Ronaldo goal puts United top

Premier League round-up

SPL review

Fir Park waterlogged again

East Fife crowned champions

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United beat Derby County at Pride Park to climb to the top of the Premier League. Arsenal had the chance to regain top spot as they faced Middlesbrough in the evening kick-off at the Emirates Stadium but were held to a 1-1 draw. Former Gunners striker Jeremie Aliadiere gave Boro the lead and it was left to Kolo Toure to salvage a point for Arsene Wenger’s men with five minutes remaining. Mido was sent off for the visitors on 88 minutes after a foul on Gael Clichy. Toure’s late strike means Arsenal are level on points with United but with an inferior goal difference and having played a game extra.

Chelsea beat Sunderland 0-1 at the Stadium of Light with John Terry’s effort proving the difference between the sides. The Blues have now won nine of their last 12 games.

Elsewhere, Liverpool came from behind to beat Reading 2-1 to record their fifth successive Premier League victory, Portsmouth beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Fratton Park as both teams ended the game with 10 men when Sulley Muntari and Olof Mellberg were sent off in separate incidents and West Ham United beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Upton Park.

In the Scottish Premier League, crisis club Gretna managed to field a team against Aberdeen at Pittodrie despite several first-team regulars refusing to play in the absence of medical insurance. Unfortunately, a bad week got worse for the visitors - who entered administration this week - as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat. Elsewhere, Hibernian beat Kilmarnock 2-0 at Easter Road to move third, St Mirren and Heart of Midlothian drew 1-1 at St Mirren Park and Falkirk won 0-1 at Inverness Caledonian Thistle thanks to a goal four minutes from time from Billy Clarke.

The match between Motherwell and Celtic at Fir Park was been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. A number of Motherwell and Gretna SPL matches at Fir Park have been postponed this season due to a waterlogged pitch - a situation that Motherwell chairman John Boyle has apologised for due to the inconveniances it has caused to supporters. Boyle also stated that he will ask the SPL for permission to relocate future games.

East Fife beat East Stirlingshire 0-3 at Firs Park to seal the Scottish Third Division title and become the first team in Britain to win a league trophy this season.

Nathan Davies