Man United goes 3 points clear by beating Stoke

LONDON (AP): Javier Hernandez and Nani set each other up for goals as Manchester United beat Stoke 2-1 to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday.

A back-flick from Hernandez put United in front and, after Dean Whitehead headed Stoke level, the Mexico forward fed Nani for a well-placed winner.

"Stoke are such a determined bunch of lads - they don't make it easy for anyone, breaking them down," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "Thankfully Nani produced a fantastic goal ... and from then we were solid."

Unbeaten all season, United not only has a three point lead but also a game in hand over Manchester City, which is at third-place Arsenal on Wednesday.

In Tuesday's other matches, Birmingham and Fulham climbed out of the relegation zone with victories.

Birmingham won for the first time away this season came after Scott Dann's 89th minute goal secured a 2-1 victory at Blackpool, while Fulham beat West Bromwich 3-0.

In the title race, United has now collected 19 points from a possible 21 in its last seven matches.

Charlton names his greatest United 11

LONDON: British football legend Bobby Charlton has named his greatest ever Manchester United team in his autobiography being serialised in the Times newspaper.

Charlton picked a best 11 from the 1950s to the present day but found no place for himself in the side.

There was also no place for current stars such as Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But United legends such as George Best, Eric Cantona (pic) and Peter Schmeichel, as well as current captain Gary Neville, did make the cut.

“There is one place that is automatic. It is the one that belongs to Schmeichel,” says Charlton.