BPL REVIEW: United held by 10-man Villa, City level on point with Chelsea

Manchester United couldn’t make it seven wins in seven games in the Barclays Premier League (BPL) as Aston Villa held on for a 1-1 draw at Villa Park despite playing the last 25 minutes with 10 men.

The home side took the lead after 18 minutes as Christian Benteke controlled a free-kick and placed a curled left-foot shot into the top corner with David De Gea stranded.

The Belgian forward almost doubled the lead but this time De Gea was able to tip his header over the bar.

Radamel Falcao equalised for the visitors in the second half as he planted a free header past Brad Guzan for his second goal of the season.

Aston Villa were reduced to ten men after 65 minutes when Gabriel Agbonlahor was adjudged to have gone in late on former team-mate Ashley Young.

But they did enough to hang on and could even have won with a couple of late chances.

With a share of the spoils, United remain third on the log, seven points behind Manchester City and Chelsea, who play on Monday.

David Silva scored twice as Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 to move level on points with leaders Chelsea.

The Spain midfielder struck twice in the second half on his 200th appearance for the club at the Etihad Stadium in Saturday’s early kickoff, as the champions stretched their winning run to eight games in all competitions.

Tottenham moved themselves up to sixth as they beat Burnley 2-1 at White Hart Lane.

Harry Kane headed home Nacer Chadli’s cross after 22 minutes to give the hosts the lead but Burnley were back on level terms when Ashley Barnes’ strike left Hugo Lloris with no chance.

Erik Lamela scored the winner as he cut in from the right flank and bent in a dipping strike which evaded the glove of Tom Heaton.

Charlie Austin’s hat-trick helped Queens Park Rangers beat West Brom 3-2 despite being 2-0 down after 20 minutes

Joleon Lescott put the Baggies in front at Loftus Road and Silvestre Varela doubled their lead ten minutes later.

An Austin penalty got the home side back into the game and four minutes into the second period he lashed a shot home to take the score to 2-2.

Austin powered home a magnificent header to give Harry Redknapp’s men all three points four minutes to the end of the match.

Southampton won after 630 minutes as they put three goals past Everton at St Mary’s.

The Saints were without a win in six games going into this but James Ward-Prowse put a smile on boss Ronald Koeman’s face after scoring the first goal.

Graziano Pelle doubled the lead when he fired home from a Shane Long knockdown.

Maya Yoshida shouldered in a Steven Davis cross as the hosts stopped the rot and left Everton down in tenth.

At the KC Stadium, Swansea City claimed a slim 1-0 win over Hull City.

Jonjo Shelvey’s strike deflected beyond Allan McGregor off Ki Sung-Yueng to put the visitors ahead.

And there were to be no other goals in the clash leaving Hull languishing in 19th position and putting Garry Monk’s Swans in eighth.

West Ham beat rock bottom Leicester City at Upton Park as they ensured they remain in the top four.

Paul Konchesky handed Andy Carroll a huge gift as his misjudged back pass fell straight to the England man who ran towards goal, beat the last defender and then deftly clip his shot over Ben Hamer.

The Hammers got their second goal after an audacious touch and shot from Stewart Downing outside the box beat the keeper.