United deserve to be top, says Ferguson

Odemwingie bags winner for West Brom.

BOLTON: Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United have earned the right to lead the Premier League table because they have had a tougher start to the season.

The champions had already beaten Tottenham and Arsenal before the 5-0 win at Bolton kept them ahead of rivals Manchester City, who have faced Swansea, Bolton, Tottenham and Wigan so far.

United have now scored 18 goals in their four opening league games and lead the table on goal difference.

It means Ferguson’s side will approach next Sunday’s visit of Chelsea in an excellent frame of mind, and the Old Trafford boss knows a win against Andre Villas-Boas’ team will leave United in great shape.

“You just have to concentrate on yourselves,” said Ferguson. “It’s a difficult start to the season, we’ve got all the bigger names. We’ve got Chelsea next Sunday. It’s a hectic start and if we come through it, we’ll have done well.”

West Brom end run of defeats

West Brom secured their first points of the Premier League season as an early goal from Peter Odemwingie helped them beat Norwich 1-0 at Carrow Road.

He opened the scoring in the third minute after confusion in the Norwich defence but then went from hero to zero as his second-half penalty was saved by Norwich goal-keeper Declan Rudd.

That spot-kick miss could not spark a Norwich fightback however, and Roy Hodgson’s team held on to end a run of three successive defeats.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th,  2011.