Source: Daily_Mail
PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE: Manchester United v Stoke, Fulham v West Brom, Blackpool v Birmingham
Follow Sportsmail's live coverage of the Barclays Premier League where there are three fixtures to kick-off the mid-week action. Manchester United host Stoke, Fulham take on West Brom and Birmingham visit Blackpool. Email me all your thoughts on the events at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Premier League (8pm)Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham FT[LNB]Fulham 3-0 West Brom FT[LNB]Manchester United 2-1 Stoke FT[LNB]22.05: That about wraps things up for me, but be sure to check back for some more Premier League action tomorrow.[LNB]It promises to be a blockbuster with Arsenal hosting Manchester City as the headline game, but there are six other games too and it is sure to be a cracking evening of football.[LNB]Until then thank you for following and good night.[LNB]PS. Be sure to follow Tom Bellwood and his coverage of the fifth Ashes test later on tonight, for once the Aussies don't look beat on the third day so plenty to play for.[LNB]22.02: But what a win for Fulham, sees them climb out the relegation zone to 13th. West Brom are sinking like a stone and fall to 16th, just two points away from the bottom three.[LNB]21.59: For Birmingham that win sees them climb to 15th, and sit third amoingst four clubs on 22 points.[LNB]Blackpool stay 11th having missed the chance to go into the top-half.[LNB]21.57: After a slight wobble Manchester United extend their lead to the top to three points after another solid if not spectacular job against Stoke.[LNB]The Potters remain eight having missed the opportunity go go sixth with a win.[LNB]21.54: Full-time: Fulham 3-0 West Brom[LNB]21.53: Into the second of three added minutes at Craven Cottage.[LNB]21.52: Full-time: Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham[LNB]21.51: No sign of a Blackpool response, if anything Birmingham are pushing for a third, deep into injury time there[LNB]21.50: Full-time: Manchester United 2-1 Stoke[LNB] Last gasp: Scott Dann left it late to grab all three points for Birmingham[LNB]21.48: GOAL! Blackpool 1-2 BIRMINGHAM[LNB]The game that just keeps on giving. Roger Johnson heads down a Jean Beausejour cross for Scott Dann, who ignores the fact he is a centre-back to expertly control the ball and bury the ball past Kingson. Superb strike.[LNB]21.46: Under five minutes left in all the Premier League games and West Brom area heading for a fifth straight defeat.[LNB]Very tough times at the Hawthorns.[LNB]21.43: Bjorn Helge Rise replaces Simon Davies at Craven Cottage who goes off to a big reception from the home fans after his opening goal. It's amazing how three points can change an atmosphere.[LNB]21.40: Michael Owen is on for Hernandez at Old Trafford, sadly his appearances are starting to turn into collectors items.[LNB] Blackpool[LNB]21.37: What is going on at Bloomfield Road! Adam charges from inside his own half towards the Birmingham goal before unleashing a stunning shot that beats Foster and crashes off the post! They are going to need some new woodwork at that ground.[LNB]21.35: It's as good as over at Craven Cottage, West Brom have been restricted to mainly shots from difference and Fulham look comfortable.[LNB]21.32: All three subs in the space of five minutes for Tony Pulis, Rory Delap, Etherington and Kenwyne Jones make way for Jon Walters, Jermaine Pennant and Ricardo Fuller.[LNB]21.28: What a game at Bloomfield Road! Eardley is again involved as he lays the ball back for sub Jason Euell, but the striker just can't make clean contact and the chance goes begging.[LNB]21.25: GOAL! BLACKPOOL 1-1 Birmingham[LNB]Well this is amazing, I'm not exaggerating to say Birmingham could be seven up here. But in a Hollywoodesque script, Eardley's ball to the far-post is headed back into the centre of the penalty area by Gary Taylor-Fletcher where ex Birmingham striker DJ Campbell crashes in the equaliser.[LNB] For the shirt: Brede Hangeland puts the game beyond West Brom's reach by heading in Fulham's third[LNB]21.24: GOAL! FULHAM 3-0 West Brom[LNB]Carbon copy of the second goal, except this time Brede Hangeland does get a header on target and Carson had no chance. After unintentionally ignoring them at half-time this result will seem them push Wigan and West Ham into the bottom three.[LNB] Pick that out: Nani restores Manchester United's lead[LNB]21.23: Incredible Birmingham have hit the post again! Larsson's free-kick beats Kingson but hits the woodwork and bounces out to safety.[LNB]21.20: Sub from Birmingham as Seb Larsson replaces Keith Fahey, Jerome has yet another chance to put this to bed, but his chip over Kingson comes off the post and out to safety.