Manchester United took a commanding and potentially title-winning 10-point lead at the top of the English Premier League after a 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.First-half goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Antonio Valencia were enough to seal victory for United, whose lead over Arsenal is now into double figures.
Arsenal, who have two games in hand, are away to Blackpool on Sunday but with just six games to go themselves, United have one hand on what would be a record 19th league title.
"In the first half there was some very good football and we could maybe have scored a couple more," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "But in the second half we became wasteful in our possession.
"We could have suffered because of that and on another day we may have done. But we got through it and that's important. At this stage of the season winning is the name of the game."
Chelsea moved into third with a 1-0 win over Wigan thanks to Florent Malouda's late goal while Tottenham edged out Stoke City 3-2 and West Brom claimed a superb 3-2 win at Sunderland.
United began the day in charge of the title race and tightened their grip with a confident win over Fulham. Berbatov put the home side ahead on 12 minutes and Valencia doubled their lead with a second just after the half-hour mark.
Ferguson said experience was beginning to take its toll in the final stretch of the season.
"When you know the players and you're playing at home, no matter what team you put out you expect something from them," he said. "I think I picked the right team to win today.
"Players are coming back. Wes Brown's back, Rafael should be OK for Tuesday (against Chelsea in the Champions League). Valencia's back. That gives us a heck of a boost."
Malouda spared Chelsea's blushes with the only goal of the game against bottom side Wigan, finding the net midway through the second half.
Tottenham bounced back from their midweek mauling at Real Madrid by beating Stoke City 3-2, with Peter Crouch, sent off in Spain, claiming two of the goals.
Luka Modric scored the other goal for the home side and though Matthew Etherington and Kenwyne Jones netted for Stoke, Spurs held on in a goalless second half to close to within three points of Manchester City in fourth.
West Brom moved further away from trouble with a superb 3-2 win at Sunderland with Paul Scharner scoring the winner as the visitors twice came from behind.
"It was a huge victory, even if Sunderland have been wounded in recent weeks," West Brom manager Roy Hodgson said. "It was a good performance and we deserved it for how hard we battled. It gives us some breathing space ahead of the bottom three."
Daniel Sturridge scored twice as Bolton cruised to a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened West Ham, who are just one point and two places off the bottom.
Seventh-placed Everton are just one point behind Merseyside rivals Liverpool after a 3-0 win at second-from-bottom Wolves, while Birmingham clinched a point with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.
Arsenal, who have two games in hand, are away to Blackpool on Sunday but with just six games to go themselves, United have one hand on what would be a record 19th league title.
"In the first half there was some very good football and we could maybe have scored a couple more," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "But in the second half we became wasteful in our possession.
"We could have suffered because of that and on another day we may have done. But we got through it and that's important. At this stage of the season winning is the name of the game."
Chelsea moved into third with a 1-0 win over Wigan thanks to Florent Malouda's late goal while Tottenham edged out Stoke City 3-2 and West Brom claimed a superb 3-2 win at Sunderland.
United began the day in charge of the title race and tightened their grip with a confident win over Fulham. Berbatov put the home side ahead on 12 minutes and Valencia doubled their lead with a second just after the half-hour mark.
Ferguson said experience was beginning to take its toll in the final stretch of the season.
"When you know the players and you're playing at home, no matter what team you put out you expect something from them," he said. "I think I picked the right team to win today.
"Players are coming back. Wes Brown's back, Rafael should be OK for Tuesday (against Chelsea in the Champions League). Valencia's back. That gives us a heck of a boost."
Malouda spared Chelsea's blushes with the only goal of the game against bottom side Wigan, finding the net midway through the second half.
Tottenham bounced back from their midweek mauling at Real Madrid by beating Stoke City 3-2, with Peter Crouch, sent off in Spain, claiming two of the goals.
Luka Modric scored the other goal for the home side and though Matthew Etherington and Kenwyne Jones netted for Stoke, Spurs held on in a goalless second half to close to within three points of Manchester City in fourth.
West Brom moved further away from trouble with a superb 3-2 win at Sunderland with Paul Scharner scoring the winner as the visitors twice came from behind.
"It was a huge victory, even if Sunderland have been wounded in recent weeks," West Brom manager Roy Hodgson said. "It was a good performance and we deserved it for how hard we battled. It gives us some breathing space ahead of the bottom three."
Daniel Sturridge scored twice as Bolton cruised to a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened West Ham, who are just one point and two places off the bottom.
Seventh-placed Everton are just one point behind Merseyside rivals Liverpool after a 3-0 win at second-from-bottom Wolves, while Birmingham clinched a point with a 1-1 draw at Blackburn.
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