United go 15 points clear as City slip up at Goodison

Manchester United inched a step closer to their 20th domestic league title with a 1-0 win at home to Reading  that pushed their lead over defending champions Manchester City to 15 points.

It was a lackluster performance from the league leaders in the late kick-off of the day. In spite of playing a near full strength team, the Red Devils managed just the solitary goal, Wayne Rooney's shot taking a deflection en route to goal to secure 3 points for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Alexander Buttner & Chris Smalling came in for regular full-backs Patrice Evra & Rafael respectively. Michael Carrick & Tom Cleverley were also given a rest as Anderson & Ryan Giggs started in the middle of the park. Robin van Persie, Rooney & Danny Welbeck all started in a full-strength forward line.

It was Rooney who got the goal on 21 minutes, but all credit should go to Rio Ferdinand who showed just why he has been recalled into the England set up with a brilliant forward run from defence that caught Reading napping. He managed to lay the ball off to his English compatriot, whose scuffed shot into the ground took a deflection and looped over Adam Federici in goal. Otherwise, it was a dull affair in which United's centre-backs Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic starred repelling every attack from the visitors. Vidic was lucky though not to have conceded a penalty for a push on Adrian Mariappa during a corner in the 2nd half.

City fire blanks in loss to 10-man Everton

Everton rebounded superbly from their humbling exit in the FA Cup last week, to beat champions City 2-0 at home. It was an inspired performance from David Moyes' side in complete contrast to last week when they were jeered off the ground by their own fans. Leon Osman's pile-driver of a shot from 30 yards out gave the Toffees the lead.

Missing the services of captain Vincent Kompany & start striker Sergio Aguero, City were helped in their attempt to recover the situation when Steven Pienaar was sent off for a second bookable offence giving the champions a numerical advantage. However, Everton defended stoutly to snuff out the visitors before Nikica Jelavic put the result to bed late in stoppage time. City had a penalty claim in the 86th minute waived off when the ball struck Marouane Fellaini's arm inside the penalty box, but the referee deemed that it had occurred outside the D and awarded only a free-kick.

This is the fourth straight defeat for City at Goodison Park in what has become a graveyard fixture for them. It was also David Moyes' 6th victory over Roberto Mancini, the most by any opposing manager in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson is second on the list with 3 wins.

Saints march towards safety

Southampton completed an impressive 3-1 win over Liverpool at St.Mary's to further their chances of surviving the drop. Liverpool were undone by a superb performance from Mauricio Pochettino's side that saw them dominate the first half. Goals from Morgan Schneiderlin and Ricky Lambert gave the hosts a much deserved 2-0 win and Southampton could very well have gone out of sight with better use of the chances that they created with the pairing of Adam Lallana & Gaston Ramirez taking Liverpool apart. Philippe Coutinho grabbed one back for Liverpool on the stroke of half-time to give them hopes of a revival.

The second half was a more even affair and Liverpool had their chances to pull level in the first 15 minutes. Southampton though got back in the game with better possession and when Jay Rodriguez scored the home side's third, it appeared to knock the stuffing out of the visitors. Southampton with the win go 7 points clear of the drop zone.

Villans emerge victorious in relegation scrap

Aston Villa won their 2nd game on the bounce, a thrilling 3-2 win over fellow relegation contenders QPR. QPR's heroes from last week, Jermaine Jenas and Andros Townsend were again on the score-sheet  but they were pipped to the post by Paul Lambert's Villa side.

Harry Redknapp had led QPR to 2 successive wins themselves coming into the game made the early running as Chris Samba went close to giving them the lead off set pieces on numerous occasions  Jenas did give them the lead on 23 minutes when he finished off a rebound off of Bobby Zamora's initial shot. Villa were toothless for much of the first half, but like last week, Gabriel Agbonhalor popped up with a goal in first half injury time to level the game.

Andreas Weimann then gave Villa the lead 14 minutes after the restart before Townsend scored for the 2nd game running to make it 2-2. The game looked to be heading for a draw when Weimann who had an impressive game, cut the ball back from the right to lay it into star striker Christian Benteke's path who made no mistake with the finish.


Arsenal boost Champions League hopes

An impressive away performance at Swansea saw Arsene Wenger's side emerge 2-0 victors from the Liberty stadium. They had lost by the exact same scoreline to the Swans in their first meeting at the Emirates. The hosts had the better of the opening exchanges, but Arsenal grew into the game as it progressed and looked much the sharper in the 2nd half. A first goal for Nacho Monreal broke the deadlock in the 75th minute before substitute Gervinho made sure of the points with an 89th minute strike. It was the second impressive away performance in a week that Wenger can take heart from after their 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena in Germany on Wednesday.

Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion played out a 0-0 draw in the other game on Saturday.

Sunday's fixtures
Sunderland vs Norwich City
Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham
Chelsea vs West Ham United
Wigan Athletic vs Newcastle United

Barclays Premier League Results: March 09

With the big names missing in action due to FA Cup commitments, the Barclays Premier League saw the mid-table and relegation embattled teams take the field on Saturday.

West Brom 2-1 Swansea

The meeting between the Baggies and the Swans was really a game of two halves. Swansea were much the better side in the first half as they were content to sit back and hit West Brom on the counter. Michu spurned an easy chance early, but Luke Moore gave the visitors the lead on 33 minutes with a glancing header off a Jonathan de Guzman corner. West Brom couldn't get much going, but equalized through Romelu Lukaku 5 minutes from half-time when the Belgian ghosted into the penalty area to get in front of Gary Monk and slide in Graham Dorran's cross. The second half was a scrappy affair as neither side could get any sort of rhythm going and it suited the home side better as the Swans struggled to get going. Lukaku had a penalty saved but the hosts eventually did take the lead in the 66th minute when De Guzman headed into his own goal. Swansea were unlucky to not get anything from the game as substitute Roland Lamah found the back of the net in the 87^th minute, only for referee Lee Mason to have the goal disallowed for offside though replays showed otherwise.

