Steven Bloor 

Premier League: Saturday’s matches – in pictures

All the best images from around the grounds where Manchester United overcame Pepe Mel's Baggies, Cardiff take on Fulham, Southampton visit Crystal Palace, Norwich face Stoke City and Tottenham take a trip across London to Chelsea
  
  


United v West Brom: David Moyes
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United The Red Devils' boss David Moyes seems to be in a confident mood ahead of kick-off Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
United v West Brom: Juan Mata skips past Baggies' Gareth McAuley
Juan Mata skips past Baggies' Gareth McAuley Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
United v West Brom: Phil Jones scores
Just past the half-hour mark Manchester United take the lead courtesy of Phil Jones' bonce when he directs Robin Van Persie's whipped in free-kick into the net Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
United v West Brom: Phil Jones celebrates
Jones is rather chuffed to have got on the scoresheet Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
United v West Brom: Manchester United's Rooney scores
Midway through the second half Wayne Rooney puts clear daylight between the teams when he started and ended the move that gave United their second. He picked the ball up outside the box with his back to goal and played it to Mata. He, in turn, spread the ball out wide to Rafael on the right. In space, he whipped in a brilliant cross to find Rooney – who had turned and timed his run into the box perfectly – at the back post. Like Jones earlier, he was in acres of space and all Rooney had to do was stick his head on it and direct the ball into the goal. Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters
United v West Brom: Wayne Rooney
A fact courtesy of OptaJoe - Wayne Rooney is the first player in Premier League history to record double figures for both goals & assists in five seasons Photograph: Rui Vieira/AP
United v West Brom: Dany Welbeck scores
With eight minutes to go Danny Welbeck puts the game to bed when he notches United's third. The United players pass their way around the pitch in a swift counter-attack. It comes to Rooney, he plays it to Fellaini and the Belgian gives it right back. Rooney then plays a beautiful through ball into the box for Welbeck, who is hanging on the last line of the WBA defence. He takes a touch and then passes the ball past Foster and into the far corner of the net. Final score: West Bromwich Albion 0-3 Manchester United Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
round-up: Retro Norwich programmes
Norwich City v Stoke City Retro Norwich programmes for sale including one from the corresponding fixture back in 1974 Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
round-up: Norwich City v Stoke City programme
The matchday programme from the game is a special programme in tribute to Norwich stalwart Duncan Forbes who has been diagnosed with Alzheimers Photograph: Tom Dulat/Getty Images
round-up: Peter Crouch stretches in vain to reach a cross
Peter Crouch stretches in vain to reach a cross Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
round-up: Wesley Hoolahan of Norwich and Steven N'Zonzi
Wesley Hoolahan of Norwich and Steven N'Zonzi of Stoke get in a tangle Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Bradley Johnson scores
Bradley Johnson, the partially obscured bearded chap, rises above the Stoke defence to power home a header and open the scoring Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Jonathan Walters celebrates after equalising from the penalty spot
Jonathan Walters celebrates after equalising from the penalty spot Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images
Saturday Round-up: Ricky van Wolfswinkel shields the ball from Matthew Etherington
Ricky van Wolfswinkel shields the ball from Matthew Etherington Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Jonathan Walters is shown the red card
Jonathan Walters is shown a straight red card by referee Andre Marriner following his knee-high challenge on Alexander Tettey. Final score: Norwich City 1-1 Stoke City Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
round-up: Jose Fonte gets to grips with Palace's Glenn Murray
Crystal Palace v Southampton Jose Fonte gets to grips with Palace's Glenn Murray Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Southampton's Steven Davis, centre, has a shot on goal
Southampton's Steven Davis, centre, has a shot on goal Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images
Saturday Round-up: Jay Rodriguez scores
Jay Rodriguez slides in to knock the ball past Palace keeper Julian Speroni ... Photograph: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Jay Rodriguez scores
Both players are on the ground ... Photograph: Steven Paston/Action Images
Saturday Round-up: Jay Rodriguez scores
But Rodriguez reacts quickest and knocks the ball into an empty net from a seated position. With Palace failing to create a clear opening, the game belonged to the visitors. The defeat meant that Palace slipped closer to the relegation zone and as they travel to fellow strugglers Sunderland next Saturday they will need to find goals from somewhere if they are to stay clear of trouble. Final score: Crystal Palace 0-1 Southampton Photograph: Steven Paston/Action Images
round-up: Vincent Tan
Cardiff City v Fulham Is Bluebirds' owner Vincent Tan looking for inspiration from above in order to fashion a win in this battle between the bottom two clubs Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images
round-up: Cardiff's Craig Noone skips through the Fulham defence
Craig Noone skips through the Fulham defence Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Cardiff City Steven Caulker celebrates after opening the scoring
Cardiff City Steven Caulker, centre, celebrates after firing home from close range to open the scoring on the stroke of half-time. Lewis Holtby levelled just before the hour, blasting home following a corner before Caulker headed home his second from a Noone cross Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Sascha Riether of Fulham scores an own goal
Whilst under pressure from Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell, Fulham's Sascha Riether diverted the ball into his own net after Stekelenburg had saved Campbell's header. The win means that Cardiff City boosted their hopes of Premier League survival whilst bottom club Fulham were plunged deeper into trouble. Final score: Cardiff City 3-1 Fulham Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Protests at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur Outside Stamford Bridge there are a smattering of people protesting against Russia's military intervention in Ukraine and Chelsea owner Roman Abamovich's support of the Russian premier Vladimir Putin Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Hugo Lloris clatters into Eto'o
Just three minutes in and Samuel Eto'o is sent atumbling when Spurs' keeper Hugo Lloris comes charging out and clatters into the Chelsea striker. When Eto'o eventually gets up he has a few words to say to Lloris Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Eden Hazard rounds Lloris
In the next minute Lloris almost does the same thing to Eden Hazard but the Chelsea midfielder is fleet of foot and mind so leaps over the Spurs keeper's outstretched leg … Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action Images
Saturday Round-up: Chelsea's Hazard runs past Tottenham Hotspur's Lloris
He stays on his feet but can’t quite wrap his foot around the ball to bury it from the edge of the area and it flies wide right of the target. It's a huge let-off for Lloris and Spurs Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters
Chelsea versus Spurs: Eto'o celebrates
Just before the hour mark Vertonghen steps on the ball and falls over near the centre circle then swivels round on his buttocks and pokes the ball back towards his own goal. It’s a suicidal pass, releasing Eto’o clear. Eto’o takes a touch, then guides the ball into the bottom left. During his celebrations he pretends to be an old man, mocking comments allegedly made by manager Jose Mourinho questioning his real age Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images
Saturday Round-up: Hazard celebrates
Just four minutes later Eden Hazard extends Chelsea's lead from the penalty spot after Eto'o falls to his knees with Kaboul behind him. Not only did the ref point to the spot he also shows Kaboul a red card. A bit controversial as there didn't look like there was much contact between the two of them Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images
Chelsea versus Spurs: Dejected Tottenham
In the last two minutes Demba Ba capitalises on some comedic defending by Spurs to score two goals in two minutes. For Ba's first Sandro, centre, falls over as he attempts to trap the ball and the Chelsea forward takes possession and hammers a low shot home. Spurs' embarressment is complete when Kyle Walker weakly heads back to his own area allowing Ba to challenge the outrushing Lloris and spin around the hapless keeper and hoick the ball into an empty net. The win puts Chelsea seven points clear at the top of the table. Final score: Chelsea 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
 

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