Lucky Louis makes hard work of Harry’s strugglers
LOUIS VAN GAAL will be counting his blessings today after watching his Manchester United side grind their way back to winning ways with a 2-0 away win over lacklustre Queens Park Rangers.
United had keeper David de Gea to thank for a pair of fine early saves to deny Charlie Austin, before Radamel Falcao was denied by a quality stop from Robert Green.
But for the majority of the game, second-bottom QPR were every bit as poor as their league position suggests.
Marouane Fellaini eventually made the breakthrough when he stroked home in the 58th minute before James Wilson completed victory with his first goal of the season in stoppage time.
Ahead of the game, QPR boss Harry Redknapp was reported to be one defeat away from the sack, but he hit back after the loss insisting there is no talk of him being replaced.
‘I don’t worry about that,’ Redknapp said. ‘I spoke to (chairman) Tony Fernandes this week five times and he has never mentioned anything to me and just said, “What a load of nonsense”.’
Southampton’s loan signing from Werder Bremen, Eljero Elia, scored both his side’s goals to help them move back to the giddy heights of third place in a 2-1 win over Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Elia recorded his first goal in England when he fired under Tim Krul in the 14th minute.
Newcastle equalised when Saints defender Florin Gardos’ clearance hit Yoan Gouffran and spun into the net.
Elia made it 2-1 when his deflected shot beat Krul after a flick-on from substitute Shane Long before Newcastle saw a late penalty appeal turned down.
Jermain Defoe’s return to his former club proved an unhappy one as Christian Eriksen’s late finish gave Tottenham a 2-1 home win over Sunderland.
New signing Defoe started for the Black Cats but it was the hosts who began the brighter, with Jan Vertonghen hitting a third-minute opener after a mistake by defender Santiago Vergini.
Sebastian Larsson equalised with a brilliant free-kick on the half-hour.
Sunderland were made to pay for Danny Graham’s scuffed shot straight at Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris when Eriksen hit a close-range effort in the dying minutes.
Dwight Gayle scored twice as Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace surged back from 2-0 down to beat Burnley 3-2 at a snowy Turf Moor.
Goals from Ben Mee and Danny Ings had got the Clarets off to a flying start in the first quarter-hour before Gayle’s 28th-minute effort gave the Eagles hope.
Jason Puncheon hit home the equaliser three minutes into the second half then Gayle pounced three minutes from time with a superb left-foot finish to claim a valuable win.
A second-half goal from Bojan gave Stoke a hardfought 1-0 victory at bottom club Leicester City.