Man Utd go level on points with Man City

Manchester City’s advantage at the top of the table has now been wiped away as their cross town rivals Manchester United joined them in equal first place following their mixed results on Tuesday night.

Penalties either side of halftime from Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov ensured Manchester United of a 2-0 home win over Stoke City, whilst former Red Devil Darron Gibson scored his first ever goal for Everton as they registered a 1-0 home win over Manchester City.

The results mean that Man City, due to a superior goal difference still remains at the top of the table on 54-points, the same amount as Man Utd with 15 games left in the league season.

At Old Trafford the reigning champions bounced back from their FA Cup Fourth Round defeat against archrivals Liverpool with a much improved performance against a Potters side chasing European football next year.

Following South Korean international Park Ji-Sung being brought down inside the box, Mexican striker Javier Hernandez made no mistake from the spot in the 38^th minute.

Sir Alex Ferguson side dominated the clash and earned themselves a second penalty after Antonio Valencia was brought down in the box eight minutes after the interval and this time it was Hernandez fellow attacker in Dimitar Berbatov that stepped up and converted the penalty.

That result saw the red half of Manchester pleased but they were delighted just moments later when their bitter city rivals and main title challengers in Man City suffered their third league defeat of the season.

Ironically it was a former Man Utd player in Darron Gibson who sealed the three points for the Toffees with a fine effort just prior to the hour mark as Everton put a dent in the Sky Blues title ambitions.

Man City who once held a five-point advantage late last year has seen that disappeared but manager Roberto Mancini believes his side has now gone past their most difficult part of the season.

“We are on the top (of the table) but it’s very important to win the next game from our point of view. We knew December and January were difficult months,” Mancini said on Sky Sports.

Another big winner of Man City’s defeat was third place Tottenham who moved to within five-points of the league leaders following a 3-1 home win against cellar dwellers Wigan Athletic.

A double by Gareth Bale and a goal from superstar midfielder Luka Modric ensured the Spurs of all three points which saw them move up to 49-points, seven points ahead of the fourth place Chelsea as they tightened their grip on an automatic Champions League spot.

“I am happy. We’re back up there again. I keep looking at the gap behind us. We’re 13 points ahead of Arsenal now – it’s a nice lead,” Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said afterwards.

Redknapp and the Spurs would have been more delighted had Chelsea not scored a very late equaliser in their 1-1 away draw against giant killers Swansea City.

The Welsh side who has held the Spurs at home and beaten Arsenal almost claimed another major scalp with former Blue Scott Sinclair opening the scoring in the 38^th minute.

Sinclair’s first half goal looked to be enough for all three points until a deflected Jose Boswinga effort in the third minute of second half stoppage time ensured the Londoners of a vital point.

The result leaves Chelsea in fourth place on 42-points, four points ahead of the fifth place Liverpool who continued their recent good run with a comprehensive 3-0 away win against the relegation threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Goals from Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt ensured the Reds of all three points as Kenny Daglish’s side celebrated a great week where they reached the Carling Cup Final and eliminated Man Utd from the FA Cup.