Manchester United stays on top of Premiership

Manchester United stays on top of Premiership
December 23, 2006

By Ben Rumsby Special to PA SportsTicker

Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes ensured Manchester United would be top of the Barclays Premiership on Christmas, accounting for all the scoring in 3-0 victory Saturday at Aston Villa.

After a goalless first half, Ronaldo wasted little time putting United ahead, running 40 yards, seeing his first shot blocked, and following up to score past emergency-loan goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.


United doubled its advantage after Scholes volleyed in one of the best goals of the season, waiting for a clearance to drop 25 yards out before blasting home via the underside of the crossbar.

Ronaldo ended any doubt over the result when he tapped Gary Neville's cross into an empty net five minutes from time.

Arjen Robben scored a stoppage-time winner as Chelsea yet again clung on to United's coattails with a dramatic 3-2 victory at Wigan.

For the second week in succession, the champions looked certain to drop points but showed all their character to keep the gap to United to two points.

The Blues looked to be cruising when Frank Lampard made the most of the Latics' woeful offside trap to put the visitors ahead before Salomon Kalou headed home Robben's corner. But Emile Heskey's header on the stroke of halftime and his controversial tally with 15 minutes remaining - when he appeared to be offside - evened matters.

Chelsea threw caution to the wind in search for a winner, which they got when Robben cut inside and finished beyond an unsighted Chris Kirkland.

Liverpool held on to third place after goals from Craig Bellamy and Xabi Alonso provided a 2-0 win over rock-bottom Watford.

The Reds were frustrated for much of the first half by the Hornets, who almost scored against the run of play when Alhassan Bangura volleyed over a gaping net. But Bellamy was given an acre of space to stroke home Steven Gerrard's pass two minutes after the restart, and Alonso finished off a counterattack late on to wrap up the points.

Arsenal remained just a point behind after recovering from an early blow to thrash Blackburn, 6-2, at the Emirates Stadium.

Kolo Toure's clumsy challenge on David Bentley allowed Shabani Nonda to give Rovers a third-minute lead from the spot, but Gilberto headed in Robin van Persie's inswinging corner to even matters.

Alexander Hleb showed fantastic footwork to put the Gunners ahead before Lucas Neill upended Van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor made it 3-1 from the spot before halftime.

Nonda's overhead kick made it 3-2 after substitute Matt Derbyshire headed against the bar. Two late strikes from Van Persie and one from Mathieu Flamini gave the scoreline a flattering look.

Bolton stayed level on points with the Gunners as Nicolas Anelka returned to haunt Manchester City with a brilliant brace at Eastlands. The French striker converted Nicky Hunt's terrific ball just eight minutes in before slotting home Henrik Pedersen's slide-rule pass to seal a 2-0 success.

It got worse for City when Joey Barton was shown a straight red card late on for bringing down Abdoulaye Faye.

In-form Portsmouth staged a second-half comeback at Fratton Park to end Sheffield United's fine recent run with a 3-1 victory.

Rob Hulse's fourth-minute header was the game's only goal until Benjani's cross deflected off Phil Jagielka and Robert Kozluk to draw Pompey level shortly after halftime. Sol Campbell scored his first goal for the club by heading in Matt Taylor's corner kick before Noe Pamarot followed suit.

Second-bottom Charlton's woes continued with a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough as Yakubu's stabbed finish and Julio Arca's deflected tally sealing a comfortable win for Boro.

Newcastle came flying out of the traps to beat Tottenham, 3-1.

Kieron Dyer curled in a precise finish around Ledley King before Obafemi Martins headed in Scott Parker's right-wing cross. Danny Murphy's mis-hit finish took a wicked deflection to get Spurs back in the game, but Paul Robinson spilled a free kick and Parker capitalized on a goalmouth scramble to head home before halftime.

Andrew Johnson ended his 13-game goal drought as Everton ran out to a 2-0 triumph at Reading.

The England striker, who earned a rare apology from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho this week, converted Mikel Arteta's low cross via a deflection off Ibrahima Sonko to put the visitors ahead. Johnson then turned provider, robbing Ivar Ingimarsson and crossing for James McFadden to fire home from eight yards.

In the early match, West Ham defender Paul Konchesky was sent off as a glut of missed chances saw their lively London derby against Fulham finish goalless at Craven Cottage.

Konchesky was given his marching orders in controversial circumstances with six minutes left after being deemed the last man in bringing down Wayne Routledge just outside the area.

Hammers striker Marlon Harewood squandered the best opportunity of the afternoon when he hit the post from six yards. Mathew Etherington saw a shot strike the crossbar before being cleared off the line by Liam Rosenior.