FOOTBALL: ENGLAND PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United surge ahead into a significant lead, which now stretches to eleven points over second-placed Sunderland, a club having its best season ever. Sheringham, Giggs and Chadwick scored Manchester United’s goals as the top club crushed bottom of the table, Bradford City, away, 3 - 0.

Arsenal FC lost ground, conceding a home draw 1 – 1 with London neighbours Chelsea. Sunderland and Liverpool both took advantage of Arsenal’s slip with comprehensive away wins. Sunderland won 2 – 0 against West Ham United in London and Liverpool thrashed Aston Villa 3 – 0 at Villa Park.

Middlesbrough continue their meteoric rise up the table since the arrival of ex-England manager Terry Venables as coach, with a 4 – 0 trouncing of Derby County. The other Manchester team, Manchester City, went down at home 4 – 0 to a vigorous Leeds United side which scored three goals in the last ten minutes.

Bobby Robson’s Newcastle United climb up to seventh place after a 3-1 home win against Coventry City, as Southampton drew 0-0 at home with revelation team Charlton Athletic, ably managed by Alan Curbishley, now in eighth place.

In today’s match, Ipswich Town beat Leicester City 2- 0. The Classification is as follows:

Team – played – points

1. Manchester United 23 53

2. Sunderland FC 23 42

3. Arsenal FC 23 40

4. Ipswich Town 23 40

5. Liverpool FC 22 39

6. Leicester City 23 35

7. Newcastle United 23 34

8. Charlton Athletic 23 32

9. Chelsea FC 22 31

10.Tottenham Hotspur 23 30

11. West Ham United 22 29

12. Leeds United 21 29

13. Aston Villa 21 29

14. Southampton FC 23 28

15. Middlesbrough FC 23 23

16. Everton FC 22 23

17. Derby County 23 23

18. Coventry City 23 21

19. Manchester City 23 20

20. Bradford City 22 15

JOHN ASHTEAD Pravda.Ru London