Premier League: Man United stay top after Berbatov double downs Sunderland

Manchester United remain top of the Premier League after a comfortable victory over Sunderland at Old Trafford, while elsewhere there were wins for Stoke, Bolton, West Ham, Man City and Wigan.

Results:

Blackburn 0-2 Stoke

Bolton 2-0 West Brom

Fulham 1-3 West Ham

Man United 2-0 Sunderland

Newcastle 1-3 Man City

Wolves 1-2 Wigan

Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

Two goals from Dimitar Berbatov helped Manchester United to a comfortable victory over Sunderland at Old Trafford as United cemented their place at the top of the Premier League table.

United were in confident mood against the Black Cats and opened the scoring after only five minutes when Dimitar Berbatov headed home from Wayne Rooney’s cross.

Berbatov hit the post and Anderson hit the crossbar as United continued to create chances and the Bulgarian added a deserved second after 57 minutes when his shot took a massive deflection off Anton Ferdinand and flew past Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goal.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are now two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table and have two games in hand on their bitter rivals.

Newcastle 1-3 Manchester City

Two goals in the first five minutes helped earn a win for Manchester City over Newcastle at St. James’ Park as Roberto Mancini’s side continued to put the pressure on Man United at the top of the table.

Gareth Barry capitalised on a mistake by Newcastle ‘keeper Tim Krul and finished from 12 yards to put City in front after only two minutes and Carlos Tevez doubled his side’s lead three minutes later when he finished a James Milner cross to the top corner with his left foot.

Newcastle staged a rally in the second half and were rewarded for their efforts when Andy Carroll headed home from a Joey Barton corner with 20 minutes left on the clock.

As the Magpies pressed for an equaliser, they were caught on the break with less than ten minutes remaining when Tevez played a one-two with Adam Johnson and finished confidently to seal all three points.

Fulham 1-3 Wigan

Fulham remain in the relegation zone after losing out to fellow strugglers West Ham at Craven Cottage. Mark Hughes’s side have been on a terrible run of late and looked as if they might be able to turn it around when Aaron Hughes headed them in front after 11 minutes from a Simon Davies’ cross.

The Hammers netted twice in eight minutes before half time, however, to gain a lead that they didn’t relinquish for the remainder of the game. Carlton Cole capitalised on a mistake by Dickson Etuhu to slide the ball home after 37 minutes and Frederic Piquionne made it two in first half stoppage time when he volleyed home Scott Parker’s centre from the left wing.

Fulham piled on the pressure after the break but Cole made the game safe for the Hammers after 73 minutes, reacting sharply to turn the ball home with his left foot from Daniel Gabbidon’s long free-kick.

Blackburn 0-2 Stoke

Irish international Marc Wilson was on the mark as Stoke defeated Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Neither side managed to find the net in the opening half, but the visitors opened the scoring six minutes after the break when Robert Huth headed home an inswinging corner from Matty Etherington.

Stoke had several chances to add to their lead but found Rovers ‘keeper Paul Robinson in inspired form. Wilson finally managed to beat the former England ‘keeper in stoppage time at the end of the game when he finished to the bottom corner after being set up by Ricardo Fuller.

Bolton 2-0 West Brom

Matty Taylor and Johan Elmander were on target as Bolton got the better of a wasteful West Brom side at the Reebok Stadium.

Peter Odemwingie was guilty of spurning a number of chances and the Baggies were made to pay for their wastefulness when Matty Taylor put Bolton in front five minutes before half time after excellent work from Chung-Yong Lee.

West Brom had further chances to equalise after the break, but Owen Coyle’s men sealed victory thanks to Johan Elmander, who fired home his ninth goal of the season from a narrow angle after his initial cross fortuitously rebounded to him inside the area.

Wolves 1-2 Wigan

Wolves dropped to the bottom of the Premier League table after losing out to fellow strugglers Wigan at Molineux.

Hugo Rodallega was at the heart of most of Wigan’s good play throughout and it was he who put the Latics in front after nine minutes with an acrobatic finish from close range.

Tom Cleverley, on loan from Manchester United, added to Wigan’s lead ten minutes later when he latched onto Rodallega’s pass and finished calmly to the net.

Wolves struggled to create chances, but gave themselves an outside chance of rescuing a point when Steven Fletcher scrambled home with three minutes remaining, but Roberto Martinez’s side held on for a deserved three points.