Chelsea close in on title despite United win

Ten-man Chelsea roared back from a goal down to trounce West Ham 4-1 and move closer to a second consecutive Premier League title yesterday, despite a 2-0 win for Manchester United over Arsenal.

With five games left, champions Chelsea have 82 points - seven more than second-placed United after England striker Wayne Rooney scored one and made the other for South Korean Park Ji-sung in a pulsating clash at Old Trafford.

Third-placed Liverpool stay five points behind United, having played a game more, after striker Robbie Fowler celebrated his 31st birthday with the winner in a 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Newcastle beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside in the northeast derby, while the Midlands derby finished 0-0 between Aston Villa and West Brom.

United's victory provided a rousing finale to the weekend's action and dealt a bodyblow to sixth-placed Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

But Chelsea remain on course for a second league title, despite going a goal down yesterday and facing a crunch match at home to United on April 29 at Stamford Bridge.

James Collins headed West Ham into a 10th minute lead and Chelsea's Portugal midfielder Maniche was red-carded six minutes later for a rash tackle on Lionel Scaloni.

Jose Mourinho's 10 men rose to the challenge, with Ivorian Didier Drogba levelling in the 29th minute and Argentine strike partner Hernan Crespo putting them ahead two minutes later.

Goals from defenders John Terry and William Gallas put the London derby beyond doubt in the second half.

Mourinho said: "With 10 men for more than an hour, to go from 0-1 to 4-1 is impressive. The team played well from the first minute and the spirit was amazing.

"There was no fear of playing to win with 10 men and the character of the players was unbelievable... we had so much of the game it looked like we had 12 players and not 10."

Mourinho also shrugged off the title threat from United before Alex Ferguson's men had kicked off.

"We showed that it doesn't matter what United do, they can win, they can beat Arsenal - we don't depend on their results," he said.

"We can just get the results we need to be champions."

United made a slow start against Arsenal in the day's late kick-off but gradually built up the momentum before securing a deserved ninth consecutive league win.

Rooney fired United in front with a superb finish on 54 minutes and then provided the cutback for Park to slide home their killer second in the 78th minute.

Defeat for Arsenal leaves them further away from the Champions League next season.

Liverpool have one slot in the qualifiers while the other is held by fourth-placed Tottenham, who have 58 points. Blackburn Rovers are fifth on 54, a point ahead of Arsenal, who have a game in hand and play Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Arsenal face Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Next fixtures...

Wednesday: FA Cup QF replay 9.05 p.m. M'boro vs Charlton. Premier League 9 p.m. Portsmouth vs Arsenal.

Friday: Premier League 8.45 p.m. Manchester United vs Sunderland.

Saturday: Premier League 1.45 p.m. Bolton vs Chelsea. 4 p.m. Arsenal vs West Brom; Everton vs Tottenham; Fulham vs Charlton; Newcastle vs Wigan; Ports-mouth vs Middlesbrough; West Ham vs Manchester City.

Sunday: Premier League 1 p.m. Aston Villa vs Birmingham. 3.30 p.m. Blackburn vs Liverpool.

Monday, April 17: Premier League 1.45 p.m. Tottenham vs Manchester United. 4 p.m. Charlton vs Portsmouth; Chelsea vs Everton; Middlesbrough vs West Ham; Sunderland vs Newcastle. 9 p.m. West Brom vs Bolton.

Tuesday, April 18: Premier League 8.45 p.m. Wigan vs Aston Villa.

Wednesday, April 19: Premier League 8.45 p.m. Birmingham vs Blackburn.