United joins beaten City at Premier League summit
Source: Agencies |
February 2, 2012, Thursday
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EX-MANCHESTER United midfielder Darron Gibson did his old club a huge favor by scoring the winner for Everton in a 1-0 victory over Premier League leader Manchester City, while United moved level on points at the top after beating Stoke City 2-0.
Ireland midfielder Gibson left United to move to Goodison Park earlier this month and his fierce strike on the hour, which took a slight deflection, proved decisive. United, which trails its rival on goal difference, eased past Stoke thanks to two penalties at Old Trafford from Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.
City and United have 54 points from 23 matches, five ahead of Tottenham Hotspur which thumped Wigan Athletic 3-1.
A stoppage-time own goal by Neil Taylor rescued a point for fourth-placed Chelsea, on 42 points, which escaped from Swansea City's Liberty stadium with a 1-1 draw.
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll ended his goal drought to help fire the Anfield side up one place to fifth, above inactive Arsenal, after a 3-0 victory at struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers which remains in the bottom three.
Carroll, who has failed to impress since his big-money move a year ago, broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half with his first goal in 12 league games before Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt rewarded Liverpool's dominance.
Dejected City manager Roberto Mancini said he had underestimated mid-table Everton.
"Probably, probably, probably," the Italian said after he was asked if he had taken Everton too lightly. "Maybe it's my fault because I prepared, maybe, bad for this game ... It is very important that we win our next game against Fulham."
The leaders enjoyed plenty of possession but created few openings to trouble the home defense.
Everton, which paraded new signing Nikica Jelavic at halftime after the Croatia striker's move from Rangers, almost broke through early on but Joleon Lescott was well positioned on the goalline to clear Denis Stracqualursi's close-range header.
The match was halted for around four minutes late in the first half when a fan went on to the pitch and handcuffed himself to a goalpost.
Ireland midfielder Gibson left United to move to Goodison Park earlier this month and his fierce strike on the hour, which took a slight deflection, proved decisive. United, which trails its rival on goal difference, eased past Stoke thanks to two penalties at Old Trafford from Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.
City and United have 54 points from 23 matches, five ahead of Tottenham Hotspur which thumped Wigan Athletic 3-1.
A stoppage-time own goal by Neil Taylor rescued a point for fourth-placed Chelsea, on 42 points, which escaped from Swansea City's Liberty stadium with a 1-1 draw.
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll ended his goal drought to help fire the Anfield side up one place to fifth, above inactive Arsenal, after a 3-0 victory at struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers which remains in the bottom three.
Carroll, who has failed to impress since his big-money move a year ago, broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half with his first goal in 12 league games before Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt rewarded Liverpool's dominance.
Dejected City manager Roberto Mancini said he had underestimated mid-table Everton.
"Probably, probably, probably," the Italian said after he was asked if he had taken Everton too lightly. "Maybe it's my fault because I prepared, maybe, bad for this game ... It is very important that we win our next game against Fulham."
The leaders enjoyed plenty of possession but created few openings to trouble the home defense.
Everton, which paraded new signing Nikica Jelavic at halftime after the Croatia striker's move from Rangers, almost broke through early on but Joleon Lescott was well positioned on the goalline to clear Denis Stracqualursi's close-range header.
The match was halted for around four minutes late in the first half when a fan went on to the pitch and handcuffed himself to a goalpost.
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