SUNDERLAND: Manchester United were left two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea after being held to a goalless draw away to Sunderland yesterday.
Alex Ferguson’s men could not find a way past the defence of a strong Sunderland side managed by Steve Bruce who was without striker Danny Welbeck, as the youngster was not eligible to feature against his parent club.
Anton Ferdinand had only just returned from a hamstring injury and was made to settle on the bench. Kieran Richardson and John Mensah were out with hamstring and calf injuries respectively. The home side had quite a few chances to break the deadlock, with Steed Malbranque, Boudewijn Zenden and Darren Bent coming close, but it was a stalemate at the end of 90 minutes plus added time.
Villa’s run ended by Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur ended Aston Villa’s winning run under Gerard Houllier with a Rafael van der Vaart double inspiring a 2-1 victory. Villa, who had won their two previous league matches under French boss Houllier, took a 16th-minute lead at White Hart Lane after Marc Albrighton tapped in Emile Heskey’s cross at the far post. But Spurs were back on level terms shortly before half-time when van der Vaart headed home at the far post after Roman Pavlyuchenko’s cross was nodded back across goal by Peter Crouch. And the Netherlands midfielder fired Spurs into the lead 15 minutes from time.
Toffees climb out of sticky situation
Everton moved off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone as they won 2-0 away to Birmingham City for their first Premier League victory of the season. Everton scored their first away goal of the season when Leon Osman’s cross was turned into his own net by Birmingham defender Roger Johnson in the 54th minute. Australia’s Tim Cahill sealed Everton’s victory when he headed home in the 90th minute.
Stoke out-muscle Blackburn
Stoke City edged Blackburn Rovers 1-0 to win the battle of the Premier League’s most physically imposing teams yesterday and move up to seventh place in the table. A goal by Jon Walters three minutes into the second period was the difference between the sides, but defeat for Rovers would have been much heavier had it not been for the resilience of goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Stoke are now unbeaten in four league games and climb eight places from 15th, while Blackburn slip from ninth to 12th.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2010.
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