United survive; Gunners fire blanks

“They defended really well and never dropped their physical level. I don’t know if they can just do that all season, but after 70 minutes we were lucky to still be at 0-0.

“In the end we failed to win because we lacked sufficient vision to create enough chances. Thierry Henry missed a good one, but if you create only one you have to accept you might miss It.

Table-toppers United were given a fright by strugglers Middlesbrough at Old Trafford – but the reigning champions found their form in the second half.French international Christian Karambeu put the visitors in front before Nicky Butt and substitute Teddy Sheringham rescued United. Victory took United two points clear at the top with 30 points from 13 games.

Aston Villa lost Gareth Southgate after a clash of heads but two goals from Ian Taylor were enough to sink Tottenham 2-0 and leave Spurs without an away win all season. Ipswich left it late against Charlton, Matt Holland netting in the 80th minute with a 25-yarder and Marcus Stewart making it 2-0 four minutes later.

Leicester and Newcastle, watched by Tord Grip, assistant to England’s Swedish manager-elect Sven-Goran Eriksson, drew 1-1 at Filbert Street.Icelander Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s 63rd-minute free-kick gave City the lead but Welshman Gary Speed made it 1-1 15 minutes from time.

Sunderland and Southampton ended with a point a piece in a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. The hosts trailed to a magnificent strike from James Beattie who lashed home a 35-yard dipping volley to give Saints the lead.Niall Quinn equalised with his first goal in 11 matches and Don Hutchison gave Sunderland the lead. A powerful header from Dean Richards with a minute remaining levelled the scores.

Bradford dominated Everton for long periods but failed to score for the ninth time in 12 starts and when Matt Clarke dropped a shot, Everton new boy Gary Naysmith bundled the ball over the line to give the visitors a 1-0 win.West Ham rallied in the second half to win 4-1 aftertrailing Manchester City at half time.

PSG lose ground
PARIS: Paris Saint Germain lost more ground on Saturday in the French league as ten-man Lyon held them 1-1 at the Parc des Princes.

The two dropped points cost title favourites PSG dearly as rivals Sedan raced three points clear by piling yet more misery on Marseille with a 2-0 win at their spanking new Louis Dugauguez stadium.

Sedan, who have 28 points from 15 matches compared to 25 for PSG, were promoted only 18 months ago but under Alex Dupont they have made enormous strides even after finishing a creditable seventh last season.

Sedan swept the former European champions aside with second half goals to leave their opponents mired in the bottom three.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Lille could only manage a 1-1 home draw against strugglers Auxerre and Troyes are fifth after beating fading Lens 1-0.

Schalke gamble pays off
BERLIN: Bayern Munich declined the opportunity of leapfrogging leaders Hertha Berlin on Saturday when they lost at Schalke 04 in a 3-2 thriller.The champions remain two points behind Hertha who lost 2-0 at Borrussia Dortmund on Fridayt. The Berlin outfit will be kicking themselves after spurning the chance of establishing a five point lead over Bayern. Schalke move up into provisional fourth spot as reward for the champions’ scalp and showed great character to come from behind twice after both Bayern’s Brazilians added to their tallies.

Elber opened the scores on 30, Paulo Sergio putting them ahead again on 59. Former German international Andreas Moller on 58, Ghanean Gerald Asamoah on 68 and Denmark’s Ebbe Sand on 71 scoring for Schalke in a packed Elsenkirchen Stadium.

Cologne went 3-0 up before Hamburg staged a comeback with goals from Sergei Barbarez on 62 and Tony Yeboah on 69 before defender Dirk Lottner bagged his brace on 69 to finnish the visitors off.

Germany coach Rudi Voller closed his Bayern Leverkusen account with a 1-0 away win at lowly Freiburg, thanks to Carsten Ramelow’s second half goal.