[LNB]21.18: GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 Stoke[LNB]Just as the Potters were starting to build on their equaliser as well. Some good work from Hernandez who drops deep before feeding in Nani to fire into the top corner.[LNB] American dream: Dempsey (centre) headers Fulham ahead[LNB]21.16: GOAL! FULHAM 2-0 West Brom[LNB]Again not Carson's finest moment. A corner just evades the head of Hangeland before connecting fully with Clint Dempsey's, whose effort is high above Carson. Massive uphill task for West Brom now.[LNB]21.15: Again right on cue, Damien Duff shows a tremendous turn of pace to out fox to West Brom defenders before flashing a shot just wide across goal from 20 yards out. Unlucky on the striker after showing superb agility.[LNB] Headmaster: Dean Whitehead scores Stoke's shock equaliser[LNB]21.14: Quiet start to the second period at the Cottage, Fulham though looking confident as they dominate play.[LNB]21.11: You could make a bloopers video of misses just based on the match at Bloomfield Road.[LNB]This time it's Blackpool's contribution, Adam charges through the City team before seeing his shot well saved by Foster, before Luke Varney fires the rebound over.[LNB]21.08: GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 STOKE[LNB]An assist from OptaJoe there, Tuncay whips in a cross and Dean Whitehead rises highest to nod into the corner. game on![LNB]21.07: Some hope for Stoke fans? OptaJoe providing it:[LNB]83% - Man Utd have conceded the highest proportion of goals in the second half (15 of 18) of any team in the Premier League. Nervous.[LNB] On the run: Cameron Jerome (centre) is put under pressure from Neal Eardley[LNB]21.05: We are back underway in all three Premier League games.[LNB]21.02: With Birmingham winning, West Ham fall back into the relegation zone as things stand. PLENTY of time for that to change though.[LNB]20.58: As great responses go, it has been a superb performance from Birmingham, not many teams have gone to Bloomfield Road and outplayed the hosts. Mind you not many teams have gone to Bloomfield Road.[LNB]20.55: And according to OptaJoe, a tough half ahead for West Brom:[LNB]8 - Fulham have conceded fewer second half goals than any other team in the Premier League this season. Confidence.[LNB]20.52: Some half-time stats for you, first this from InfoStradaLive:[LNB]Manchester United have led at half-time in all 11 of their Premier League home matches this season.[LNB] Weslh wizard: Simon Davies celebrates putting Fulham ahead on the cusp of half-time[LNB]20.49: Half-time: Fulham 1-0 West Brom[LNB]20.48: Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Stoke[LNB]20.47: GOAL! FULHAM 1-0 West Brom[LNB]Deary dear Scott Carson! Simon Davies hits a well hit effort from 25 yards but it's straight at the keeper who only succeeds in deflecting the ball into his own goal. really is that bad.[LNB]Half-time: Blackpool 0-1 Birmingham[LNB]20.46: A stonewall penalty at Bloomfield Road...except it isn't. Cameron Jerome clips the ball into the box and Craig Cathcart blatantly brings it down with his hands. Birmingham should be out of sight in this one.[LNB] Tussle: Blackpool's Neal Eardley fends off Birmingham' Matt Derbyshire[LNB]20.44: Don't ever question Brede Hangeland's commitment. He rises highest from a corner to win a header but after seeing his effort fly agonisingly wide cops an accidental punch from Carson.[LNB]20.43: Half-chance for Stoke, Tuncay lays the ball off for Etherington but 30 yards out can't find the target, about as close as the Potters have been.[LNB]20.41: United likewise seemed to have eased off. Slightly surprising, since when was 1-0 a comfortable lead?[LNB]20.38: Slight lull in the game at Bloomfield Road, give their early chances Birmingham deserve the lead but you sense their is more to come from the hosts yet.[LNB]20.35: Unlucky from Simon Davies, Fulham can only clear a cross high rather than long and the Welshman's volley just zips across Carson's goal and wide of the post.[LNB]20.32: This is the last thing West Brom need, Marek Cech has limped off, Nicky Shorey is on in his place.[LNB] Mexican magic: Javier Hernandez (14) showed neat skill to fire United ahead[LNB]20.29: Blackpool could have equalised almost immediately, but Matt Philips header from Adam's cross this time fails to find the target.[LNB]What an impact Philips is making at that club.