Barclays Under-21 Premier League 2015 Table: Latest Standings, Results on Feb. 9
Manchester United under-21s claimed a momentous comeback victory against Chelsea under-21s on Monday to draw level on points with the Blues at the summit of the U21 Premier League Division 1.
The Red Devils were helped in their pursuit of the title after second-place Southampton suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, third, saw their clash against Sunderland postponed.
Meanwhile, in Division 2, Arsenal under-21s clinched a late winner at St. James' Park to go level on points with league leaders Newcastle United, a win which could come to have massive impact on their promotion hopes.
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Read on for roundup and reaction to Monday evening's fixtures, along with a look at the latest U21 standings.
| 1 | Chelsea U21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 21 |
| 2 | Manchester Uni… | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 13 | +8 | 21 |
| 3 | Southampton U21 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 21 |
| 4 | Everton U21 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 19 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hots… | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 14 | +3 | 19 |
| 6 | Manchester Cit… | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 22 | +1 | 17 |
| 7 | Fulham U21 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 16 |
| 8 | Sunderland U21 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 15 |
| 9 | Liverpool U21 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 14 |
| 10 | Leicester City U21 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 22 | -4 | 13 |
| 11 | Norwich City U21 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 13 |
| 12 | West Ham Unite… | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 24 | -12 | 11 |
| 1 | Newcastle Unit… | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 32 | 20 | +12 | 24 |
| 2 | Arsenal U21 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 24 |
| 3 | West Bromwich … | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 15 | +10 | 23 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough U21 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 15 | +4 | 23 |
| 5 | Derby County U21 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 17 | +8 | 21 |
| 6 | Reading U21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 26 | -1 | 20 |
| 7 | Bolton Wandere… | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 19 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hov… | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 16 | -6 | 12 |
| 9 | Aston Villa U21 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 26 | -14 | 12 |
| 10 | Blackburn Rove… | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 22 | -5 | 10 |
| 11 | Wolverhampton U21 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 20 | -7 | 8 |
| 12 | Stoke City U21 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 26 | -13 | 8 |
| Division 1 | Leicester City 2-2 Norwich City |
| Division 1 | Everton 3-1 Southampton |
| Division 1 | Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea |
| Division 2 | Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Reading |
| Division 2 | Brighton 0-0 West Brom |
| Division 2 | Newcastle United 1-1 Arsenal |
Recap
Warren Joyce watched on as his Manchester United U21 side rallied late to come back from a goal down against Division 1 leaders Chelsea and record a pivotal 2-1 win on Monday evening.
Dom Solanke fired the Blues ahead in the second period, with neither team managing to assert themselves in the opening 45 minutes, as Chelsea Youth attested:
However, Andreas Pereira equalised with 30 minutes left before Tom Thorpe headed in an 83rd-minute winner to give United some redemption for last season's final defeat.
Ashley Young impressed for the hosts, while Andy Kellett, signed as something of a shock acquisition from Bolton Wanderers last month, started on the bench for United.
On Merseyside, Southampton slipped to successive defeats for the first time since September after losing 3-1 to a spirited Everton side, who climb up to third in the standings.
Bevis Mugabi registered a 70th-minute consolation for the south-coast youngsters, but the Toffees already found themselves three goals to the good by half-time thanks to David Henen, Jonjoe Kenny and Brendan Galloway's contributions.
It turned out to be a deficit Saints couldn't march back from, despite improving in the second period, and Everton move to within two points of second place as a result.
Division 1's other meeting ended all square, as relegation contenders Leicester City and Norwich City drew 2-2 on Monday, with the Foxes' official Twitter account confirming Joe Dodoo's last-minute equaliser:
The Canaries were slightly unfortunate not to have taken maximum points from their visit to Belvoir Park, where a win would have seen them leapfrog Leicester and move as high as seventh.
It wasn't to be, though, and Paul Wilkinson's men remain level on points with Monday's foes, just a step away from Division 1's basement.
In Division 2, Arsenal gave their push for promotion a huge boost thanks to Austin Lipman's 90th-minute strike at Newcastle, sealing a three-point haul that sees the Gunners draw level at the top of the standings.
Alex Iwobi put the north Londoners ahead in the first half, but a well-taken volley from Dan Barlaser ensured the Magpies had some hope of a result. That was until Lipman's intervention, per the Arsenal Twitter account:
Elsewhere, Bolton Wanderers and Brighton and Hove Albion ran to draws against Reading and West Bromwich Albion, respectively. Again, there was late drama, as a low Liam Kelly free kick in the 84th minute earned the Royals a 1-1 draw, while Brighton and West Brom ended scoreless.
