United close gap as Chelsea crash again

No solace for Arsenal as bitter-rivals Spurs claimed victory.

LONDON: Manchester United piled the pressure on Chelsea with a 2-0 win over nine-man Wigan, while the Premier League leaders crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham. Sir Alex Ferguson’s second-placed side are now level on points with Chelsea and only goal difference is keeping United behind the champions, who suffered their third defeat in four matches. Elsewhere, Tottenham clinched a 3-2 win over bitter rivals Arsenal.

At St Andrew’s, Chelsea, without injured England stars John Terry and Frank Lampard, fell behind in the 17th minute when Lee Bowyer produced a fine finish from Cameron Jerome’s header to notch his first goal in nearly a year. The Blues laid seige to Birmingham’s goal after that but could not find a way past England goal-keeper Ben Foster as their poor run continued.

Meanwhile, United took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Patrice Evra headed in Park Ji-Sung’s cross for his first Premier League goal in four years. Mexico striker Javier Hernandez ensured United pushed home their numerical advantage when he headed home Rafael da Silva ‘s cross in the 77th minute.

Tottenham trailed to goals from Arsenal’s Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh at half-time. But Gareth Bale reduced the deficit for the visitors, who equalised through Rafael van der Vaart’s penalty before Younes Kaboul headed the winner with five minutes left to give Spurs their first victory at Arsenal since 1993.

In other matches, Blackpool won 2-1 against Wolverhampton, Bolton triumphed 5-1 against Newcastle and West Brom lost 3-0 to Stoke.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2010.