Man United stay in title race, Tottenham lose to Leicester
PREMIER LEAGUE Vardy, Mahrez score in Foxes’ victory while Young powers Devils ahead In the Premier League if you do not fight you are going to struggle, and our performance was a clear example of that in the first half when we were 20 down.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO, Tottenham Hotspur manager
LONDON: Manchester United sent a timely message to leaders Manchester City as they won 4-2 at Watford but Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League challenge is fading fast after they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Leicester City on Tuesday.
Ashley Young was on target for the first time in 18 months as he scored twice for secondplaced United who led 3-0 at the break before Watford produced a late fightback.
United’s win moves them to 32 points and they are within five points of leaders City who host Southampton on Wednesday.
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez turned the clock back two years as they both scored in a first-half display reminiscent of when the Foxes won the title in 2015-16.
Harry Kane replied for Tottenham after the break but the visitors could not prevent a third defeat in five league games which left them in fifth place -- 13 points off top spot.
West Bromwich Albion’s caretaker manager Gary Megson looked set for a moraleboosting victory as his side led Newcastle United 2-0 with goals from Hal Robson-kanu and Sam Field.
But Newcastle rallied to avoid a fifth straight league defeat with Ciaran Clark halving the deficit and an own goal by West Brom’s Jonny Evans frustrating the hosts who are expected to name a successor to sacked Tony Pulis this week.
The BBC reported after Tuesday’s match that former New- castle and Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew, 56, was set to be appointed as the new West Brom manager as early as Wednesday.
Basement club Palace drew 0-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion to move level on nine points with second-bottom Swansea City.
LIKELY CHALLENGERS
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City look unstoppable but neighbours United are emerging as their most likely challengers with a derby looming next month.
United have been hamstrung by their poor away form, losing their last two on the road in the league, but they found a cure for travel sickness at a freezing Vicarage Road where manager Jose Mourinho said they could have scored seven or eight goals.
As it was they were hanging on towards the end after Tory Deeney’s converted a 77th minute penalty and Abdoulaye Doucoure stabbed home to make it 3-2 with six minutes left before Jesse Lingard’s superb solo goal sealed the win.
“The second half should have been five or six nil, it was easier to score than the first,” Mourinho said.
Brighton & Hove Albion Leicester City
Watford
W Bromwich Albion Crystal Palace Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United Newcastle United