Man United held

The Manchester derby at Old Trafford finished 0-0 as City frustrated United with dogged defending, surviving at least three goalline clearances and three penalty appeals.

United, who have gone two league games without scoring after a 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth last weekend, had striker Alan Smith sent off one minute from time for a second bookable offence.

Bolton held on to fourth spot with 22 points, three ahead of fifth-placed Boro after 12 matches, while United stay seventh on 18 points and Newcastle slip a place to ninth 13 points off the pace compared to the standings before the weekend matches.

New leaders Chelsea, who beat Everton 1-0 at home on Saturday, are top on 29 points, two ahead of second-placed champions Arsenal, who were held 1-1 at Crystal Palace. Everton remain third with 23 points.

Fulham’s outstanding player was former Nottingham Forest and Boro goalkeeper Mark Crossley, who made a string of superb saves including three in the opening quarter of an hour as Newcastle put the visitors under siege. Striker Collins John gave Fulham the lead against the run of play when he broke away in the 28th minute to steer a ball from Pape Bouba Diop through keeper Stephen Harper’s legs. Newcastle’s manager was sent off to the stands shortly afterwards for protesting that the referee should have given a penalty when striker Alan Shearer was brought down. Souness said: “We came across Crossley on an inspired day. He’s never had a game of football like that in his life before.” (Reuters)