Barclays Under-21 Premier League 2015 Table: Latest Standings, Results on Feb. 9
Manchester United under-21s claimed a momentous comeback victoryย against Chelsea under-21s on Monday to draw level on points with the Blues at the summit of the U21 Premier League Division 1. ย ย
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. ย
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 Uniโฆ | 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 Hotsโฆ | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 14 | +3 | 19 |
| 6 | Manchester Citโฆ | 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 Uniteโฆ | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 24 | -12 | 11 |
| 1 | Newcastle Unitโฆ | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 32 | 20 | +12 | 24 |
| 2 | Arsenal U21 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 12 | +11 | 24 |
| 3 | West Bromwich โฆ | 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 Wandereโฆ | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 19 |
| 8 | Brighton & Hovโฆ | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 16 | -6 | 12 |
| 9 | Aston Villa U21 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 26 | -14 | 12 |
| 10 | Blackburn Roveโฆ | 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 toย 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.
