Javier Hernandez was the super sub for Manchester United, as the Mexican helped his side come back from two goals down to beat Villa 3-2.
Saturday’s Premier League action produced a host of goals as usual.
One of the games of the day saw Arsenal and Fulham draw 3-3 at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners took the lead on 11 minutes, Oliver Giroud beating Aaron Hughes to the ball to head home Theo Walcott’s corner.
German international striker Lukas Podolski flicked Arsenal into a two goal lead on 23 minutes, after being setup by Mikel Arteta. Fulham were back in the game in the 29th minute, Dimitar Berbatov heading home Bryan Ruiz’s corner when left completely unmarked.
Fulham were back on level terms in the 40th minute, as substitute Alex Kacaniklic headed home from Dimitar Berbatov. The turnaround was complete in the 67th minute. Mikel Arteta brought down Bryan Ruiz in the penalty area and Berbatov claimed his second goal from the resulting spot kick.
Two minutes later and the Gunners were back on level terms. French striker Olivier Giroud headed home from Theo Walcott’s cross. The drama wasn’t finished there though. In Injury-time the Gunners were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately for the Gunners Mikel Arteta’s penalty kick was saved by Mark Schwarzer.
Elsewhere, Everton consolidated their position in the top four with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland at Goodison Park. Sunderland enjoyed the better of the first half and took the lead in first half injury-time.
Winger Adam Johnson got to the ball first before Tim Howard from Craig Gardner’s delivery and found the net. The home side pushed for an equaliser in the second half and finally made the breakthrough in the 76th minute. In-form Marouane Fellaini fired low past Simon Mignolet, after Leon Osman played in the Belgium international.
Just three minutes later and Everton took the lead. Fellaini was again involved as the giant target man turned the ball into the path of Nikica Jelavic, who fired beyond Mignolet in the Sunderland goal. The victory keeps the Toffee’s in fourth place in the Premier League table.
Reading and Norwich drew 0-0 at the Madejski Stadium. The Royals will be encouraged by picking up a clean sheet, but have still yet to claim their first victory of the season and are third from bottom in the Premier League.
Southampton are also still in the bottom three of the top flight after their 1-1 draw with Swansea at St Marys Stadium. The Saints took the lead on 64 minutes, as midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin got on the end of a Rickie Lambert knock down to fire home.
Nathan Dyer equalised in the 73rd minute, the winger finishing coolly, after a mistake by defender Maya Yoshida. The Saints may have had to settle for a point, but the draw moved the South Coast outfit off the bottom of the league table.
QPR were the side that dropped to the bottom of the Premier League after losing 1-0 at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium. Midfielder Charlie Adam fired home the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute.
West Brom continued their good start to the season with a 2-1 victory at Wigan. The visitors took the lead on 31 minutes. Northern Ireland midfielder Chris Brunt found fellow midfielder James Morrison, who headed home powerfully past Ali Al-Habsi.
The Baggies were two goals up in the 43rd minute, as Wigan defender Gary Caldwell put the ball past his own keeper from Billy Jones’ cross-cum-shot. The Latics got a goal back just a minute later. Striker Arouna Kone scored at the far post from Jean Beausejour’s cross.
The victory leaves Steve Clarke’s side behind fourth place Everton on goal difference. Wigan are now 14th in the Premier League table.
In the late kick-off, Manchester United came back from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Villa Park. Villa took a surprise lead just before the interval, Andreas Weimann firing home superbly from Christian Benteke’s cross.
The Austrian attacker was again on target early in the second half, tapping home from Gabriel Agbonlahor’s pinpoint cross. Villa looked in control, but didn’t account for Mexican striker Javier Hernandez.
Hernandez controlled Paul Scholes’ pass, before getting the ball from out of his feet and dinking it past Brad Guzan in the 58th minute. Five minutes later the visitors were back on level terms. Rafael’s cross was volleyed towards goal by Hernandez and the striker’s effort went in off Villa defender Ron Vlaar.
United’s winner came in the 87th minute. Robin Van Persie’s free-kick was headed home at the far post by Hernandez. The victory took the Red Devils four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Can West Brom mount a realistic challenge for European places this season?
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