Van Persie Earns United 1-0 Win over West Ham
Robin van Persie's first-minute strike earned Manchester United a nervy 1-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday, keeping the team top of the Premier League by a point ahead of archrival Manchester City.
The Netherlands striker grabbed his ninth league goal when his shot deflected off James Collins and over the head of goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen after just 32 seconds, making it the quickest goal in the league this campaign.
With United lacking any real fluency, Carlton Cole came close to snatching a draw for the mid-table visitors but his close-range attempt was blocked by goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard.
United's fourth straight home win kept City at arm's length after the champions' 2-0 victory at Wigan on Wednesday, and saw Van Persie get back in the goals after three scoreless games. He now has 12 goals in 18 matches in all competitions this season after his move from Arsenal in August.
"Robin van Persie is a quality player and we have largely kept him quiet," West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said. "But he will score 20 goals for Manchester United, maybe 30, (this campaign)."
His effort had more than a hint of good fortune in it, flicking a pass from Michael Carrick over marker Winston Reid before seeing his attempted lob loop off Collins into the net.
United failed to kick on, though, and was kept largely quiet by a compact West Ham side.
"We got a great start," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "You hope to go on from a start like that and some of our football was very good, but we never quite finished them off."
With Wayne Rooney struggling to make an impact as an attacking midfielder, West Ham tried to respond through shots by Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll that both flew off target.
United ended up hanging on for a scrappy victory, with the team yet to click this season.
"Of course, City are on our tails so it is going to be a long season," Ferguson said.
The first Manchester derby takes place at City's Etihad Stadium on December 9.
Elsewhere, Mario Balotelli and James Milner scored in the second half as defending champion Manchester City finally wore down a spirited Wigan for a 2-0 victory in the Premier League.
City took time to warm up on a freezing night and Wigan had several chances before Balotelli netted the opener in the 69th minute with his first Premier League goal since March.
Milner then doubled the lead with a hard swerving shot from outside the area three minutes later before being forced off with a hamstring injury.
Balotelli was making his first start in six matches and, after a mostly frustrating night, eventually justified Roberto Mancini's selection of him ahead of Edin Dzeko.
Balotelli sent a free kick over in the second half and then had a glaring miss when he headed wide from close range at the far post from an inch-perfect cross by Maicon.
But Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi was unable to hold Gareth Barry's low strike from the edge of the area in the 69th minute and Balotelli was quick to react.
The Italian's first effort was blocked, but he made no mistake with the second chance and he emphatically tucked away his third goal of the season in all competitions.
There was a slight delay to play restarting as Balotelli ran off to celebrate with substitute Carlos Tevez, who was warming up on the touchline.
City put the result beyond doubt just three minutes later as substitute Milner, brought on for the ineffective Javi Garcia, found the top corner with a stunning long-range strike.
Maicon should have added a third after being presented the ball by Emmerson Boyce's poor clearance but side-footed wide with Al Habsi beaten.
Source: Associated Press
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