Premier League: Wins for Man United, Birmingham and Fulham

Manchester United stay top of the Premier League after defeating Stoke, Fulham had it easy against West Brom and Birmingham edged a thriller against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Manchester United 2-1 Stoke

Manchester United did what they have done so well all season against Stoke at Old Trafford: they won a game without playing anywhere near their best.

Javier Hernandez and Nani scored either side of a Dean Whitehead equaliser for Stoke to seal what could be a crucial three points for the Red Devils ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City on Wednesday evening.

In a pedestrian first half, Mexican striker Javier Hernandez lit up Old Trafford with a goal of real quality after 27 minutes. The man known as ‘Little Pea’ diverted Nani’s cross to the back of the net with a delightful flick, showing similar improvisation that he displayed when scoring against the same opposition at the Britannia Stadium earlier in the season.

United held onto their lead with little difficulty until the break but were given a rude awakening five minutes after half time when Dean Whitehead equalised for the Potters, heading home a Tuncay cross after poor marking by a United defence missing Rio Ferdinand.

It took only twelve minutes for United to draw level, however and again it was a goal of real quality. Hernandez found Nani on the edge of the area and the Portuguese winger curled a fabulous effort to the net from 20 yards.

The hosts looked the likelier to score before the final whistle, but the score remained the same until the final whistle and although Sir Alex Ferguson will hardly eulogise about the quality of his side’s performance, they have rarely been better than average all season long and still remain unbeaten and top of the league.

United now lead bitter rivals Manchester City by three points on top and still have a game in hand ahead of City’s meeting with Arsenal at the Emirates.

Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham

One of the games of the season came from two unlikely sources as Birmingham got the better of Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Alex McLeish’s side dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead after 24 minutes when Alex Hleb took advantage of a mistake by Stephen Crainey and coolly slotted the ball past Richard Kingson in the Blackpool goal.

The Tangerines were far better after the break and began to claw their way back into the game with Charlie Adam particularly influential in midfield. They had to survive some more pressure from the Blues, however, as both Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson hit the post for the Blues.

Blackpool pressed for an equaliser, which arrived after 68 minutes when DJ Campbell volleyed home after Gary Taylor-Fletcher nodded the ball back across goal.

It was anyone’s game at this stage and both sides created plenty of chances to get a winner; Charlie Adam was denied the goal his performance deserved when his left footed drive hit the butt of the post as the game drew to a close.

In the end, it was Birmingham defender Scott Dann who had the last word, showing wonderful touch and composure to smash the ball past Kingson and seal Birmingham’s first away win of the season.

Fulham 3-0 West Brom

Fulham climbed out of the relegation zone with a comfortable and badly needed win over West Brom at Craven Cottage.

Set-pieces proved to be the Baggies’ downfall as headers from Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland and a Simon Davies opener that was gifted to Fulham by West Brom ‘keeper Scott Carson helped the Cottagers to the easiest of victories.

Injuries meant that Roberto di Matteo was forced to make three changes to the backline which started against Manchester United on Saturday, but the rearguard held up well until Carson inexplicably allowed Davies’ shot to slip through his fingers on the stroke of half time to give Fulham a half-time lead.

Two goals in ten minutes midway through the second half ended the game as a contest. Simon Davies was the provider on both occasions, delivering excellent corners for Dempsey and then Hangeland to beat Carson with powerful headers.

After an impressive start, West Brom have lost eight of their last 11 matches and are now only two points clear of the relegation zone in 16th, three places behind Fulham who leaped five places to 13th after the victory.