Premiership: City Survive, United win, Hull hammer Fulham

Posted by African Examiner Sports News Sunday, December 29th, 2013

FIFA.COM: Manchester City climbed to the top of the English Premier League for the first time this season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Free-scoring City knew a tenth win from ten home games would send them to the Premier League summit, with second-placed Arsenal playing at Newcastle United on Sunday, when third-placed Chelsea meet fourth-placed Liverpool.

But relegation-threatened Palace caused City a scare and goalkeeper Joe Hart suffered a cut around his eye after diving at the feet of Cameron Jerome to thwart the visitors as the hosts were held to 0-0 at half-time.

The hosts finally broke the deadlock through Edin Dzeko’s 50th City goal after 66 minutes. That was as good as it got for City, who have now netted a record 54 goals in the first 19 fixtures of the season.

Defending champions Manchester United claimed a slender 1-0 win at Norwich City to return to sixth in the table, seven points behind 2012 winners City.

With Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur in action on Sunday, United had an opportunity to enhance their position in the standings, but were second best in the opening half at Carrow Road.

Danny Welbeck replaced Ryan Giggs at half-time and netted after 57 minutes after Ryan Bennett’s clearance ricocheted off Javier Hernandez and into the substitute’s path. Welbeck rounded John Ruddy before tucking in for his fourth goal in four Premier League games.

United, without striker Wayne Rooney in Norfolk, held on to claim a seventh straight win in all competitions.

Hull City scored four times in the opening 23 minutes of the second half in their 6-0 defeat of Fulham, who have lost nine of their last 11 top-flight fixtures.

FIFA.COM