Berbatov brace keeps Man U on top
Source: Agencies |
December 28, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A BULGARIAN, an Argentine and a Dutchman lit up the start of England's traditional festive fixture bonanza as unbeaten Manchester United tightened its grip at the top of the Premier League on Sunday.
Dimitar Berbatov struck both goals for United in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland as Alex Ferguson's team emerged from a two-week layoff caused by the icy winter weather that has played havoc with the sporting calendar.
United leads the table with 37 points from 17 games, with Manchester City up into second spot with 35 from 19 after Argentina striker Carlos Tevez netted twice in its 3-1 victory at Newcastle United.
Third-placed Arsenal can move back ahead of City when it hosts champion Chelsea, in fourth, late yesterday.
Tottenham Hotspur stayed in touch with the leading quartet after Dutch playmaker Rafael van der Vaart scored both goals in a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.
Spurs, who played for more than an hour with 10 men after Jermain Defoe was sent off, have 30 points from 18 games.
Bolton Wanderers is sixth on 29 points after beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0. Stoke City overcame Blackburn Rovers 2-0, while Carlton Cole struck twice to help West Ham United off the bottom with a 3-1 victory at Fulham.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are now propping up the table after losing 1-2 at home to Wigan Athletic.
Bulgarian Berbatov returned to United's starting line-up after being left out against Arsenal two weeks ago and took just five minutes to make his mark, heading in a cross from Wayne Rooney at the end of a flowing move.
United should have sealed the points before halftime according to manager Ferguson, who described some of its play as "fantastic", but had to wait until the 57th minute for Berbatov to double the advantage with a deflected shot.
Often maligned as not hard-working enough, Berbatov's goals have kept United on track this season as Rooney has struggled to find his shooting boots.
Scoring charts
With 13 league goals, Berbatov leads the top flight's scoring charts.
Just two weeks after handing in a transfer request that he later retracted, former United striker Tevez showed exactly why he is vital to City's ambitions. Tevez doubled City's lead after Gareth Barry opened the scoring and later killed off a Newcastle revival after the break to take his league tally to 12 goals this season.
Andy Carroll enhanced his growing reputation with Newcastle's reply.
Tottenham's long run without a clean sheet continued - it has not posted a shutout since the opening day of the season - but Van der Vaart kept Harry Redknapp's side in contention with two well-taken goals.
Villa must be sick of the sight of the Dutchman who also scored twice in Tottenham's 2-1 home defeat of the Midlands club in October. Van der Vaart scored either side of Defoe's red card for what was deemed to be an elbow by the England striker.
The snow and ice that has disrupted Britain in recent weeks meant Blackpool's pitch was unfit for its home match against Liverpool, and Everton's Goodison Park game against Birmingham City was also postponed.
Dimitar Berbatov struck both goals for United in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland as Alex Ferguson's team emerged from a two-week layoff caused by the icy winter weather that has played havoc with the sporting calendar.
United leads the table with 37 points from 17 games, with Manchester City up into second spot with 35 from 19 after Argentina striker Carlos Tevez netted twice in its 3-1 victory at Newcastle United.
Third-placed Arsenal can move back ahead of City when it hosts champion Chelsea, in fourth, late yesterday.
Tottenham Hotspur stayed in touch with the leading quartet after Dutch playmaker Rafael van der Vaart scored both goals in a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.
Spurs, who played for more than an hour with 10 men after Jermain Defoe was sent off, have 30 points from 18 games.
Bolton Wanderers is sixth on 29 points after beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0. Stoke City overcame Blackburn Rovers 2-0, while Carlton Cole struck twice to help West Ham United off the bottom with a 3-1 victory at Fulham.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are now propping up the table after losing 1-2 at home to Wigan Athletic.
Bulgarian Berbatov returned to United's starting line-up after being left out against Arsenal two weeks ago and took just five minutes to make his mark, heading in a cross from Wayne Rooney at the end of a flowing move.
United should have sealed the points before halftime according to manager Ferguson, who described some of its play as "fantastic", but had to wait until the 57th minute for Berbatov to double the advantage with a deflected shot.
Often maligned as not hard-working enough, Berbatov's goals have kept United on track this season as Rooney has struggled to find his shooting boots.
Scoring charts
With 13 league goals, Berbatov leads the top flight's scoring charts.
Just two weeks after handing in a transfer request that he later retracted, former United striker Tevez showed exactly why he is vital to City's ambitions. Tevez doubled City's lead after Gareth Barry opened the scoring and later killed off a Newcastle revival after the break to take his league tally to 12 goals this season.
Andy Carroll enhanced his growing reputation with Newcastle's reply.
Tottenham's long run without a clean sheet continued - it has not posted a shutout since the opening day of the season - but Van der Vaart kept Harry Redknapp's side in contention with two well-taken goals.
Villa must be sick of the sight of the Dutchman who also scored twice in Tottenham's 2-1 home defeat of the Midlands club in October. Van der Vaart scored either side of Defoe's red card for what was deemed to be an elbow by the England striker.
The snow and ice that has disrupted Britain in recent weeks meant Blackpool's pitch was unfit for its home match against Liverpool, and Everton's Goodison Park game against Birmingham City was also postponed.
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