United tops as Gunners held by Boro

BEIJING, March 17 -- Champion Manchester United went back to the top of the English Premier League on Saturday after it won 1-0 at Derby County and Arsenal was held 1-1 by Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal looked set for a rare home defeat until Kolo Toure's header went in off defender Matthew Taylor and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer four minutes from time.

Former Arsenal forward Jeremie Aliadiere marked his return from a four-match ban by scoring against his old club after 25 minutes with a volley into the roof of Manuel Almunia's net.

It was Arsenal's fourth successive draw in the league and allowed United to move above it on goal difference.

United has 67 points from 29 matches, Arsenal has 67 from 30 while Chelsea kept the pressure on the top two with a 1-0 win at Sunderland. It has 64 points from 29 matches and faces Arsenal at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Cristiano Ronaldo was United's hero at Pride Park, scoring with just 14 minutes to go as Derby, bottom of the table with only one league win all season, offered far tougher resistance than United expected.

Ben Foster, on his debut in the United goal, had a busy afternoon and made a brilliant save from Kenny Miller to deny Derby the lead.

United finally broke through when Wayne Rooney passed for Ronaldo who sidefooted home past former United keeper Roy Carroll for his 31st goal of the season.

"That was one of our hardest games of the season," United manager Alex Ferguson said.

"It became a real battle and all credit to them - and their crowd was great, but we're delighted to have the three points. The title race is bubbling up nicely."

Chelsea maintained its title challenge with a narrow away win at Sunderland, with John Terry grabbing the only goal after 10 minutes, his first of the season.

Fourth-placed Liverpool came from behind to beat Reading 2-1 at Anfield with goals from Javier Mascherano, his first for the club, and Fernando Torres, his 20th in the league this season.

Marek Matejovsky had put Reading ahead after five minutes with a searing 20-meter volley, but a promising afternoon ended on a sour note when angry striker Shane Long threw his shirt at manager Steve Coppell after being substituted.

It was Liverpool's fifth successive league win.

Portsmouth moved above Aston Villa into sixth place after beating the visitors 2-0 at Fratton Park, while West Ham United came from behind to edge Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Upton Park.

Jermaine Defoe and an own-goal from Nigel Reo-Coker in the first half secured the points for Portsmouth, but both teams finished with 10 men after Pompey's Sulley Muntari and Villa's Olof Mellberg were sent off late in the game after picking up two yellow cards.

West Ham ended a run of three straight 0-4 defeats with its victory. Teenage substitute Freddie Sears headed the winner in the closing stages on his debut.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)