BPL Saturday Review 3rd Oct 2009

Source: www.espnstar.com

Manchester United delved into their much-used box of late comebacks to rescue a point against Sunderland.

Two weeks after Michael Owen's last-gasp winner against Manchester City, Anton Ferdinand could not get out of the way of an off-target effort from Patrice Evra to grab United a point and deprive the Black Cats of their first Old Trafford win since 1968.

In truth, it lacked the thrill factor of a fortnight ago. And so poor was United's general performance that questions are bound to be asked about their ability to retain their Barclays Premier League title.

Darren Bent gave the visitors a seventh-minute lead, Dimitar Berbatov levelled after 51, only for Kenwyne Jones to restore Sunderland's advantage seven minutes later.

However, deep into injury-time - and shortly after Sunderland had seen former United midfielder Kieran Richardson dismissed for a second yellow card, Ferdinand's own goal earned a point for Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Elsewhere, bottom club Portsmouth put recent troubles behind them to grab a first Barclays Premier League win after holding off Wolves 1-0 at Molineux.

Paul Hart's men - who had lost all of their seven league games before this afternoon, with reports of wages not being paid following Sulaiman al Fahim's protracted takeover - went ahead on 19 minutes through Hassan Yebda, on-loan from Benfica.

Aruna Dindane almost made it 2-0, but was denied by Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey before Pompey stopper David James produced a fine save from Andrew Keogh in first-half stoppage time.

Wolves felt they had a strong penalty claim just after the hour mark when Michael Kightly appeared to handle the ball, but referee Howard Webb was unconvinced.

Pompey dug in - with James producing a superb late save from Greg Halford - to record a morale-boosting victory, but they remain at the foot of the table.

High-flying Tottenham twice fought back to secure a 2-2 draw at Bolton.

Ricardo Gardner fired the Trotters into a fourth-minute lead after goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini had parried Chung-Yong Lee's shot.

Spurs, though, equalised somewhat against the run of play when Croatia international Niko Kranjcar (34) slotted home after Peter Crouch's knockdown to score his first goal since moving from Portsmouth.

Kevin Davies (69) headed the hosts back in front, but after Crouch had seen his shot come off keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and hit the bar, defender Vedran Corluka (73) headed in a corner to earn Harry Redknapp's men a share of the points as Spurs moved back into the top three.

Hull moved out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win over Wigan at KC Stadium.

After having a first-half penalty appeal for handball turned down, the Tigers - thrashed 6-1 at Liverpool last weekend - took the lead on the hour through a powerful header from Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Brazilian Giovanni (68) put the home side, who ended a run of three straight league defeats, in control when he swept in Kamil Zayatte's right-wing cross.

However, there was still time for substitute Scott Sinclair (87) to pull a goal back for Wigan - who last week produced a shock win over Chelsea.

Burnley maintained their 100% home record as they beat Birmingham 2-1 at Turf Moor.

The visitors should have been ahead at the break, but Lee Bowyer somehow missed the target when the ball arrived to him unmarked at the far post.

It proved costly as, on 53 minutes Burnley - who have beaten Manchester United, Everton and Sunderland at home on their first foray into the Premier League - went ahead when England hopeful Joe Hart allowed Steven Fletcher's shot to squirm into the net.

Before Birmingham, promoted last season along with the Clarets, had a chance to respond, Owen Coyle's side doubled their lead when Andre Bikey, a summer buy from Reading, played a one-two with David Nugent and slotted past Hart.

Sebastian Larsson (90) netted a late consolation for Birmingham with a well-taken free-kick.