Man Utd and City level at top after Sky Blues lose to Everton

MANCHESTER UNITED moved level on points at the top of the Premier League thanks to their 2-0 win against Stoke and Manchester City's 1-0 defeat at Everton. The neighbours both now have 54 points though the Sky Blues have their noses in front thanks to superior goal difference.

That won't be much comfort this morning for Man City fans, who not only saw their side lose at Goodison Park but also suffered the ignominy of seeing a former United player score the all-important goal. It was Darron Gibson's first for Everton since arriving from Old Trafford last month and the 24-year-old said of his second-half strike: "It was good to get off the mark and I'll probably be getting a few phonecalls from my former team-mates."

That's exactly what happened, with Gibson's former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand the first to offer his congratulations. "He will be getting a text message from me later to say well done," joked Ferdinand, adding: "Gibbo's a quality player. We never expected that result, but we'll take it."

It was City's third league defeat of the season and manger Roberto Mancini later held himself responsible. "We had a problem because I made mistakes," said Mancini in a candid assessment of the evening's performance. "It was a bad night for me. We didn't deserve to lose, but I made a mistake as we did not prepare properly for this game."

Asked to elaborate, Mancini said: "We did not prepare well in training in the last three or four days... I did not prepare us for the pressure that we would be under."

Manchester United had to work hard to overcome a determined Stoke, but the visitors were undone by a penalty decision in each half. First Jermaine Pennant felled Park Ji-sung to allow Javier Hernandez to slot home from the spot, the Mexican's first goal for United since November.

Then Jonathan Walters's foul on Antonio Valencia on 53 minutes was again punished with a penalty and this time Dimitar Berbatov fired past Thomas Sorensen in the Stoke goal.

"We played a lot of good football and scored two penalties while we could have had two more," said Alex Ferguson afterwards. His Stoke counterpart, Tony Pulis, was left to rue the penalty decisions, calling them "debatable" and adding: "But we are at Old Trafford."

Chelsea again made life hard for themselves, this time needing an own goal from Neil Taylor deep into overtime to secure a share of the points at Swansea. The Blues went one down on 39 minutes after a strike from Scott Sinclair, and their troubles worsened when Ashley Cole was sent off for a second bookable offence after the interval. But three minutes into stoppage time Jose Bosingwa's shot took a deflection off Taylor and gave Michel Vorm no chance in the Swansea goal.

The result leaves Chelsea in fourth place, four points above Liverpool, who enjoyed an easy 3-0 win away at Wolves, but seven points adrift of Spurs in third place.

Tottenham romped to a 3-1 win at home to Wigan with Gareth Brace bagging a brace of goals and Luka Modric also getting on the scoresheet. "Bale was terrific tonight, he is an amazing talent," said a delighted Harry Redknapp. "I am happy. We're back up there again. I keep looking at the gap behind us. We're 13 points ahead of Arsenal now, it's a nice lead."

Arsenal, in sixth place on 36 points, face an awkward trip to Bolton this evening. ·