooney broke the deadlock, even though John O'Shea was clearly the man who pulled back Radamel Falcao in the penalty box.
The home fans at Old Trafford grew increasingly agitated after watching the latest sub-par performance from their star-studded team in the first half, but Rooney placated them with his controversial 66th-minute spot-kick.
And the United talisman rounded off the win with six minutes to go after he nodded in from close range.
West Brom took a giant leap towards safety after Saido Berahino condemned stuttering Southampton to a 1-0 defeat. The striker scored his 17th goal of the season with a brilliant half-volley after just 70 seconds to settle the game.
The Saints dominated possession but rarely threatened the Albion goal as the Baggies kept their seventh clean sheet in 10 games under head coach Tony Pulis.
The closest Southampton came to an equaliser was when Chris Brunt deflected Ryan Bertrand's second-half cross just wide.
West Brom are now eight points clear of the drop zone in 13th, having lost just once under Pulis.
Alan Pardew returned to Upton Park and saw his Crystal Palace side put West Ham United to the sword to increase the pressure on Sam Allardyce.
The 53-year-old spent three years as Hammers' boss and, whilst he has been back on several occasions, this will be one of the most memorable as Jason Puncheon inspired the Eagles to a 3-1 win -- although the victory was tainted as two-goal hero Glenn Murray was sent off in the second-half.
Murray had threatened on no less than three occasions before he opened the scoring courtesy of a huge piece of luck as the unwitting Aaron Cresswell mis-kicked the striker's header straight past Adrian. Scott Dann doubled the lead shortly after the break before Murray once again got his head to the ball first to make it three.
Murray got his second yellow of the match shortly afterwards and although Enner Valencia pulled a goal back the Hammers could not find a way back into the game.<
Papiss Cisse's 11th goal of the season handed Newcastle United a first home win of 2015 and plunged Aston Villa deeper into relegation trouble.
The Senegal international's assured 37th-minute finish, which came against the run of play at St James' Park, was enough to secure a 1-0 victory, just the second of head coach John Carver's reign.
However, Villa will feel desperately aggrieved not to have left Tyneside with something to show for their efforts after enjoying the better of the game for long periods and forcing keeper Tim Krul into two vital saves.
But when the final whistle sounded, it was the Magpies, much to the relief of the bulk of a crowd of 51,573, who emerged with the points as the visitors slipped to a seventh successive league defeat.
Peter Crouch scored the winner a minute after coming off the bench as Stoke defeated Hull 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium.
Crouch made an instant impact after being thrown on by Potters boss Mark Hughes with 20 minutes to go as the striker rose in the box to meet a fine delivery from fellow substitute Charlie Adam and send a header over Allan McGregor into the net for his ninth goal of the season and fourth in four appearances in all competitions.
The result is a sixth win in 11 league games for 10th-placed Stoke, while Hull's recent unbeaten run has been halted at three games.
A chaotic own goal from Burnley defender Kieran Trippier sealed another grim afternoon for the hosts as Swansea won 1-0 to steal the points at Turf Moor.
Trippier turned the ball past his own goalkeeper after a mighty goalmouth scramble in the 64th minute which largely summed up an untidy and uninspiring affair.
Not that it will matter to Garry Monk's buoyant visitors who seized their chance to build on last week's famous win over Manchester United and maintain their hopes of a top-10 finish.