Soccer-United bite back as Chester's big day turns sour

LONDON, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Hull City's James Chester experienced the full spectrum of emotions as he scored against former club Manchester United on Thursday before his own goal sealed victory for the champions. The 24-year-old defender, who made a solitary League Cup appearance for United in 2009 before joining Hull a year later, pounced to put Hull in front after four minutes but his Christmas turned sour when he later headed into his own net. Even then his day could have had a fairytale ending but his stoppage-time shot was saved by David de Gea when he had looked poised to equalise. Chester looked distraught after heading Ashley Young's dangerous cross past his keeper and manager Steve Bruce had some sympathy for his player. "James Chester was a young player at Manchester United and when he scored he was in dreamland and he had a chance at the death to get a result," Bruce told Sky Sports. "He put one in his own net. We've all done it and he'll have to live with that but he'll get over it because he's a very good young player." When Chester scored and David Meyler made it 2-0 it looked as though Bruce, who is yet to taste victory against his old club as a manager, would finally get one over the Old Trafford side. However, quickfire goals from Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney levelled it up before halftime and Chester's own goal on 66 minutes sealed victory for United. "Over the years I've been close a few times to beating them but never 2-0 up against them within 15 minutes and the one thing we've been able to do since I've been here is hold a lead," Bruce said. "We made too many mistakes at crucial times. We created umpteen opportunities in the second half but we made mistakes and you get punished against a team like Manchester United." (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Justin Palmer)