Javier Hernandez once again became Manchester United's head boy to seal a victory over West Bromwich Albion.
The little Mexican's eighth goal of the season, 15 minutes from time, sealed a second Barclays Premier League away win and kept unbeaten United top of the table.
Wayne Rooney ended his nine-month wait for a goal in open play, James Morrison levelled with a brilliant volley and Peter Odemwingie missed a second-half penalty after Gary Neville had escaped conceding one before the break.
That United ended the match with Rooney limping badly following a tackle by Chris Brunt that initially led to him leaving the field, only added to the drama.
The hosts fell behind after just three minutes. More than most, Rooney had reason to be glad to see the back of 2010. It seems the New Year promises a new beginning for the 25-year-old.
As Gabriel Obertan laid the ball back for Patrice Evra to swing a cross to the far post, Rooney intelligently waited, then stooped slightly and headed the ball back to the far corner.
It was his first goal in open play since he scored an equally early effort in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich in March.
On that occasion, United failed to capitalise and so it was again.
The Red Devils were already on the back foot when Nemanja Vidic climbed above Odemwingie, but got insufficient power in his header to get it past Morrison.
As a former West Brom player, Kuszczak is used to the dimensions of the stadium. No amount of local knowledge could have helped him keep the 24-year-old's thunderbolt volley out.
The Baggies felt they should have had a penalty when Graham Dorrans raced into the area, with only Tomasz Kuszczak between him and the goal.
Gary Neville lunged in and as Dorrans went down, the stadium waited for a penalty and red card. But referee Chris Foy waved away the appeals.
West Brom shrugged off that disappointment and continued to enjoy the best of things.
Odemwingie was a repeated threat, as was Brunt, who went close with decent opportunities either side of the interval.
The penalty they should have had finally arrived seconds after a double United substitution that included Dimitar Berbatov being replaced by Hernandez.
Rio Ferdinand caught Thomas as the tricky wide-man cut inside to enter the box and this time Foy pointed to the spot
Although Odemwingie strode forward with confidence, there was none behind the actual kick, which rolled wide to groans of disappointment from the home support.
United had a penalty appeal of their own turned down as Thomas stuck out an elbow to block Fabio's cross.
A couple of minutes later, no-one in red really cared as Rooney dropped a corner on to Hernandez's head inside the six-yard box and the Mexican glanced home.
It was not quite all over for United, who had to survive a late pummelling, with Nemanja Vidic coming to their rescue with a magnificent clearance to deny Thomas, although the cost of victory could be high, depending on the extent on Rooney's injury.
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