United babysteps away from 3rd straight EPL title

But the stumble United8217;s rivals had hoped for failed to materialise as United hit back through Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

Elsewhere,Manchester City dented Aston Villa8217;s hopes of securing Champions League football next season with a 2-0 win at Eastlands while Stoke escaped from the relegation zone by beating Bolton by the same margin.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side had not been at their best but paid tribute to his players8217; determination.

8220;It wasn8217;t a great performance,8221; admitted the Scot. 8220;We got off to a terrible start,and Newcastle were pumped up for it. But coming from 1-0 down was a good result for us. It required a lot of grit.8221;

As well as a seven-point cushion,United have a game in hand over their rivals as they seek to close out the campaign.

Newcastle ended Edwin van der Sar8217;s record-breaking run without conceding a goal in a league match at 1,311 minutes courtesy of a rare error by the Dutchman 8211; but the Magpies proved incapable of defending their early lead.

Elano celebrated his return to Manchester City8217;s starting line-up by netting a first-half penalty as City ended Villa8217;s run of ten consecutive away victories in the league with a 2-0 win at Eastlands.

The Brazilian playmaker slotted the spot-kick home after James Milner had tripped Shaun Wright-Phillips and it was Wright-Phillips who sealed City8217;s 5th successive home win two minutes from time.

The defeat left Villa with just a three-point cushion over Arsenal in the battle for fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying spot but manager Martin O8217;Neill denied his side were beginning to display jitters.

8220;We are not nervous 8211; we are excited,8221; O8217;Neill said. 8220;Really,if you are not excited by the position we are in,you shouldn8217;t be playing. We are in this position because we deserve to be. It would be a shame to throw it up now without a fight 8211; but I don8217;t think we will.8221;

Stoke8217;s win over Bolton came courtesy of a well-taken early strike by James Beattie and a late effort from Ricardo Fuller.

Tottenham bounced back from Sunday8217;s penalty shoot-out defeat by Manchester United in the League Cup final with a 4-0 win over Middlesbrough that significantly eases their survival concerns and leaves Gareth Southgate8217;s side mired in the relegation zone.

Robbie Keane opened the scoring with his first strike for Spurs since his January return from Liverpool. Roman Pavlyuchenko doubled the lead and a brace for Aaron Lennon saw Harry Redknapp8217;s side cruise towards safety.

West Ham8217;s push for European football next season received another boost with a hard-fought win at Wigan in a match that both sides ended with ten men.

Carlton Cole gave West Ham the lead then got himself sent off before half-time for a second bookable offence. But the Hammers held on for all three points,with the help of Wigan being reduced to ten men themselves seven minutes after the restart as a result of Lee Cattermole8217;s reckless challenge on Scott Parker.

Blackburn earned a valuable point by holding Everton to a goalless draw but Sam Allardyce8217;s side still found themselves back in the bottom three because of Stoke8217;s win.

A stoppage time winner by substitute Manucho,the Angolan striker on loan from Manchester United,earned Hull an unlikely 1-0 win at Fulham and halted Phil Brown8217;s side8217;s slide towards trouble.