Premiership Roundup

Derby had kept United quiet for the opening 20 minutes in appalling conditions at Old Trafford, but the pressure eventually told with Ryan Giggs scoring his 100th goal for the club after Ronaldo’s shot was only parried by Stephen Bywater. Carlos Tevez doubled United’s lead from a Ronaldo free-kick before Wes Brown teed up the Argentine for his second.

But The Rams refused to give in and replied through Steve Howard’s first goal of the season, although it appeared the striker knew little about it. It was United who had the last word though, with Ronaldo winning and then converting a penalty after he had been fouled by Tyrone Mears to give the champions a 4-1 victory and move them to within a point of Arsenal.

It was a similar story at Stamford Bridge, were a hard-working Sunderland were eventually beaten 2-0 by Chelsea. Despite dominating, the hosts were unable to break the deadlock before Andriy Shevchenko headed in his fourth goal of the season.

The visitors had deployed Kenwyne Jones as a lone striker, but he was often left isolated upfront as the Black Cats battled to contain Chelsea’s attack. And when Danny Higginbotham was penalised for a pull on Alex’s shirt in the box, it was left to Lampard to secure the win for Avram Grant’s side. Roy Keane’s afternoon was made worse when Liam Miller saw red late on after pushing Claudio Pizarro.

The shock result of the day came at the Madejski Stadium, were a controversial penalty helped Reading to overcome Liverpool 3-1.

Liverpool came into the game unbeaten in the league, but it was the home side who took the lead. The referee adjudging that Jamie Carragher’s foul on Gunnarsson was in the box, with Stephen Hunt making no mistake from the spot.

Benitez had opted to start with three strikers, but Liverpool were struggling to create any clear cut chances before talisman Steven Gerrard leveled with a typically clinical finish, his 50th Premier League goal for the club. However, it was the home side who took all three points courtesy of second-half goals from Kevin Doyle and James Harper to leave Rafa Benitez’s side seven points adrift of the top.

Fellow Merseyside rivals Everton extended their unbeaten run to 10 games thanks to a second-half Yakubu hat-trick against struggling Fulham.

The visitor’s made the better start, but it was eventually The Toffee’s who broke the deadlock. When Antti Niemi could only parry Tim Cahill’s volley, Yakubu was left with a simple finish. The Nigerian scored his second 10 minutes later, heading home after Phil Jagielka had flicked on Arteta’s corner.

But the striker saved the best till last, taking on his marker before curling a wonderful effort beyond a helpless Niemi to kill off any hopes of a Fulham comeback. The 3-0 win moves Everton into 7th, while The Cottager’s are left waiting for their first away league win in over 14 months.

European hopefuls Aston Villa and Portsmouth played in the day’s early kick-off, with away day specialists Pompey ending their 52 years without a top-flight win at Villa Park.

Villa dominated the opening exchanges but after failing to clear the ball from their box, Craig Gardner accidentally netted in his own goal. Villa responded well but squandered good chances, with Martin Laursen guilty of missing two free headers. And they were made to pay just before the break, when Sulley Muntari was left free to bend an outstanding effort round Scott Carson.

Villa rallied after the break but failed to break down a resilient Portsmouth defence before Muntari scored a superb second, dispossessing Nigel Reo-Coker then beating Zat Knight before finishing into the bottom corner. Villa were rewarded for their efforts with a late penalty scored by Gareth Barry, although it was nothing more than a consolation.

Birmingham couldn’t repeat last week’s heroics at Spurs, losing 2-1 to an injury-time goal at St James’ Park.

Alex McLeish's side had taken the lead after Cameron Jerome latched onto Matthew Saddler’s long-ball before rounding Shay Given and finishing into the empty goal. But Obefemi Martins equalised from the spot for Newcastle after being fouled by Saddler, although the young Englishmen can count himself unfortunate as Martins tripped over his trailing leg.

Jerome’s pace continued to cause problems for Newcastle’s defence, but he was denied a second by Shay Given’s smart save after turning Steven Taylor. Yet despite Birmingham creating the better chances, there failure to defend Emre’s corner in the dying seconds allowed Habib Beye to slip his header into the near corner to give Sam Allardyce a much needed three points.