Manchester United beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 to stay three points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday as title rivals Arsenal won 2-0 at Middlesbrough. United, with three games remaining, lead the way on 74 points after two goals by Paul Scholes and one for Ruud van Nistelrooy did the damage.
Arsenal, with a game in hand, are on 71 after French duo Sylvain Wiltord and Thierry Henry were on target in the second half at The Riverside. The chase for the other two Champions League places took an interesting twist as Chelsea, Newcastle United and Everton all lost.
RESULTS | ||
Aston Villa bt Chelsea 2-1, Bolton Wanderers bt West Ham United 1-0, Birmingham City bt Charlton Athletic 2-0, Liverpool bt Everton 2-1, Fulham bt Newcastle United 2-1, Manchester United bt Blackburn Rovers 3-1, Arsenal bt Middlesbrough 2-0, Southampton bt Leeds United 3-2, West Bromwich Albion bt Sunderland 2-1 |
Newcastle stay third on 61 after a 2-1 reverse at Fulham with Chelsea 2-1 losers at Aston Villa, fourth on 60. Liverpool move up to fifth on 58, above Everton (56) after beating their city rivals 2-1 at Goodison Park.
Manchester United faced a difficult test against a Blackburn team who had beaten them at Ewood Park in December and who had done the double over Arsenal.
The visitors looked lively and after Van Nistelrooy had headed United into a 20th-minute lead, Blackburn deservedly levelled through Henning Berg after Fabien Barthez had flapped unsuccessfully at a cross. (Reuters)