[LNB]20.28: GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 Stoke[LNB]He is some talent is this young Mexican. Nani plays a great pass to Javier Hernandez who produces an outragous turn to fool the Stoke defence before giving Asmir Begovic no chance with a close range finish. [LNB] Down and out: Blackpool keeper Ricahrd Kingson can only watch as Birmingham's Alexander Hleb (22) fires the visitors in front at Bloomfield Road[LNB]20.26: GOAL! Blackpool 0-1 BIRMINGHAM[LNB]Stephen Crainey will want the world to swallow him up. He tries to be too clever in defence and his pass across the box is intercepted by Alexander Hleb who is left with a simple finish to score his first league goal for the club. [LNB] Back off! West Brom's Jerome Thomas (front) holds off Fulham's John Pantsil[LNB]20.24: Very unlike Berbatov. Ryan Giggs' shot deflects off Ryan Shawcross with the Bulgarian from eight yards out stretching to send the ball wide.[LNB]20.21: This is why he was close to an England call-up. Chris Brunt finds Jerome Thomas with a great through ball but his low shot one-on-one with Stockdale is stopped by the keeper who springs low to his left.[LNB]20.19: Shout for a penalty at the Cottage, Kamara cuts the ball back for Clint Dempsey who has a tangle of legs with Youssouf Mulumbu. I have seen them given but that would have been harsh.[LNB]20.17: A response from Blackpool, Charlie Adam sends a ball to the back post where Matt Phillips hits a sweet half-volley that is superbly stopped by Ben Foster.[LNB]We have had misses and saves of the season in this game.[LNB] Tricks: Nani (right) attempts to dribble past Matthew Etherington[LNB]20.14: Good start from Fulham, Stockdale has not had much to do in the Cottagers goal and the home side look a little livelier than in recent weeks.[LNB]20.11: Stoke still holding United and have a good chance to score from a corner. Matthew Etherington's cross is missed by Ryan Giggs but no Potters player can follow up from close range.[LNB]20.08: And City miss another sitter! Derbyshire after his earlier miss elects to pass across goal for Cameron Jerome who has the goal at his mercy. But he can only fire wide. Awful finishing and Blackpool could (and should) easily be two down already.[LNB] What's going on? Blackpool manager Ian Holloway barks out orders to his side[LNB]20.06: First chance at Craven Cottage, Diomansy Kamara does well to control a long punt forward from Chris Baird and after turning Gonzalo Jara forces a smart stop from Scott Carson.[LNB]20.03: Birmingham should be one up already, Alexander Hleb in the opening seconds plays a low ball across the six yards box but Matt Derbyshire can't get a touch to divert it into the goal, a terrible miss.[LNB]20.01: We are up and running...[LNB]19.59: And another quick stat from InfoStradaLive, before we get underway: [LNB]Manchester United field their youngest starting line-up in the PL for over a year, averaging 26 years and 236 days old.[LNB]19.57: Players are out around the country, back to Blackpool though, they had to switch their first home game this season too and all these factors have contributed to this stat from InfoStradaLive:[LNB]Tonight's match is Blackpool's 7th at home this season. No club has played so few PL home matches by Jan 4[LNB]19.56: As for Blackpool this mat feel like an away game for them, they have not played at home since November due to a series of postponements. [LNB]19.53: West Brom have lost their last four games and all four Premier League games at Craven Cottage.[LNB]Roberto DI Matteo has still hinted he will go with an attacking mindset this evening.[LNB]19.50: According to Mark Hughes, Andrew Johnson's omission is down to giving the striker a rest after a s slight hamstring strain against Tottenham.[LNB]It has not quite happened for Johnson since returning from injury and a rest seems like a good idea.[LNB]19.48: Goalkeeper David Stockdale makes his first appearance for Fulham since August as he replaces for Mark Schwarzer.[LNB]With Schwarzer away with Australia on Asian Cup duty, boss Mark Hughes turns to the 25-year-old former Darlington and York player, who was tipped for an England squad call when injury struck in the early weeks of the season.[LNB]Diomansy Kamara starts in attack in place of Andrew Johnson, who was not in the 18-man squad, with Fulham otherwise unchanged from the team beaten at Tottenham on New Year's Day.[LNB]West Brom, beaten 2-1 at home by Manchester United three days ago, make three defensive changes, with James Hurst, Gianni Zuiverloon and Gonzalo Jara in for Steven Reid, Paul Scharner and Pablo Ibanez.[LNB]19.45: Blackpool manager Ian Holloway makes one change to his side for this evening's Barclays Premier League clash with Birmingham at Bloomfield Road.[LNB]Matt Phillips is promoted to the Seasiders first XI with Ludovic Sylvestre dropping to the bench, while Paul Rachubka is also among the substitutes for the first time since the opening day of the season.[LNB]The goalkeeper was eligible for selection again having been left out of the 25-man squad Holloway named in September due to a knee injury.