Wayne Rooney scored twice in the second half and Cristiano Ronaldo played a part in all four goals to help Manchester United crush Aston Villa 4-0 to charge six points clear in the Premier League yesterday.

Champions United, who also netted in the first half with a cheeky Ronaldo back-heel and a header from Carlos Tevez, lead second-placed Arsenal by six points with six games remaining.

Arsenal, down to 10 men for an hour, ended a six-year league jinx at Bolton Wanderers as they fought back from two goals down for a 3-2 win.

Chelsea, two points further back, can reclaim second spot by beating Middlesbrough today when Liverpool and Everton also resume their battle for fourth place in the Merseyside derby.

At Old Trafford, where the second half was played in pouring rain, the league's top scorer Ronaldo took his tally for the season to 26 when he struck in the 17th minute.

A cross was poorly cleared and the loose ball fell to the Portugal striker who, with his back to goal, flicked it with his left heel through defender Martin Laursen's legs and past keeper Scott Carson.

Tevez made it 2-0 just past the half hour when he dived to head home Ronaldo's far-post cross following a fine team move started on the halfway line by the Argentine.

Ronaldo flicked on a Ryan Giggs pass for Rooney to take the ball round Carson for the third in the 53rd minute, his first goal in eight games. Rooney added the fourth in the 70th minute, taking his league tally to 10.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will look forward with optimism to Wednesday's first leg at home to Liverpool after his side's gutsy fightback at Bolton.

Midfielder Matthew Taylor put Bolton two up in the first half with goals either side of the dismissal of Abou Diaby for a high tackle on Gretar Steinsson.

Captain William Gallas led Arsenal, who had not won at the Reebok Stadium in their previous five league visits, back into the match when he turned in Cesc Fabregas's corner in the 63rd minute.

Robin van Persie equalised with a penalty five minutes later and an own goal by Jlloyd Samuel following Fabregas's 90th-minute shot ended Arsenal's run of five league games without victory.

Derby County were relegated after a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham, Birmingham City's 3-1 win over Manchester City sealing the bottom team's fate.

It is the first time a Premier League team has been relegated in March, Derby breaking the record set by Sunderland in 2003 when they went down on April 12.

Derby have taken 11 points from 32 games and will now hope to exceed 15 points, another Sunderland record from 2006.

Upcoming fixtures

Saturday: FA Cup semi-final 13.15 West Brom vs Portsmouth.

Premier League: 13.45 Arsenal vs Liverpool. 16.00 Aston Villa vs Bolton; Blackburn Rovers vs Tottenham Hotspur; Fulham vs Sunderland; Manchester City vs Chelsea; Newcastle vs Reading; Wigan Athletic vs Birmingham City.

Sunday: FA Cup semi-final 17.00 Barnsley vs Cardiff City.

Premier League: 14.30 Middlesbrough vs Manchester United. 16.00 Everton vs Derby County.

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