Three Barclays Premier League matches took place on the evening of Tuesday 4th January 2011, in games which saw Manchester United claim a three point lead at the top of the table, while at the other end, two sides produced wins to extricate themselves from the drop zone, as both Fulham and Birmingham claimed much needed points.
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Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham
Birmingham picked up their first away win of the season, and climbed to the temporary safety of 15th in the league with a hard-fought win at Blackpool.
Former Arsenal man, Hleb opened the scoring for the visitors after 24 minutes, but Blackpool’s in-form striker, DJ Campbell equalised on 68 minutes.
An entertaining second half saw Birmingham claim all three points as Scott Dann grabbed a last-gasp winner on 89 minutes, firing home following a Roger Johnson header.
Blackpool slid to 11th in the league and, while they still have a game in hand, they will be hoping for a return to winning ways soon to avoid being pulled into a relegation scrap, particularly given their excellent early season form.
Fulham 3-0 West Brom
Fulham also pulled thelmselves out of trouble, for the time being, by recording an impressive 3-0 victory at home to early season success story West Brom.
Davies scored for the hosts in first half stoppage time, before Dempsey made the score-line more secure on 56 minutes. Nine minutes later, the points were confirmed when Hangeland added a third goal in a match which will give the Cottagers hope of a mid-season revival.
West Brom are looking increasingly like they will be closer to the bottom than the top come the season’s end, unless they can begin picking up some points: they now sit 16th in the league, just two points from the relegation zone. Fulham have leapfrogged them into 13th place: its phenomenally tight at the foot of the table in Premier League 2010/11.
Man Utd 2-1 Stoke
Manchester United claimed yet another result by the odd goal with a battling 2-1 win at home to Stoke City, a result which sees them move three points clear at the head of the Barclays Premier League.
Hernandez opened the scoring on 27 minutes for the hosts, finishing well from a good Nani cross, but Dean Whitehead restored parity with a headed goal five minutes into the second half.
It looked to be a matter of time before United added another goal, however, such was their dominance in possession, but it required a masterstroke from Nani, who scored with a tremendous left-footed finish on 62 minutes, to settle this match.
United take control of the table, Stoke are 8th.
Barclays Premier League Results – Tuesday 4th January 2011
- Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham
- Fulham 3-0 West Brom
- Man Utd 2-1 Stoke
