Rooney's delight on a night of agony for the Devils.

MANCHESTER United's joy at their hard-earned Champions League win over Roma was tempered by the news that Owen Hargreaves is expected to be out for three to four weeks with tendonitis, writes RICH JONES.

The England midfielder pulled up with the injury in training on Monday and the United management team decided there was no option but to treat the problem with an injection. As a result he looks set to miss England's forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers with Estonia and Russia later this month.

Speaking after the 1-0 win at Old Trafford, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Owen has had an injection in his knee and he'll be out for three to four weeks.

"This is an option we had from the very start, and if it resurfaced again we (decided we) would do that. So he's had an injection to try to clear the tendonitis in his knee." Ferguson did, however, confirm that no operation would be necessary.

The news of Hargreaves' continuing injury problems was a rare negative on a generally productive night for the Red Devils. The win, courtesy of Wayne Rooney's brilliant 70th-minute goal, his first of the season, puts United clear at the top of their pool, and well on the way to Ferguson's 10-point target which he believes will seal qualification for the last 16.

Their second straight win was far from a straightforward affair, though, and Roma spurned a string of chances before and after Rooney struck. But Ferguson refused to countenance the idea that his side had been fortunate this time around against a team they thumped 7-1 at Old Trafford in the second leg of last season's quarter-finals.

"I'm pleased with the result, it's a fair result, we controlled most of the match, carried a little bit of luck towards the end when they started to risk to play for an equaliser," he insisted. "But I think in the main we deserved the result, in the first half we were too tactical and played with too much caution I think. The second half we improved and the goal was a fabulous goal - great movement, great passing, and the penetration we were looking for in the second half created the opening for Wayne, so it was an excellent goal."

Ferguson was, though, willing to admit to a certain amount of relief at the Italians' profligacy. "I was relieved. I think it would have been unfair but then football can be unfair," he said of Roma's missed chances. "I think we deserved that bit of luck because we played with good control, good football, good tactical awareness, so I was pleased with the performance."

He added: "Luck happens in football, no question about that. I think we got a break in the last 15 minutes of the match when they started to risk a bit." The quality of Rooney's winner was particularly satisfying for the Scot. After a burst of quick passing around the box, Nani prodded a deft through-ball to the striker and he did not think twice about hitting it across Gianluca Curci on the run.

The shot rebounded into the net off the inside of the post and Ferguson was delighted to see Rooney finally get off the mark for the season following his spell on the sidelines with a broken metatarsal.

"It was only his fourth match and he is still trying to get his rhythm and real match fitness, that happens when you only play a few games," he said. "But it will do him good, goals always do players good, particularly when goals are expected of them, so I'm pleased with that."

Cristiano Ronaldo was forced to leave the field before the end with a head wound and Ferguson confirmed the winger felt he had been elbowed by a Roma player.

The Portuguese needed four stitches to stem the flow of blood. However, it was Roma manager Luciano Spalletti who was left feeling bruised following a match he felt his side deserved to draw at the very least.

"Really this is a match where my players shouldn't be on the beaten side," he said. "Even when you are playing against opponents of Manchester United's stature, with the players they have."

There may have been no repeat of the epic magnificent seven the last time they met Roma, but United's latest victory over the Italians will be cherished almost as much.

Certainly Rooney will be looking back on the night's events with satisfaction as he finally made an impact on behalf of a misfiring United strikeforce.

'One-nil to the champions' may be a refrain more associated with Arsenal than United but this was their sixth such success of the campaign so far and, with maximum points from the opening two games in Group F, leaves Sir Alex Ferguson's men knowing four points from their double-header with Dynamo Kiev will take them through with two games to spare.

They had to survive two late scares, though, as Simone Perrotta and Mauro Esposito - at a time when United had been reduced to 10 men because of Ronaldo's departure after having used all three subs - both missed gilt-edged chances.

Perhaps the most unsurprising aspect of the night was no repeat of the stunning events that unfolded when the two sides last met here in April. By the 20-minute mark on that famous night, United were already three goals up and on their way to an eventual semi-final defeat against AC Milan.

Indeed, by the same point this time around there had barely been three shots as both sides exhibited a greater degree of caution, even if neither could be described as timid. But Rooney's strike made sure the game, at least, ended on a positive note.

MAN UTD: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Nani (Giggs 79), Saha (Tevez 66), Rooney (Anderson 84). Subs (not used): Heaton, Pique, Simpson, Eagles.

Goals: Rooney 70.

ROMA: Curci, Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto, De Rossi, Aquilani (Pizarro 61), Giuly (Esposito 79), Perrotta, Mancini (Vucinic 74), Totti. Subs (not used): Bertagnoli, Antunes, Barusso, Brighi.

Booked: Mexes.

Attendance: 73,652

Referee: Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).