United level with Chelsea
LONDON: Manchester United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday to draw level on points with Premier League leaders Chelsea.
However, the Blues — who remain top on goal difference — will re-establish a points gap between themselves and reigning champions United if they avoid defeat at home to Portsmouth. England striker Wayne Rooney put United, beaten at home by Aston Villa last weekend, ahead from the penalty spot in the 30th minute after Ronald Zumar handled Darron Gibson's corner and central defender Nemanja Vidic doubled the lead just before half-time when he headed in a corner that Wolves goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann could only palm into the net.
Antonio Valencia's 66th minute half-volley made it 3-0 as Wolves dropped into the relegation zone. Victory gave Sir Alex Ferguson a comfortable win in his 900th league match as United manager. But Wolves boss Mick McCarthy, in what seemed an attempt to keep his best players fit for the more 'winnable' game against Burnley on Sunday, made 10 changes to the team that beat Tottenham last weekend, with Hahnemann the only survivor. McCarthy could now find himself facing disciplinary action for breaking the League rule which requires clubs to field their strongest available sides.
In Tuesday's other matches, Villa leapfrogged Arsenal into third place with a 2-0 victory away to Sunderland, who had captain Lorik Cana sent-off for two yellow cards. Cameron Jerome scored twice as Birmingham City beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 for as the Midlands club won five straight top-flight games for the first time since 1973 to move up into sixth place. Meanwhile Bolton beat relegation rivals West Ham 3-1 as they climbed out of the bottom three.
Villa's England striker Emile Heskey struck from 10 yards in the 24th minute after James Milner played him in following a lay-off from Stiliyan Petrov. And just after the hour mark, Milner made it 2-0 with a 25-yard shot.
Jerome gave Birmingham a 12th minute lead at St Andrews from just a yard out and the striker doubled the lead three minutes after the break. New Zealand's Ryan Nelsen pulled a goal back for Rovers from close range in the 69th minute.
At the Reebok, South Korea's Lee Chung-Yong put Bolton in front with a well-struck 64th minute shot. But minutes later the Hammers were level when Alessandro Diamanti finished from inside the box. Then a handling error by West Ham and England goalkeeper Robert Green let in Bolton's Ivan Klasnic for a bizarre goal in the 77th minute before a header from Gary Cahill two minutes from time sealed victory.
