Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson did his old club a huge favor by scoring the winner for Everton in a 1-0 victory over Premier League leader Manchester City, while United moved level on points at the top after beating Stoke City 2-0. Ireland midfielder Gibson left United to move to Goodison Park earlier this month and his fierce strike on the hour, which took a slight deflection, proved decisive. United, which trails its rivals on goal difference, eased past Stoke thanks to two penalties at Old Trafford from Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov. City and United have 54 points from 23 matches, five ahead of Tottenham Hotspur who thumped Wigan Athletic 3-1 at White Hart Lane. Dejected City manager Roberto Mancini said he had underestimated mid-table Everton. “Probably, probably, probably,” the Italian said in an interview with Sky Sports after he was asked if he had taken Everton too lightly. “Maybe it's my fault because I prepared, maybe, bad for this game ... It is very important that we win our next game against Fulham.” The leaders enjoyed plenty of possession but created few openings to trouble a resolute home defense. The match was halted for around four minutes late in the first half when a fan went on to the pitch and handcuffed himself to a goalpost. Police freed the man who had attached himself to the post in the goal that City were defending. A stoppage-time own goal by Neil Taylor rescued a point for fourth-placed Chelsea, on 42 points, which escaped from Swansea City's Liberty stadium with a 1-1 draw. Liverpool striker Andy Carroll ended his goal drought to help fire the Anfield side up one place to fifth, above inactive Arsenal, after a 3-0 victory at struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers who remain in the bottom three. Athletic beats Mirandes Athletic Bilbao beat Mirandes 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal Tuesday, yet conceded a stoppage-time goal to give the third-tier club some hope ahead of the second leg next week. “We're going to have to play the match of our lives,” Mirandes coach Carlos Pouso said of next Tuesday's return at the San Mames stadium. Mirandes is only the third team from below the second division to progress this far, after Figueres in 2002 and Deportivo Logrono in 1931. Match called off Serie A leader Juventus' trip to Parma Tuesday was called off less than an hour before kick-off due to heavy snow making areas in and around the stadium too dangerous. The decision was taken after consultation between the two side's captains, the referee, the local Prefect and security officials. Tevez stranded at City The transfer window has slammed shut on Manchester City's hopes of selling outcast Carlos Tevez this season, leaving them with a gifted striker who has probably burned too many bridges to be of any use to their Premier League title push. Should Tevez return from self-imposed exile in Argentina and join his teammates for training. City faces the prospect of having to resume paying high wages for a player who manager Roberto Mancini has said has no future at the club. The league leader had stopped his salary since he left for his homeland without its permission in November and imposed a fine of six weeks' pay on him for gross misconduct - a punishment he is appealing to the Premier League over.
