MANCHESTER UNITED YAZIDI KUPETA,ARSENAL,LIVERPOOL.CHELSEA NA READING SARE TAZAMA.

A mistake from David de Gea, some peculiar Manchester United defending and then a comeback so straightforward it looked easy. Just another night at Old Trafford for Sir Alex Ferguson and his  Barclays Premier League leaders.
All that will concern Ferguson this morning is that his team are seven points clear once more at the top. It was always likely Manchester City would pay for their failure to beat QPR on Tuesday.
How many times will United make things difficult for themselves, though? Do we now accept it is part of their DNA?

Match-winner: Wayne Rooney celebrates his second goal of the night with his team-mates

Match facts

Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Smalling (Ferdinand 63), Vidic, Evra, Welbeck, Carrick, Anderson (Rafael 68), Kagawa (Nani 73), Rooney, van Persie.
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Valencia, Cleverley, Buttner.
Goals: Rooney 8, 27
Booked: Vidic, Rafael
Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fox (Shaw 78), Schneiderlin, Cork, Puncheon (Steven Davis 46), Rodriguez, Ramirez (Lallana 46), Lambert.
Subs not used: Kelvin Davis, Lee, Richardson, Chaplow.
Goals: Rodriguez 3
Booked: Schneiderlin
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Attendance: 75,600

This game was only into its third minute when Michael Carrick and De Gea erred to present Jay Rodriguez with the opening goal. Even by modern standards at Old Trafford, it was a dreadful piece of play.
But by the 27th minute United were in front thanks to two goals from Wayne Rooney. He equalised in the eighth minute when threaded through by Shinji Kagawa, then nodded home after good work from Patrice Evra.
Southampton, to their credit, were game opposition and enjoyed periods of possession. Visiting teams tend to at Old Trafford these days. United, though, wanted that seven-point lead back and, for the time being at least, they have it.
If the manner of their 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane a week and a half ago — Tottenham’s Clint Dempsey scored an equaliser in added time — served to illustrate that this United team remains far from invincible, City claiming just a point at QPR showed how unpredictable they are, too.
Certainly this had the potential to be a significant night in the title race. The last time United slipped up in the league — drawing at Swansea over Christmas — City lost their next game at Sunderland. United, as we know, do not usually need help from their nearest  challengers and their manager selected a team bristling with intent.

Master blaster: Rooney picks his spot with a powerful shot for United's equaliser

Though they have what looks to be a tougher game at Fulham this weekend, Sir Alex Ferguson chose  to pair Rooney and Robin van Persie in a team that also included Danny Welbeck and Kagawa.
Elsewhere, there was a nod to the weekend as Rio Ferdinand and Tom Cleverley started on the bench. But up front United had the look of a team sent out to win quickly.
As for Southampton, they remained something of an unknown quantity at kick-off under their new manager Mauricio Pochettino. In Rickie Lambert and Jason Puncheon, however, the team from the south coast had dangerous players of their own. And in  drawing at Chelsea in Nigel Adkins’ final game in charge, Southampton showed they are no soft touch now they have found their feet in the top division.

High five: Rooney is congratulated by Robin van Persie after scoring United's equaliser

It is hard to know where to start with their goal, so calamitous was it from a United point of view.
Carrick’s back pass to De Gea was certainly a poor one, presenting his goalkeeper with a 50-50 challenge in his own area with Rodriguez. De Gea couldn’t pick it up, of course, but should have done much better than wave his foot at the ball as Rodriguez closed in to win the duel — such as it was — and roll the ball in to an empty net in front of the Stretford End.

Predator: Patrice Evra (centre) dives to head the ball across for Rooney (second left)...

... Rooney finds space at the far post unmarked and with the open goal gaping...

... and the United striker wheels away as the ball hits he back of the net

It was a gift, but other teams have been given them here this season and haven’t been able to hang on. That is what happened again as United responded well and spent much of the half troubling Southampton with the speed and precision of their play.
In just the eighth minute they were level. Carrick’s pass infield was a little fortunate as it was deflected in to the path of Kagawa but from then the move was impressively smooth. United’s Japanese midfielder slipped the ball through to Rooney and he beat goalkeeper Artur Boruc with a sweep of his right foot.
Old Trafford was suddenly a more relaxed place and United threatened to overwhelm Southampton. Pochettino’s team tried to come forward and had their moments but United were too good for them when they had the ball.

Shock opener: Jay Rodriguez strikes early for Southampton to stun Old Trafford and celebrates (below)

Stunned: United goalkeeper David De Gea reflects on Southampton's early goal at Old Trafford

Kagawa hit the post and Van  Persie had a shot deflected over before the league leaders took the lead in the 27th minute.
Van Persie’s ability with a dead ball is overlooked by many but not by anybody at Old Trafford. His delivery to the far post from the right was dropped on Evra’s head and when the Frenchman nodded it back Rooney nudged the ball in from a yard.
Southampton’s lead had  evaporated so quickly it may have shocked them a little. This,  however, is what United are  capable of. What was important now was that the visitors didn’t concede again before half-time.

