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Manchester United edge past Southampton

Manchester United move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a narrow 2-1 win over Southampton at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a narrow 2-1 win over Southampton at Old Trafford.

Jay Rodriguez gave the visitors a shock lead early on, but Wayne Rooney netted twice to give United the victory.

Saints forward Jay Rodriguez celebrates his strike against Man Utd on January 30, 2013© PA Photos

The visitors took the lead in comical circumstances with only three minutes on the clock thanks to Rodriguez.

A misplaced back pass from Michael Carrick forced goalkeeper David de Gea to come off his line, but the Spaniard missed the ball as he attempted to clear, allowing Rodriguez to tap into an empty net.

However, United were level minutes later when Rooney placed the ball into the far corner following Shinji Kagawa's clever pass.

United's Wayne Rooney celebrates equalising against Southampton on January 30, 2013© AP Photos

Kagawa then saw his effort on the angle strike the post as the hosts pushed hard for a second goal.

They were rewarded for their persistence on 30 minutes thanks to Rooney's simple finish after Patrice Evra had headed Robin van Persie's free kick back across the box.

Southampton started the second half brightly, but Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis were unable to convert their chances.

Lambert had United worried on the hour as De Gea failed to hold his free kick. However, there were no Southampton players to latch onto the rebound.

The hosts were well below their best in the second half, but they defended their lead to see them move further ahead of rivals City.

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United's Wayne Rooney celebrates equalising against Southampton on January 30, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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