The Hindu : Sport / Football : Manchester United moves up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

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Sport - Football

Manchester United moves up

LONDON, DEC. 29. Ryan Giggs scored just before halftime as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 1-0 on Tuesday to move into third place in the Premier League — nine points behind leader Chelsea. Giggs scored after exchanging passes with John O'Shea to give United the victory at Villa Park.

Earlier, Arjen Robben and Joe Cole scored a goal each in the last 11 minutes to give Chelsea a 2-0 win over Portsmouth.

Idle Arsenal stayed in second place — only one point ahead of United — after Charlton beat Everton 2-0, ending the Merseyside club's eight-match unbeaten run.

United has 22 points from its last eight matches. The only game it didn't win was a 1-1 draw with Fulham on December 13.

``We're climbing up the table but it's getting to Chelsea that is the problem,'' Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said. ``We're on a great run and we hope they stumble and we can keep our consistency going. All we can do is keep our form and we'll get our rewards.''

It was the second time in three days Giggs helped the Reds. He scored one and set up another for substitute Paul Scholes when United downed Bolton at Old Trafford 2-0 on Sunday.

English Premier League results: Chelsea bt Portsmouth 2-0; Liverpool bt Southampton 1-0; Manchester United bt Aston Villa 1-0; Blackburn bt Bolton 1-0; Charlton bt Everton 2-0; Birmingham bt Fulham 3-2; Manchester City drew with West Bromwich Albion 1-1; Middlesbrough bt Norwich 2-0; Tottenham drew with Crystal Palace 1-1. — AP

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