Southampton's Ricky Lambert shoots from a free kick against
Manchester United during their English Premier League match
at Old Trafford in Manchester. REUTERS/Darren Staples
Wayne Rooney struck both goals for Manchester United as
they recovered from conceding an early goal to earn an
unconvincing 2-1 victory over Southampton and open up a
seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Southampton had the temerity to score after three minutes at
Old Trafford but order was quickly restored with Rooney
equalising five minutes later and completing the turnaround
with a 27th-minute tap-in.
In the battle for top-four places there was frustration for
the main contenders with third-placed Chelsea denied a fifth
consecutive away league victory as they let slip a 2-0 lead
at Reading to draw 2-2.
Chelsea remain four points clear of Tottenham Hotspur who
needed a Gareth Bale equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Norwich City
while sixth-placed Arsenal drew 2-2 at home to Liverpool
having trailed 2-0 with half an hour remaining.
Fifth-placed Everton cashed in on the dropped points of those
around them in the table with a 2-1 home victory over West
Bromwich Albion to move one point behind Tottenham and three
clear of Arsenal.
In a London derby alongside the River Thames Fulham beat West
Ham United 3-1.
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