Date:22/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122256931900.htm

Sport - Football

Bednar scores winner

LONDON: West Bromwich Albion won for the first time in three months on Sunday when Czech striker Roman Bednar headed in an extra-time goal to see off fellow struggler Manchester City 2-1 in the English Premier League.

Dorrans makes debut

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray brought on talented Scottish youngster Graham Dorrans for his first-team debut after 64 minutes and four minutes later The Baggies were ahead.

Robert Koren slided a perfectly judged ball through the centre of the City defence for Luke Moore to stroke a right-footer under an advancing City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

City was back on level terms with a goal from Felipe Caicedo six minutes from time .

A share of the points looked on the cards but Bednar grabbed the winner two minutes into added time when he headed in a speculative cross from Abdoulaye Meite after losing his marker Richards.

Villa in third spot

Aston Villa took full advantage of the absence of the other Premier League high-fliers on Saturday, winning 1-0 at West Ham United to climb to third.

The results:

West Bromwich Albion 2 (Moore 68, Bednar 90+2) bt Manchester City 1 (Caicedo 84).

On Saturday: West Ham United 0 lost to Aston Villa 1 (Lucas Neill 78-og); Blackburn 3 (McCarthy 9-pen, 27, Roberts 18) bt Stoke 0; Bolton 2 (Taylor 1, Gardner 3) bt Portsmouth 1 (Crouch 20); Fulham 3 (Bullard 41, Murphy 54-pen, Dempsey 59) bt Middlesbrough 0; Hull 1 (Barmby 19) lost to Sunderland 4 (Malbranque 10, Zayatte 78-og, Jones 84, Cisse 90). — Agencies