(MENAFN- Arab Times) LONDON March 5 (AFP): Ashley Young bolstered Manchester United's bid for a Premier League top-four place with an 89th-minute winner at Newcastle United on Wednesday while leaders Chelsea preserved their five-point lead.
Young's strike after a mistake by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul gave Louis van Gaal's side a 1-0 win that enabled them to maintain a two-point advantage over in-form Liverpool who won 2-0 at home to Burnley. Chelsea kept their lead intact by winning 1-0 at West Ham United while second-place Manchester City who have played a game more than the leaders beat Leicester City 2-0. Meanwhile Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis was said to be 'fine' despite being stretchered off after collapsing on the pitch in the early stages of his side's 3-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. The major talking point of the first half at St James' Park was a clash between Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse and United defender Jonny Evans that may prompt disciplinary action from the Football Association. Evans seemed to spit towards the floor after a tussle with Cisse who appeared to react by spitting at the Northern Irishman's neck but referee Anthony Taylor did not take action. United who started with Marouane Fellaini in place of Radamel Falcao were indebted to goalkeeper David de Gea for thwarting Emmanuel Riviere from close range early in the second period. Krul then produced a double save to deny Fellaini and Young but the United winger had the last laugh when he tucked home the winner after Krul kicked the ball straight to him under pressure from Wayne Rooney. 'I think we have dominated for 90 minutes' said Van Gaal. 'It was maybe our best match of the season especially in an away match. We deserved the victory.' Fresh from victory over Tottenham in Sunday's League Cup final Chelsea took a step closer to the league title with a win at West Ham who have now gone six games without a league success. The impressive Eden Hazard claimed the game's only goal in the 22nd minute with a header from a right-wing cross by Ramires who later hit the post. 'They are the best at the way they play' said Mourinho of West Ham. 'It is not just to play football the pressure the tension and the emotion. My players were fantastic. We couldn't kill the game and these three points are massive for us.' Champions City preserved the status quo at the top with a home victory over bottom club Leicester that followed painful consecutive defeats by Barcelona and Liverpool. City who dropped out-of-form captain Vincent Kompany took the lead in first-half stoppage time when David Silva followed in to score after he and Wilfried Bony had seen shots blocked. James Milner sealed victory two minutes from time by smashing home a cross from Jesus Navas. Third-place Arsenal also won prevailing 2-1 at third-bottom Queens Park Rangers to remain four points below City. Olivier Giroud poked home a cross from Kieran Gibbs in the 64th minute and Alexis Sanchez doubled Arsenal's lead with a solo effort five minutes later his first goal in eight games before Charlie Austin replied for QPR. Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 11 matches by overcoming second-bottom Burnley 2-0 which took Brendan Rodgers's side back above Southampton and into fifth place. Jordan Henderson followed up his stunning goal from Sunday's 2-1 defeat of City with a 29th-minute opener from the edge of the box and then teed up Daniel Sturridge for a 51st-minute header. Gomis's dramatic collapse caused a moment of grave concern as Spurs reacted to their League Cup final defeat by edging Swansea 3-2 at White Hart Lane. The Frenchman fell to the ground shortly after Nacer Chadli had volleyed Spurs ahead in the seventh minute and had to be given oxygen before being carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital. The 29-year-old had fainted on three occasions during his time with previous club Lyon due to a vasovagal condition and manager Garry Monk allayed fears about his health after the game. 'Bafetimbi Gomis is fine. He went to hospital as a precaution but he is fine. That's the main thing' Monk said. 'We understand his history. He has had all the tests but it's just part of life for him.' Ki Sung-yueng equalised for Swansea in the 19th minute but second-half goals from Ryan Mason and Andros Townsend were enough to give Spurs the win despite a late effort from Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson. Goals from Victor Moses and Mame Diouf lifted Stoke to a 2-0 win over Everton and up into eighth. The win kept Mark Hughes side on target for their highest ever league finish last season's ninth with 50 points. The Potters are already on 42 points with 10 games of the season remaining. However the defeat leaves Everton struggling to avoid getting involved in a battle for survival as they have just one win from their last 12 league outings. This loss left them in 14th but just six points above the drop zone. Hughes started Peter Crouch who had come off the bench to score the only goal in the weekend win over Hull City. But midfielder Stephen Ireland missed out after needing stitches to a calf injury suffered against Hull. Everton left-back Leighton Barnes who was injured for the weekend loss to Arsenal was replaced once again by Luke Garbutt. Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan had a right knee injury scare warming-up but recovered to lead the hosts out. Moses joined the Potters on loan from Chelsea at the start of the season with Hughes saying he would like that arrangement to become permanent. And on 32 minutes the Nigerian winger put Stoke in front. Phil Bardsley drilled the ball into the area with Moses heading into the top left corner past Everton keeper Tim Howard. Shortly after the hour Hughes replaced Crouch with Diouf and the Senegalese striker put the game to bed in the 84th minute with a close range shot into the bottom right corner after substitute Marko Arnautovic hit the post.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.