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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
7Aston Villa125431919019
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Fulham125341717018
10Brentford125252222017
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


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