Title race takes twist as United draw 4-4
Reuters - Sunday 22 April 2012, 18:21
The Premier League title race
took another dramatic twist on Sunday when leaders Manchester
United blew a two-goal lead to draw 4-4 with Everton and
Manchester City beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 to narrow the
gap to three points.
Wolves were relegated after losing to City who will go top
of the standings if they beat United in the Manchester derby at
the Etihad Stadium next Monday.
United, who led Everton 4-2 with seven minutes remaining at
Old Trafford, head the standings on 83 points, three ahead of
City who have a better goal difference with three games of the
season left.
City's victory at Molineux, secured with goals from Sergio
Aguero and Samir Nasri, condemned Wolves to the Championship after three seasons in the top flight.
United, who trailed to Nikica's Jelavic's 33rd-minute
header, looked set to open a temporary eight-point advantage
over City when they led Everton 3-1 and 4-2 thanks to two goals
from Wayne Rooney against his old club and one each for Danny
Welbeck and Nani.
But Marouane Fellaini's volley gave Everton a lifeline at
3-2 and Jelavic and Steven Pienaar struck twice in two minutes
to earn their team a deserved point.
In Sunday's other game, former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson
enjoyed his first return to Anfield since leaving the club in
2011 by leading West Bromwich Albion to a 1-0 victory.
The only goal, from the prolific Peter Odemwingie, earned
West Brom their first win at Anfield for 45 years and lifted
them into the top half of the table.
MANCINI CAUTIOUS
City led the table for five months but their defeat at
Arsenal two weeks ago left them eight points behind United.
Now, if they beat their neighbours next week, they will go
top on goal difference but manager Roberto Mancini remained in
cautious mood.
"We have three very difficult games left - United, Newcastle
and QPR," the Italian said.
Asked if he felt the title race was still over, he told Sky
Sports: "Probably, yes. I think three points is too much. We
have very difficult games and United, after us, have two games
not as difficult as us."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky that the next game was
shaping up as the most important Manchester derby in his 25
years at the club.
"We've given them the initiative, there is no question about
that, and it makes the game at the Etihad the decider really,"
he said.
"We have made it hard for ourselves, but we have to go there
knowing we are capable of getting a result.
"There is no reason we can't do that. There has been an
expectancy that this is City's decider, but it's our decider
too. It's the most important derby. Game On."
He was unhappy with his team's defending.
"I thought it was a travesty we did not see the game out.
Some of our goals were great goals and some of our football was
fantastic today and I can't believe we've let in four goals at
Old Trafford in a game as important as that.
"Defensive lapses cost us and we gave away some soft goals."
Everton manager David Moyes was ecstatic that his side had
avoided defeat after losing to Liverpool in the FA Cup
semi-finals last weekend.
"We were absolutely brilliant. We came here trying to win
the game and get a result," Moyes said. "We were down after
losing last week and had the chance today to do well and stop
people thinking our season was over."
Everton opened the scoring through Jelavic's excellent
header but they trailed 3-1 as United stormed back with a header
from Rooney, a superb curling shot from Welbeck and a dink over
former United goalkeeper Tim Howard by Nani after great build-up
play.
Fellaini made it 3-2 with an unstoppable volley before
Rooney struck with a low shot and United defender Patrice Evra
hit the post before Jelavic and Pienaar silenced the home crowd.
There was still drama to come in the final minute of
stoppage time as Howard denied his old club a winner with a
superb diving save from Rio Ferdinand's fierce shot.