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Manchester United Draw with Newcastle to Give Chelsea Catch-up Hope
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Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand (L) challenges Newcastle United's Steven Taylor for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at St James Park in Newcastle, northern England January 1, 2007.

 

More zest was added to the English Premiership title race as pacesetters Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Monday, giving Chelsea hope to catch up.

  

Liverpool and Reading enjoyed the best possible start to a New Year but for West Ham it looks to be a long 2007 ahead for Alan Curbishley and his side.

  

Manchester United were left to rue a home debut goal for Newcastle defender David Edgar as they came away from St James' Park with the draw.

  

James Milner gave Newcastle a surprise lead with a stunning strike but Paul Scholes hit back with goals either side of half-time to put his side in control.

  

Newcastle rarely threatened in the second half but in the 72nd minute, Edgar left fly from distance and his shot deflected off Scholes for a hard fought leveller.

  

With the draw Manchester United now move seven points clear of Chelsea, who could move two points closer if they win at Aston Villa on Tuesday.

  

In the day's early kick-off Liverpool were held by a stubborn Bolton side for an hour but once Peter Crouch, in for hamstring victim Craig Bellamy, converted Jermaine Pennant's delivery there was only ever to be one winner.

  

Steven Gerrard showed all the credentials of an MBE recipient when he doubled his side's advantage just two minutes later, before the impressive Dirk Kuyt added gloss to a polished Liverpool performance.

  

At The Madejski Stadium, Reading were rampant and West Ham nothing short of woeful. Brynjar Gunnarsson got Reading on their way when he headed in Nick Shorey's set-piece in the 12th minute and just moments later, the home side was in complete control when Stephen Hunt converted Steve Sidwell's clipped cross.

  

West Ham were a shambles at the back and at half-time were four down, as Anton Ferdinand put through his own goal and then Kevin Doyle grabbed his first of the afternoon.

  

Curbishley's woes were compounded in the second half when Leroy Lita converted and then Doyle with his second completed the scoring.

  

Tottenham had Steed Malbranque to thank for a point at Fratton Park as the diminutive midfielder headed in Danny Murphy's cross, to cancel out Benjani Mwaruwari's against the run-of-play opener in the first half.

  

At the wrong end of the table Middlesbrough grabbed a crucial three points with a 3-1 win over a Sheffield United side that could not match their exploits against Arsenal.

  

Mark Viduka's deflected drive got Boro on track in the 36th minute but by half-time United were level thanks to Phil Jagielka's penalty.

  

The second period was all about Yakubu Aiyegbeni, as the big Nigerian grabbed a brace. The first saw him snatch a goal from Viduka as he prodded home after his team-mate had beaten Paul Gerrard from the angle, the second was a coolly dispatched penalty.

  

Substitute Georgios Samaras shrugged off indifferent form of late to score a double that helped Manchester City to a 2-1 victory over Everton at Eastlands.

  

His first was a near post finish from a DaMarcus Beasley pull-back in the 50th minute, the second a penalty after Tim Howard had ended a City foray illegally.

  

Leon Osman made for a nervous finish with six minutes remaining when he converted Phil Neville's cross, but City held on and were full value for the win.

  

Fulham and Watford missed a glut of chances between them but neither side could break the deadlock at Craven Cottage, in a game overshadowed by the sight of Antti Niemi leaving the field in a neck brace.

  

Wigan had an afternoon to forget as they entertained an in-form Blackburn side that won the Lancashire bragging rights with a 3-0 victory.

  

Emile Heskey put through his own goal to put Blackburn on their way, leaving Matt Derbyshire to fire in his first Premiership goal and a Benni McCarthy penalty to complete the rout.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2007)

 

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