United start 2013 with bang to keep City at bay
Manchester United kept a firm grip on the Premier League title race
by sweeping to a 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on the first day of 2013 to
maintain their seven-point lead.
Champions Manchester City remain United's nearest rivals after a 3-0
success at home to Stoke City, while Tottenham Hotspur climbed to third
by coming from behind to defeat second-bottom Reading 3-1 at White Hart
Lane.
Javier Hernandez had already had a goal ruled out for offside at the
DW Stadium when he put United 1-0 up against Wigan by tapping in after
Ali Al Habsi saved from Patrice Evra in the 35th minute.
Robin van Persie got off the mark for the New Year eight minutes
later, collecting a pass from Hernandez and sending Ivan Ramis to the
turf with a dummy before curling the ball inside the right-hand post.
Hernandez added a third in the 63rd minute, swivelling to dispatch a
half-volley when a van Persie free-kick arrived at his feet, before the
Dutchman completed a brace of his own in the 88th minute with his 16th
league goal.
"Javier Hernandez is a goal-scorer, a real penalty-box player," said
United manager Alex Ferguson, who turned 71 on New Year's Eve.
"Van Persie's first goal was magnificent. We expected him to be a
major player and add something to us, and that's exactly what he's
done." City dominated the early stages at home to Stoke, who had gone
into the game looking to protect a 10-match unbeaten run.
Pablo Zabeleta broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time,
rolling the ball into an empty net after visiting goalkeeper Asmir
Begovic touched away James Milner's low cross with his foot.
Sergio Aguero was the creator of City's second in the 56th minute,
with a low drive that was parried by Begovic, only for Edin Dzeko to
turn the loose ball home.
Aguero scored a 74th-minute penalty after Steven Nzonzi was adjudged
to have tripped David Silva, but the Argentine had to leave the fray
moments later after appearing to sustain a hamstring injury.
City assistant coach David Platt said that Aguero would "certainly"
miss Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie with Watford and was "doubtful"
for the following weekend's trip to Arsenal in the league.
Tottenham fell behind in the fourth minute against Reading when Pavel
Pogrebnyak headed the visitors in front, but Michael Dawson's header
meant the hosts were level within five minutes.
Spurs were dominant from then on, Emmanuel Adebayor putting them in
front with a powerful 51st-minute header before Clint Dempsey's
fortuitous deflected strike made it 3-1.
Victory took Spurs a point clear of Chelsea, who have two games in
hand and host bottom club Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday.
Aston Villa put an end to a run of three straight defeats, in which
they had conceded 15 goals, by drawing 2-2 at Swansea City, who
equalised through Danny Graham in injury time.
Christian Benteke had put Villa ahead with an 84th-minute penalty,
after Wayne Routledge's ninth-minute opener for the hosts had been
cancelled out by Andreas Weimann.
West Ham United were also on the up, beating Norwich City 2-1 through
goals from Mark Noble and Joey O'Brien to climb to 11th.
Earlier, Fulham shook off their slumbers from 2012 to win 2-1 at West
Bromwich Albion and record only their second win in 13 matches.
Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov had the honour of scoring the first
goal of 2013 at the Hawthorns, with Alex Kacaniklic netting a
58th-minute winner after Romelu Lukaku equalised early in the second
half.
Fifth-place Arsenal, 7-3 victors against Newcastle United on
Saturday, visit Southampton in the evening kick-off.
AFP
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