MANCHESTER: Edin Dzeko rescued Manchester City with a second-half winner in a shaky 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, lifting his team provisionally top of the English Premier League.
The division’s most free-scoring attack struggled to break down an obdurate Palace defense until Jesus Navas cut the ball back for Dzeko to score from 12 yards for his 50th goal for City.
The goal kept up City’s record of scoring in every home league match since November 2010 and maintained the team’s 100 percent record at Etihad Stadium this season.
City is two points clear of second-place Arsenal, which plays Newcastle away on Sunday for the right to end 2013 on top of the standings.
City was indebted to goalkeeper Joe Hart, who produced a string of second-half saves to preserve the clean sheet.
Meanwhile, substitute Danny Welbeck scored in the second half Saturday as Manchester United beat Norwich 1-0 to move within two points of the top four in the Premier League.
United needed a bit of luck to break down a disciplined Norwich defense in the 57th minute, as a failed clearance ricocheted off both Welbeck and Javier Hernandez before setting the former free on goal. Welbeck made no mistake, racing on to the ball and rounding goalkeeper John Ruddy before slotting into the net.
Welbeck came off the bench at half time and within 15 minutes of his arrival the England international had put United 1-0 up with the decisive strike.
United were without both Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney but still earned its fourth straight victory to provisionally move to sixth place, only two points behind fourth-place Liverpool.
West Ham held 3-3 by West Brom in thriller
West Ham United wasted a perfect opportunity to ease their relegation fears on Saturday when they were held to a 3-3 draw in the Premier League by drop zone rivals West Bromwich Albion.
In a thrilling clash at Upton Park, the Hammers took an early lead through former England forward Joe Cole, but were hit by two goals in five minutes by French striker Nicolas Anelka just before the interval.
The half-time introduction of Mali striker Modibo Maiga enlivened West Ham again and, after striking an equaliser in the 65th minute, he helped set up Kevin Nolan two minutes later as the home team went ahead again. But West Ham were unable to hang on to their lead and the visitors’ substitute striker Saido Berahino equalised with a fine diagonal left-foot shot after 69 minutes. He also hit the post with an 82nd minute free-kick, but West Ham hung on to avoid defeat. The result extended a grim sequence for West Ham who have won only once in 12 league games since winning 3-0 at Tottenham Hotspur on October 6. They remained 19th with 15 points while West Brom are 15th.
Fulham put up no defence as Hull post record win
Hull ended a disappointing run of form in emphatic style on Saturday as they recorded their best-ever result in the Premier League with a 6-0 hammering of struggling Fulham.
Hull, who had won just twice since September prior to the game, scored all their goals in the second-half to move seven points clear of the relegation places while the visitors remain third from bottom with their defence once again having let them down. They have conceded 41 goals in 19 games, the worst in the Premier League, and must hope to get positive results at home to fellow relegation candidates West Ham and Sunderland early next year to ease their plight.
Hull dominated the first-half without managing to beat David Stockdale, deputising for first choice ‘keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who failed to recover from a calf injury. Hull kept up the pressure on Fulham straight after the break, Huddlestone again going close with a fine effort that crept over the bar.
Stockdale then did brilliantly in denying first Yannick Sagbo and regathered himself to save from the rebound which fell to Slovenian Robert Koren — but his efforts were to be in vain seconds later.Huddlestone’s corner was only cleared as far as Elmohamady, who made no mistake from the edge of the box with a crisp effort.
From then on Fulham wilted and Hull rubbed in their all-round superiority with two goals in three minutes around the hour mark to set the tone for a massive win. (Agencies)