[LNB]Blues boss Alex McLeish makes three adjustments from the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal on New Year's Day.[LNB]Alexander Hleb replaces Lee Bowyer, who is starting a three-match ban after accepting a charge of violent conduct by the Football Association for his challenge on Gunners defender Bacary Sagna.[LNB]Keith Fahey and Matt Derbyshire are given starting berths as well, with Sebastian Larsson and Jean Beausejour the men to make way.[LNB]19.42: They may be languishing in the relegation zone, but Fulham and Birmingham don't need to do much to escape the bottom three this evening.[LNB]A win could take either side as high as 13th, while even a draw has the first prize of 16th place.[LNB]19.39: And from a non-frozen Bloomfield Road:[LNB]Blackpool v BirminghamBlackpool: Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Vaughan, Campbell, Adam, Phillips, Varney, Taylor-Fletcher. Subs: Rachubka, Southern, Ormerod, Baptiste, Euell, Sylvestre, Edwards.Birmingham: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Hleb, Gardner, Ferguson, Fahey, Jerome, Derbyshire. Subs: Taylor, Larsson, Phillips, Zigic, Parnaby, Beausejour, Jiranek.Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)[LNB]19.36: From Craven Cottage:[LNB]Fulham v West BromFulham: Stockdale, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Baird, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dempsey, Kamara. Subs: Etheridge, Salcido, Gera, Riise, Eddie Johnson, Greening, Halliche.West Brom: Carson, Hurst, Zuiverloon, Jara, Cech, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Brunt, Morrison, Thomas, Odemwingie. Subs: Myhill, Tchoyi, Miller, Shorey, Meite, Fortune, Cox.Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)[LNB]19.33: Despite that unbeaten run - the only one remaining in the football league, United are only on top of the table courtesy of goal difference.[LNB]However that is down to only winning away twice all season. At Old Trafford they are a different force, Stoke have a massive task ahead of them.[LNB]19.30: Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are missing from the Manchester United starting line-up for tonight's Premier League encounter with Stoke.[LNB]Rooney suffered an ankle injury in the New Year's Day clash with West Brom and is replaced by Javier Hernandez, who scored the winner, whilst Ferdinand is rested in favour of Chris Smalling.[LNB]United are looking to move three points clear at the top of the table and have recorded five straight wins against Tony Pulis' men, who have Robert Huth available again after suspension.[LNB]19.27: As they line up from Old Trafford;[LNB]Man Utd v StokeMan Utd: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Smalling, Evra, Nani, Gibson, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov, Hernandez. Subs: Amos, Owen, Anderson, Carrick, Fabio Da Silva, Evans, Obertan.Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins, Sanli, Wilson, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Jones. Subs: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Pennant, Fuller, Walters, Pugh, Whelan.Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)[LNB]19.25: Time to place your bets. With half the season gone, Manchester United remain bullet proof having not lost a league game.[LNB]So how longer can it last? Three games, five, rest of the season? I would be willing to go on record and say nobody expects it to end tonight against Stoke.[LNB]The Red Devils have won their last six games against the Potters and surely that record is likely to extend this evening, regardless of the excellent job Tony Pulis has done at the Britannia.[LNB]It's not all about United - Stoke though. Fulham will look to move out the relegation zone at home to West Brom, while Birmingham will attempt a similar job when they visit Blackpool. Team news on the way.[LNB] Goal getter: Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov (left) is the league's top scorer[LNB] All the latest Premier League team news ahead of the midweek fixturesRooney ruled out of Stoke clash to save him for showdown with LiverpoolBowyer hit with three-match ban after accepting FA rap for Sagna stamp[LNB] Explore more:People: Tony Pulis, Fabio Da Silva, Wayne Rooney, Robert Huth, Rio Ferdinand, Nani, Martin Atkinson, Lee Bowyer, Mark Hughes, Alex McLeish, Paul Rachubka, Ian Holloway, Matt Derbyshire, Paul Scharner, Sebastian Larsson, Bacary Sagna, Andrew Johnson, Matthew Etherington, Ryan Giggs, Jerome Thomas, Ben Foster, Charlie Adam, Ryan Shawcross, Nicky Shorey, Simon Davies, Brede Hangeland, Dean Whitehead, Luke Varney, Damien Duff Places: Birmingham, York, Fulham, Australia, United Kingdom Organisations: Football Association
