United, Spurs, Swansea Celebrate

TEN-MAN Manchester City withstood a determined Norwich to win a pulsating game at Carrow Road.

Table topper, Manchester United, will start 2013 with a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after a hard-earned win over West Bromwich Albion, just as Wigan Athletic was ruthless against host Aston Villa.

Man City surged ahead when Edin Dzeko twice slotted home in the first four minutes. Anthony Pilkington’s free-kick gave Norwich hope but, despite City’s Samir Nasri being red-carded, Sergio Aguero added a third for the visitors.

Norwich’s Russell Martin scored twice either side of a Dzeko shot going in off the post and keeper Mark Bunn as City held on for the victory.

Gareth McAuley deflected Ashley Young’s cross past Ben Foster at rain-lashed Old Trafford; the match only going ahead after a pitch inspection.

Foster tipped a Young effort onto the bar, before West Brom’s Gabriel Tamas wasted a great chance. But United substitute Robin van Persie sealed victory with a curling finish.

Wigan Athletic moved out of the Premier League relegation zone and above Aston Villa following a ruthless win against their struggling hosts.

Wigan made the perfect start when Ivan Ramis escaped his marker to meet Jean Beausejour’s corner with a firm header.

Brett Holman smashed a half-volley against the crossbar as Villa briefly threatened before the interval.

Emmerson Boyce calmly slotted in after a superb one-two with Arouna Kone, who added the third from a tight angle.

A spectacular late Cameron Jerome effort grabbed Stoke a last-minute draw at home to Southampton.

The visitors started brightly and Rickie Lambert scored at the far post.

Stoke hit back through Kenwyne Jones’s classy backheel, but a Jay Rodriguez strike and Andy Wilkinson’s own-goal restored Southampton’s lead.

Matthew Upson’s scrappy goal gave Stoke hope then substitute Jerome crashed in a 30 yard screamer to extend the hosts’ unbeaten home run to 17 matches.

Tottenham won their sixth league game out of eight as they came from a goal down to beat Sunderland and move up to third in the Premier League.

Gareth Bale headed wide and Emmanuel Adebayor’s two-yard shot hit the bar, before John O’Shea side-footed in from close range for the Black Cats.

Sunderland’s Carlos Cuellar headed into his own net for Tottenham’s leveller.

Spurs winger Aaron Lennon sealed the comeback when he burst through on goal and coolly slotted home.

English Premiership Results

Sunderland  1 -   2 Tottenham

Aston Villa    0  -  3      Wigan

Fulham         1   -  2        Swansea

Man Utd        2  - 0       West Brom
Norwich         3  -  4 Man City

Reading
1  -  0
West Ham

Stoke
3  -  3
Southampton