Chicharito, Nani Give Manchester United Three Point Gap

The play’s main build-up started with Charlie Adams on the ball 32 yards from goal. The captain swung a ball wide right for Neal Eardley, who got to the line before putting a far post ball to the edge of the six for Taylor-Fletcher. The attacker fell back from the defense to win the ball, heading it down for Campbell near the spot. The right footed finish by one of the club’s promotion heroes brought Blackpool even with visiting Brum.

Manchester United now finds themselves right where they deserve to be, a goal better than the Potters at 2-1. If anything, the Red Devils should have a multiple goal lead and if there is to be another goal in the match, you would bet on it coming from the home side. A beautiful back-heel opener by Hernandez and Nani’s strike are the scoreboard’s indication of United’s supremacy, but nearly every minute of the match has been pro-United and they have no stopped charging forward since regaining the lead.

Incredibly, despite Fulham scoring their second goal on a corner kick and Brede Hangeland making a very dangerous run on that corner, despite not scoring, the Fulham central defender has managed to get completely wide open to score his team’s third goal, putting them 3-0 up on West Brom.

This is one goal that can’t be blamed on Scott Carson in any way, shape, or form. Hangeland was inexplicably unmarked on the play, as if a 6’7” central defender who has already scored twice this season is really easy to miss. He seemingly came out of nowhere to meet the ball and headed powerfully down into the ground, giving Carson no chance. It was an impeccable set piece, and it has effectively ended the game.

United States international and Fulham’s leading scorer, Clint Dempsey, has put the Cottagers ahead 2-0 over West Brom with a header on a set piece. Dempsey’s jumping ability helped to create the goal and West Brom’s poor defending was probably the biggest factor in creating the goal, but Scott Carson cannot be ignored. Once again he had a decent chance to make a stop, and once again, he failed to do so.

Dempsey’s header had some decent power on it and Brede Hangeland’s run from a different direction towards the spot Dempsey was standing in might have confused Carson, but Dempsey’s header was not into the corner. It was right down the middle, pretty close to Carson’s hand. This goal wasn’t nearly as big of an error as the first one, but the fact that Carson should have done better on both of Fulham’s goals can’t be ignored.

Last year, those headlines where followed by musings, whether then 26-year-old could get consideration for England. Those musings have stopped, but Johnson’s play remains as strong, perhaps making him one of this season’s most overlooked defenders.

Despite creating almost nothing, Stoke City have equalized at Old Trafford through Dean Whitehead’s goal, their first away to Manchester United in over thirty years. United had looked very comfortable since taking the lead with Chicarito’s goal, but failed to capitalize on the few half-chances they carved out. Stoke themselves had a slight opportunity shortly before Whitehead’s goal, which came five minutes after halftime, as Tuncay rose to meet Robert Huth’s cross, but failed to get enough power and proper direction on a difficult header.

In fairness to Stoke, they have been more enterprising in the beginning of the second half, but that is only compared with a pretty limp first forty-five minutes. However, they have gotten back on level terms with the hosts; Kenwyne Jones laid the ball off to Tuncay, who placed a very good cross for Whitehead, who placed a good header beyond Tomasz Kuszczak from about twelve yards out. Though it was a well-worked goal, Sir Alex Ferguson will be wondering exactly how Whitehead found himself so free in the area, despite the presence of several United defenders.

A back and forth first half that saw chances for both teams should have gone into halftime as a draw, but Fulham’s Simon Davies and West Brom’s Scott Carson had other plans. Thanks to Davies’ shot and Carson’s error, the relegation threatened Cottagers have a 1-0 lead at home.

West Brom had the more clear cut chances of the two teams before the goal, causing David Stockdale, starting in the absence of Mark Schwarzer, to do some solid work in goal. Fulham took the lead in first half stoppage time, though off of a 25 yard shot by Davies.

While Brum’s scoring chances have stayed infrequent in the wake of the goal, they’ve been able to make an adjustment that’s help them provide more resistance down the flanks. At least, it seems like an adjustment - this could be improved effort or what they have wanted to do all along. Regardless, Blackpool is finding their life harder in the last 20 minutes of the first half.

The result: Blackpool has had to be more patient moving the ball into attack, and once there, they’re finding a Birmingham defense whose shape has not had to be compromised. As a result, the match goes to half 1-0 Brum, but Birmingham having gained a firm grip on play.

With just under a half-hour played, Manchester United are a goal up against Stoke City at Old Trafford courtesy of a neat back-heel finish by Javier Hernández. If Sir Alex Ferguson’s side can maintain this advantage, they will go three points clear of cross-town rivals Manchester City, who face Arsenal tomorrow.

The hosts began on the front foot, closing down Stoke in midfield and barely giving their visitors a touch in the early minutes. United’s pressing tailed off a bit after ten minutes, but Stoke haven’t created any chances and have rarely put more than one or two men in front of the ball, even while in possession.

Just three Barclays Premier League matches on Tuesday as the remainder of the league eye Wednesday kickoffs in England. The thick and fast holiday fixture list continues though as teams are now encountering their fourth league match in 10 days. Staggering by all accounts, but regardless, the league carries on.

from SB Nation soccer editor Richard Farley