1. Gerhard Tremmel (Swansea): The Swansea stopper had a very solid game, though he might have expected to have needed to produce an even more spectacular display in order to enable Swansea to escape with a clean sheet. That said, he didn’t put a foot wrong throughout the match, and in what was a big game for the Welsh side, such a performance is worthy of considerable praise.

2. Àngel Rangel (Swansea): Part of a rock solid defence as his side gained an unexpected 2-0 win over Arsenal, and also could have added to his team’s winning margin, forcing Szczesny into a good save, and thus, showing laudable ambition to break forward at times.

3. Ben Davies (Swansea): Fresh from signing a new contract with Swansea, the full back put to rest any doubts that the club had been premature in rewarding him with a new deal, going about his business in a quiet but effective manner.

4. Sylvain Distin (Everton): One of the pillars upon which Everton have built their success, Distin was again superb as they secured a 1-1 draw at Eastlands, looking remarkably solid and clearing almost everything that came his way as Everton retained their impressive record against Man City.

5. Ashley Williams (Swansea): Another member of that brave Swansea back-four, Williams made a telling block after a Cazorla shot right before Swansea scored the game’s all-important first goal.

6. Mohamed Diame (West Ham): The midfielder is beginning to attract interest from other clubs following his performance on Saturday, and it is no surprise that his introduction to the game coincided with the upswing in West Ham’s fortunes. Jamie Redknapp likened him to Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure, and on that 45 minutes of football in which he scored his team’s crucial second goal, such comparisons were for once merited.

(West Ham United’s Mohamed Diame celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the Barclays Premier League match at Upton Park – Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

7. Darron Gibson (Everton): The Irishman won the Man of the Match award as Everton drew with Man City – and their best display in some time was undoubtedly complemented by the return of Gibson from injury. While he did plenty of work on the defensive side of the game, this little show of skill epitomised his composure and constituted the icing on the cake in what was a fine performance.

8. Marouane Fellaini (Everton): While Gibson received the Man of the Match gong against City, Fellaini scored Everton’s decisive goal and many people felt he was the best player on the pitch. The Belgian international was surely the game’s most creative individual at least, as his display contrasted with his considerably less inventive City counterparts.

9. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United): An improved display from the England man, United needed leaders against a fired-up Reading side, and Rooney stepped up to the plate, scoring twice to instigate their revival, despite again playing in a less familiar deeper role.

10. Michu (Swansea): Two late goals by Michu stunned Arsenal, with the striker delivering another eye-catching display as Swansea continue to punch above their weight. Such performances are a mixed blesssing in a sense though for Michael Laudrup’s men – many more and the Spaniard will be on his way to a bigger club in January.

11. Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham): It’s rapidly turning into a memorable season for the 30-year-old, after a year to forget during the last campaign. He scored twice to lift a rejuvenated Tottenham to fourth in the table. Moreover, the performance prompted Andre Villas-Boas to compare Defoe to Atletico Madrid star Radamel Falcao, and with goals such as the stunners he’s been scoring regularly of late, the suggestion does not seem too fanciful.

Substitutes: Mark Bunn, Sandro, Lucas Leiva, Anthony Pilkington, Carlton Cole.

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