Dream start for new boss (21-12-06)

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Alan Curbishley, the new West Ham manager, enjoyed a dream start as the Premiership strugglers grabbed a crucial 1-0 home win over top-of-the-table Manchester United. Nigel Reo-Coker set the ground alight by scoring with 15 minutes left.

Second-placed Chelsea now trail by two points after Didier Drogba, their Ivory Coast striker, secured a 3-2 victory at Everton with a stunning 87th-minute volley from 25 yards.

Portsmouth, without injured Zimbabwe striker Benjani, pulled off a 2-2 draw at Arsenal with midfield hotshot Matthew Taylor giving Pompey a shock 2-0 lead with a trademark volley. Nigeria frontman Obafemi Martins scored twice in Newcastle’s 2-1 home win over bottom-placed Watford.

South Africa’s Benni McCarthy bizarrely had three ‘goals’ ruled out for offside before heading Blackburn’s equaliser in their 2-1 win at Reading.

Birmingham is top the Championship after winning 3-0 at Sheffield Wednesday, but League One leaders Nottingham Forest crashed 3-1 at home to lowly Leyton Orient.

In the Scottish Premier, pacesetters Celtic drew 1-1 in the big Glasgow derby away to Rangers, while Steve Lovell struck on 87 minutes to lift Aberdeen into second place with a 1-0 success at troubled Hearts.