Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (pictured in a red jersey) retained his top spot in the FTBL World Ranking of strikers as United handed Tottenham Hotspur their first defeat in the new season (3:1) and threw into doubt their claim to top-four status this season.

Despite the high plank of 21.70 rating points he had to beat in the game, and an ominous beginning to the game that saw Spurs striker Jermain Defoe (136.16 points) open the score, Rooney managed to score the third in the dying minutes after United had rallied throw Ryan Giggs (72.36 points) and Brazilian Anderson (59.24 points). Rooney earned 3.47 rating points to boost his tally to 209.48 points.

The England international is now awaiting Wednesday’s Champions League game against Turkey’s  Besiktas J.K. with added confidence: he will be credited the 0.5 rating point he dropped in the 0:1 loss to Burnley in Premier League action.