New manager of Queen Park Rangers Harry Redknapp watched from the stands as his new wards lost a second half lead on the way to a 3-1 defeat in the hands of Manchester united. Under the interim guidance of Mark Bowen, the bottom of the table team visitors took the lead from a 52nd minute goal by Jamie Mackie. His goal was however nullified by two set-pieces that saw Johnny Evans and Danny Fletcher both on target with headers from Wayne Rooney corner kicks. It was Johnny Evans second of the season and Fletcher’s first since his long layoff through injury for almost a year. Javier Hernandez who has been on a superb run of form this November finished matters off with a goal set up by Anderson. This win sees Manchester United back to the top of the table with 30 points with closest rivals Manchester City in second place after their draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
In other matches Jodi Gomez scored a hat-trick to wipe out Al Habsi’s earlier error as Wigan Athletic secured a 3-2 victory over Everton. Sean Morrison opener in the 35th minute gave reading a half time lead that was cancelled out by Gomez’s equalizer in the 57thminute, a header in the 68th minute saw Wigan go ahead but was erased by Al Habsi’s own goal in the 79th minute, however the three points were wrapped up by a man of the match performance from Gomez who completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute to grab a late winner for the Lactics.
Charlie Adam's 26th-minute goal secured Stoke City a 1-0 win against Fulham at the Britannia Stadium, the Scotland midfielder benefitting from a knockdown by Peter Crouch.
Rafa Benitez was unable to inspire a quick fire approach in Torres as the Chelsea striker played like he had all season; demure, withdrawn, uninterested and lacking in spirit.
It was tactically guarded approach from both coaches that saw most of the match being played in midfield with neither keepers on the each ends of the goal line having much work to do. The hard-fought battle ended in a statement without a goal from either side. This means Manchester City loose their hold on the top of the league with the one point they got from this game taking them up to 29 points, second behind Manchester united.
In other parts of London Andy Carrol scored his first goal for west Ham United but it wasn’t enough to secure any points as they lost 2-1 away to Tottenham Hotspurs at the White Hart Lane with diminutive striker Jermaine Defoe grabbing a brace on either side of a Gareth Bale goal.
It was a sad return for former Southampton coach Alan Pardew as his team Newcastle United lost 2-0 to goals from Adam Lallana and Gaston Ramirez at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Earlier in the day Brendan Rodgers also failed to find victory against his former side, although Liverpool emerged from their encounter with Swansea City with a point following another 0-0 draw.