QPR 3-1 Sunderland

QPR won two games back to back for the first time since December 1995 in a come from behind win over Sunderland at home. Rangers had three of their January signings to thank starting with Loic Remy who started the recovery when a friendly deflection saw the ball reach his feet, as he delivered a composed finish past Simon Mignolet for his 3^rd goal for Rangers. Steven Fletcher had earlier given the Black Cats the lead tapping in an Adam Johnson low cross. The teams went in level at the break before Andros Townsend unleashed an absolute screamer, unleashing a looping volley from 25 yards out, to put the Hoops in front. Jermaine Jenas then finished the job with a another long range effort from just outside the box to cap off a much needed win and 3 points for the London side. The win sees QPR move to 19^th, ahead of Reading on goal difference.

Reading 1-2 Aston Villa

The Madejski stadium played host to a relegation six pointer as Reading welcomed fellow strugglers Aston Villa. All 3 goals in the game were scored by Villa players, Nathan Baker putting through his own net to give the Royals the lead on 32 minutes. But, Villa failed to buckle and responded in fine fashion as leading marksman Christian Benteke leveled a minute later. Gabriel Agbonhalor then turned the game in Villa’s favor with a goal that almost ripped out the net in injury time in the first half. Paul Lambert’s men then held on in the 2^nd half to secure victory which saw them climb out of the bottom three and into 17^th place.

Norwich City 0-0 Southampton

The game at Carrow Road ended goalless, but not for lack of chances. Southampton were the better team on the day and fashioned many more chances than the home side who had goalkeeper Mark Bunn to thank as he pulled off a series of saves to keep Norwich in the game. The hosts chances were few and far between as the Saints took control of the game and threatened to come away from Carrow Road with a win. Jay Rodriguez, Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana all had chances to score, but found the firm hands of Bunn in the way. The game saw some late drama when Norwich were awarded a penalty for a foul on Grant Holt in stoppage time. But Artur Boruc saved Holt’s penalty to ensure both teams shared a point on a rainy afternoon in Norwich. 

PREMIER LEAGUE Results: Sat, March 2nd

Manchester United 4-0 Norwich City

Shinji Kagawa's became the first Asian player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League as his well taken goals along with one for Wayne Rooney took United 15 points clear at the top of the league with Manchester City playing away at Aston Villa on Monday night. Rooney who started up top with leading scorer Robin van Persie had a stellar game providing 2 assists and rounding off proceedings with a thunderous finish. Kagawa though was the undoubted star for a classy performance filled with some sublime finishing in front of goal.

Chelsea 1-0 West Bromwich Albion

Demba Ba on his return to the Chelsea starting line-up scored the only goal of the game as his first half strike was enough to see the Blues hold on to a narrow victory at home. Playing without their lead striker Romelu Lukaku, West Brom did fashion a few chances but the Blues saw off a nervy last few minutes to take 3 points that puts them temporarily back in third place. Following manager Rafa Benitez's outburst midweek, there were banners mocking his 'Interim manager' status and seeking his exit, but the protests quietened down once the game began.

Wigan Athletic 0-4 Liverpool

Luis Suarez's hat-trick saw Liverpool rout Wigan at the DW stadium emerging victorious by 4 goals after Stewart Downing opened the scoring with a header in the 2nd minute. The win takes Liverpool 7th in the table within 3 points of city rivals Everton.  With the 3 goals, Suarez is now the leading scorer in the league with 21 goals moving 2 ahead of Van Persie.

Everton 3-1 Reading

Everton eased to a comfortable home win against relegation embattled Reading with goals from Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas that saw them end a run of 4 league games without a win. Everton dominated the game and though Robson Kanu grabbed one back for the Royals, it was merely compensation.

Southampton 1-2 QPR

Harry Redknapp's campaign to keep QPR in the top flight received a much needed boost as Rangers came away from St.Mary's with a precious win in a relegation 6-pointer. Loic Remy returned to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in the last couple of games and gave QPR the lead. Gaston Ramirez then levelled for the Saints when Julio Cesar spilled Jay Rodriguez's shot on the stroke of half-time. Jay Bothroyd then popped up with the winner for QPR in the 74th minute tapping in a Park Ji-Sung cross. Rangers are still bottom though 3 points off Reading in 19th place. Southampton remain 16th thanks to Wigan's loss against Liverpool.

Sunderland 2-2 Fulham

Sunderland fought back from 2 goals down to grab a point as their home game against Fulham ended 2-2. Dimitar Berbatov gave Fulham the lead through a coolly taken penalty literally passing the ball into net. Fulham then doubled their lead through Sascha Riether, but Sunderland hit back immediately with a penalty of their own which Craig Gardner converted. Stephane Sessegnon, who put in a man of the match performance for the Black Cats, then scored the equalizer in the 70th minute, finishing off a move that started and ended with him.

Swansea 1-0 Newcastle United

Substitute Luke Moore's late strike gave League Cup champions Swansea City a narrow win over form team Newcastle United. The 85th minute strike gave the Swans a hard-fought win in their return to league action after their demolition of Bradford in the League Cup final last Sunday.

Stoke City 0-1 West Ham United

Substitute Jack Collison's goal in the dying minutes of the first half was enough for West Ham to hold on for a rare away win in their clash against Stoke at the Britannia stadium. Both teams had been struggling for form , West Ham with the win move level on points with Stoke on 33.