So near yet so far: Shinji Kagawa (centre) shoots past Saints keeper Artur Boruc but hits the post

Twice United came close to  adding a third as Van Persie arrowed a shot over from an angle in the 31st minute and then  Welbeck brought a neat low save from Boruc after a superb piece of skill saw him get free just inside the penalty area. In many ways that was the moment of the half from a gifted 22-year-old who brings so much to this squad.
Southampton remained in the game and, unlike Fulham who rolled over so lamely in the FA Cup here at the weekend, they at least offered something when they went forward.

This is why he's a defender: United's Chris Smalling (right) fluffs his attempt at goal

They won two or three promising set-piece opportunities in the half but the delivery on each occasion was below the required standard.After his early calamity, De Gea had hardly been required to touch the ball.
Southampton made two changes at the break, including the introduction of Adam Lallana, and were the better team for the early part of the second half. Still, though, they couldn’t find a way through, and United escaped once more.

Welcome to the Premier League: Sir Alex Ferguson chats to new Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino

Reading 2 Chelsea 2: Sub Le Fondre hits two in final three minutes to increase Benitez's woe

A late Adam le Fondre double piled the pressure on Rafa Benitez as his short-lived reign as Chelsea boss threatened to turn in to a full blown crisis.
It seemed the genius of Juan Mata had give Benitez more breathing space after he scored the first and created a second for Frank Lampard to ease Chelsea into a 2-0 lead.
But Reading are a more accomplished Premier League team these days and Le Fondre struck twice in the last three minutes to stun Benitez.

Magic moment: Reading celebrate Adam Le Fondre's late leveller

Precious strike: Le Fondre latches on to Hope Akpan's pass to give Reading a point

Match facts

Reading: Federici, Kelly, Pearce, Mariappa, Harte, Kebe, Karacan, Leigertwood, Guthrie (McCleary 58), McAnuff (Le Fondre 66), Pogrebnyak. Subs not used: Stuart Taylor, Shorey, Morrison, Robson-Kanu, Akpan.
Booked: McAnuff.
Goal: Le Fondre 87, 90+2.
Chelsea: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Mata (Benayoun 77), Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Bertrand, Torres (Ba 90). Subs not used: Hilario, Ferreira, Marin, Terry, Ake.
Booked: Ramires, Azpilicueta.
Goal: Mata 45, Lampard 66.
Referee: Mark Halsey.
Attendance: 24,097.
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Mata was rested at Brentford for Chelsea’s 2-2 draw in the FA Cup last Sunday. It is a mistake Benitez cannot afford to make again.
Chelsea’s interim coach knows it, admitting as much during a thorough explanation of his team’s failings at the training ground on Tuesday. He referred to Mata as the most influential player in the team, capable of changing game with his movement in the final third.

Chelsea’s player of the year underlined his class at the Madejski and even Benitez, usually so cool in the dug out, was springing out of his seat when Mata put the ball beyond Adam Federici, saluting his  little midfielder when he scored just before the break.

Chelsea couldn’t handle seven competitions at the start of the season and as they enter the final straight they are left with two. Retaining the FA Cup and winning the Europa League are the only shots at silverware left as Benitez picks over this disastrous season.

He met Chelsea’s technical director Michael Emenalo at the training ground on Tuesday and was told a top four finish is all that counts. For a club of Chelsea’s size and spending power it will barely measure as an achievement, but at least it would improve on last season’s sixth place.

No mistake: Juan Mata connects with Fernando Torres' dink to lash home the opener

No mistake: Juan Mata connects with Fernando Torres' dink to lash home the opener

They should still get there because of moments provided by Mata, a player capable of  lifting spirits whenever he is anywhere near the ball.

His goal in first half stoppage time was a beaut, finishing off a move that began with some intricate passing in Chelsea’s midfield.

After prodding the ball into Fernando Torres, Mata ran on and Chelsea’s striker lifted it over Reading’s defence for his compatriot to finish from the edge of the six yard box.

They scored again in the 65th minute when Mata’s corner  met the run of Lampard and  Chelsea’s skipper powered a header beyond Federeci.

On target: Frank Lampard nods a corner beyond Adam Federici to give Chelsea an unassailable lead

But Reading fought back well and among fans the animosity for Benitez continues. It didn’t take long for some of the  appalling songs about the interim coach to strike up.

Even an online petition designed to unseat Benitez has gathered pace, with thousands of Chelsea supporters wishing the Spaniard away.

It’s a depressing spell for the club, but Benitez has to live through the hostility until his short term contract comes to an end in June.

These are better times for Reading who moved out of the bottom three thanks to this last-gasp point.
Brian McDermott’s side have now acclimatised to the top flight, shrugging off that embarrassing performance against Arsenal when they  conceded five in front of their own fans.

