( CNN ) -- If Manchester United rallies to win the English Premier League , it might look back at Thursday 's Boxing Day clash at Hull as a turning point . United trailed 2-0 within 13 minutes against a side that had lost only one home game in the league all season but Wayne Rooney inspired a comeback and the Red Devils prevailed 3-2 for a fifth straight victory in all competitions . Rooney set up Chris Smalling , scored a stunner to make it 2-2 in the first half and was on hand to pressure James Chester as the defender headed the own goal winner in the second half . Chester -- briefly a United player -- had opened the scoring and was thwarted in injury time by keeper David De Gea as Hull pushed forward in the dying stages . United finished the game with 10 men after Antonio Valencia 's late red . Defending champion United , once 13 points off the pace in the Premier League , moved to within five of leader Liverpool ahead of Thursday 's later kickoffs . `` We had some poor results at the start of the season and we 're showing some real quality in the last few weeks , '' Rooney told Sky Sports . `` We 're having a go . We 're fighting for each other , we 're working hard and we 're ready for the challenge . `` Hopefully we can surprise a few people . '' Chester took advantage of slack marking in the United box on a corner to lash a shot into the roof of the net in the fourth minute and United defender Jonny Evans failed to clear in the 13th , allowing David Meyler to double the lead on a low effort that deflected off the Northern Irishman . `` It was my fault for the first one , '' said Rooney . But Rooney 's perfect delivery teed up Smalling in the 19th minute and the England striker scored his 150th Premier League goal for Manchester United with a volley in the 26th minute . Alex Bruce -- the son of Hull manager and former United defender Steve Bruce -- struck the crossbar as United 's defense wobbled again in the 63rd minute before Chester 's gaffe from Ashley Young 's dangerous cross in the 66th . Hull had more than a few opportunities to equalize in the final 10 minutes . Danny Graham 's tame header went straight to De Gea , the Spaniard 's poor punch led to panic and following Valencia 's second yellow for kicking the ball away in the 90th minute , De Gea stopped Chester with his legs .
Manchester United beats Hull 3-2 for a fifth straight win in all competitions . United trailed 2-0 within 13 minutes before Wayne Rooney sparks a comeback . The result lifts the Red Devils to second place and puts them three points clear of second-placed Arsenal with two games remaining. It was only the second home defeat of the season for Steve Bruce 's Hull .