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The spoils were shared in Monday night's Barclays U21 Premier League matches as all three matches ended in draws, with spectators at White Hart Lane treated to a six-goal thriller between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
"We passed the ball very well, but I wanted more in the final third. It was a good draw but we could have had more"
Kevin Ball, Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur 3-3 Aston Villa
Striker Jonathan Obika scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur played out an entertaining 3-3 draw against Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.
It took Obika just four minutes to give the hosts the lead as he hared on to Alex Pritchard's through ball and lifted the ball over Benji Siegrist. Villa levelled on 37 minutes when Jordan Bowery set up Graham Burke to curl in from 20 yards.
Kevin Stewart restored the lead from close range on 52 minutes but the visitors soon restored parity, Burke returning the favour for Bowery to score. Villa took the lead for the first time midway through the half thanks to Samir Carruthers’s free-kick but Obika secured the point for Spurs when latching on to Giancarlo Gallifuoco's pass and clipping his second goal of the evening over Siegrist.
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Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester City
Marcos Lopes scored his first goal as Manchester City came from behind to deny Crystal Palace their first home Barclays U21 Premier League victory of the season.
The home side took the lead early on in the Group 3 encounter at Selhurst Park when Bayan Fenwick's in-swinging free-kick was touched into his own net by City defender Ellis Plummer.
City, led by former Palace star Attilio Lombardo, searched for an equaliser which came on the stroke of half-time thanks to Lopes's rasping left-foot shot from 20 yards which flew into the bottom corner.
The visitors, who included defender Kolo Toure in their lineup, piled on the pressure in the second half but despite the best efforts of Denis Suarez, Palace were able to hold on for the draw.
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Sunderland 0-0 Manchester United
Manchester United and Sunderland shared a goalless draw in difficult conditions at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground.
New signing Angelo Henriquez earned his first United start but it was a hash introduction to English football for the Chilean striker as high winds and driving rain made it difficult to play an expansive game.
United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone did stand out in the United goal, however, making a vital late save from substitute Ryan Noble to maintain their unbeaten record and their Group 2 lead.
"The conditions worsened in the second half, but I'm glad it rained as it made the ball move around a bit quicker," Sunderland manager Kevin Ball told the club's official website, whose side remain in sixth place.
"I think a point was a fair result as neither team really went for the jugular. We passed the ball very well, but I wanted more in the final third. It was a good draw but I feel we could have had more."
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West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Arsenal
After a 14-month absence Jack Wilshere returned to action for the Gunners, but despite playing for 62 minutes, could not prevent Yassine El Ghanassy from deciding the contest with a first-half strike.
It was a productive display by Wilshere, whose best moment came when he played Nico Yennaris though on goal with a delightful reverse pass, while Emmanuel Frimpong also got some much needed match practice as he continued his rehabilitation by making his second appearance since suffering a cruciate ligament injury which sidelined him for seven months.
However, it was West Brom who took the lead at The Hawthorns five minutes before the interval when El Ghanassy capped a bright performance by racing on to a through ball and coolly beating Damian Martinez.
The victory takes the Baggies up to third place in Group 1, two points behind Terry Burton's side and five behind leaders West Ham United.
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Liverpool 3-0 Fulham
Joe Cole marked his return from injury with a superb goal to help Liverpool seal a routine victory against Fulham and restore their Group 3 lead.
Liverpool's No10 was given a 60 minute run-out and got Rodolfo Borrell's side off to a promising start with the opening goal. Adam Morgan's low drive extended the hosts' lead after the break and Kristjan Adorjan rounded off the scoring with a deflected third goal for the Reds, who gave Portuguese youth international Joao Carlos Teixeira his U21s debut.
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Southampton 0-1 Stoke City
In Group 2 Stoke recorded their first victory of the season at Southampton. Jordan Richardson and Daniel Bachmann proved the heroes of the hour for the visitors, the former for scoring the only goal of the game, the latter for saving an added-time penalty for the Potters, who move off the foot of the division, for at least four hours. For second-placed Southampton it was a first defeat of the campaign.
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For all Barclays U21 Premier League news, results and tables click here
Monday, October 1st results
GROUP 1
West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Arsenal, The Hawthorns
GROUP 2
Southampton 0-1 Stoke City, Staplewood training ground
Tottenham Hotspur 3-3 Aston Villa, White Hart Lane
Sunderland 0-0 Manchester United, Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground
GROUP 3
Liverpool 3-0 Fulham, Liverpool Academy
Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester City, Selhurst Park
Sunday, September 30th result
GROUP 1
Everton 5-2 Bolton Wanderers, Finch Farm training ground
Friday, September 28th results
GROUP 1
Reading 2-4 Blackburn Rovers, Hogwood Park
West Ham United 2-0 Norwich City, Rush Green Road
GROUP 2
Manchester United 4-2 Newcastle United, Altrincham FC
GROUP 3
Chelsea 1-3 Middlesbrough, Brentford FC
For all the results and the latest league tables, click here
For latest news on the Barclays U21 Premier League, click here.
You can follow developments on Twitter with the Premier League's account @premierleague or via the hashtag #BU21PL