No prizes: Oscar goes close with an acrobatic chance, and rues the missed opportunity (below)

This is a different team, well organised. Captain Jobi McAnuff and Jimmy Kebe make the difference. They want the ball, demanding it off their defence and relying on their energy and enterprise to give Reading hope they can stay up.

It’s a big call from the bottom three of the Premier League, but McDermott has seen enough to suggest they can  survive. Early on they failed to trouble Chelsea’s error prone reserve keeper Ross Turnbull.

Over and out: Torres was hauled off in the 90th minute for Demba Ba

Arsenal 2 Liverpool 2: Gunners' defensive frailties exposed, but Walcott completes comeback

Arsenal fought back from two goals down to draw with Liverpool in a thrilling Barclays Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Both sides knew defeat could prove fatal to their hopes of closing back up on the top four, but neither looked ready to settle for anything other than all three points in an open and entertaining match.
Liverpool took an early lead through Luis Suarez after terrible defending by Arsenal, and then looked to be in complete control when Jordan Henderson walked in a second on the hour.

Comeback kid: Walcott scored the equaliser for Arsenal mid-way through the second half

Match facts

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs (Santos 37) , Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski, Giroud.
Subs not used: Mannone, Diaby, Koscielny, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jenkinson. 
Booked: Cazorla, Giroud
Scorers: Giroud 64, Walcott 67.
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Wisdom, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing, Suarez, Sturridge (Jose Enrique 71).
Subs not used: Jones, Allen, Borini, Sterling, Shelvey, Skrtel.
Booked: Gerrard.
Scorers: Suarez 5, Henderson 60
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Attendance: 60,089

However, as so often in a frustrating season, the Gunners suddenly burst into life as in-form Olivier Giroud reduced the deficit with a close-range header and Theo Walcott then rattled in an equaliser.
There were more chances at each end, but defeat for either side would have been an injustice.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had recalled his regulars tonight, making seven changes from the side humiliated at Oldham in the FA Cup on Sunday.
It was a bright start by the Reds, their travelling support displaying a banner protesting against the infamous £62 tickets for away fans.
A slip by Bacary Sagna let Glen Johnson away down the left.
His cross into the Arsenal penalty area was miskicked by Thomas Vermaelen, just back from an ankle injury, and Wojciech Szczesny produced a good reaction save from Daniel Sturridge at the far post.
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey, though, failed to clear with a tame flick and the ball broke for Suarez, whose curling shot then deflected off Per Mertesacker to wrongfoot the goalkeeper.
Arsenal almost produced an immediate response as Walcott got ahead of Jamie Carragher, but his snapshot was straight at Jose Reina.
The match remained open, with Sturridge dragging an angled shot across the face of goal.
Arsenal also continued to press, and Reina was again called into action as he turned a curling effort from Walcott around the post.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard then produced some desperate defending as he hooked Lukas Podolski's cross through the six-yard box behind.
The visitors, though, almost made it 2-0 on 27 minutes when Szczesny got nowhere near a corner from the left and Daniel Agger's header was hacked off the line by Podolski.
Arsenal were forced into a change before half-time when Kieran Gibbs hobbled off and Brazil defender Andre Santos came on.

Net result: Suarez wheels away to celebrate after his deflected shot hit the back of the net

Szczesny was almost caught out when rushing from his goal to close down Henderson on the left corner of the penalty area, but the Liverpool midfielder chipped the ball onto the roof of the net - much to the relief of the backpedalling Poland goalkeeper.
Arsenal came close to a leveller early in the second half when Podolski floated a pass from the left out to the far post, where Walcott arrived to head it just over.
It proved a costly miss as Liverpool extended their lead on the hour.
Henderson battled past Santos and into the right side of the penalty area, before then holding off two more defenders. As the ball bounced back off Ramsey's boot, he stabbed it past Szczesny.

Red alert: Henderson scored his fifth goal for the club after Arsenal failed to clear in the area

Arsenal needed an immediate response, and got it on 64 minutes when Giroud planted a header into the far corner from Jack Wilshere's right-wing free-kick.

Before Liverpool could settle, the Gunners were level.
Santi Cazorla worked the ball out on the right side of the penalty area to Giroud. His lay-off teed up Walcott just outside the six-yard box and the England forward lashed an angled drive across Reina into the far corner.
Walcott curled a 20-yard effort just wide after running along the edge of the Liverpool box.

Heads up: Giroud's header began the Gunners' fightback

Gerrard was somewhat fortunate to only have been shown a yellow card by referee Kevin Friend after jumping in with his foot raised on Mertesacker.
The 6ft 7in German was, though, soon up again as he headed a free-kick from Wilshere just over at the near post.
Reina saved at full stretch from Giroud as Arsenal looked for a late winner, with the Frenchman then scuffing an effort from close range.
Suarez saw a late strike turned away by Szczesny in stoppage time as a thrilling encounter finally ended all square.

Level best: Walcott thrashes home the leveller for Arsenal, midway through the second-half