Manchester United can take another step towards a second consecutive Premier League title if they beat Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday.

While the title race is not yet over, Alex Ferguson's side can stretch their lead over Chelsea to five points with a victory at Ewood Park. After that game both United and Chelsea will only have three matches left to play, including one against each other at Stamford Bridge on April 26. Chelsea, though, stayed in the hunt for a third title in four seasons with a 1-0 win at Everton in a dour match at Goodison Park on Thursday, cutting United's lead to two points.

United have 80 points from their 34 games, Chelsea trail with 78 points from 35 but United will secure the title with two matches to spare if they win at both Blackburn and Chelsea.

However, United manager Ferguson has seen enough of English football to know that strange results can lurk just around the corner.

"We're in a good position, but with my experience in life you don't take things for granted," Ferguson told the club's Web site (www.manutd.com).

"We've still got difficult games. We have to go to Blackburn, Chelsea and Wigan, which are three difficult away games. We could lose at Chelsea, we could lose all the games. It is a very difficult league."

United, who play Barcelona next Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, have won only one of their last seven league trips to Blackburn but Ferguson may rotate players with the Nou Camp assignment looming.

Chelsea also have a Champions League date next week when they return to Merseyside to play Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of their semi-final. Chelsea did Liverpool a favour on Thursday with their win over Everton, chasing Liverpool for fourth spot and a Champions League qualifying place. Everton's defeat left Liverpool secure in fourth spot on 66 points, five points clear of Everton and with Saturday's game against Fulham in hand.

With fourth place looking likely, manager Rafael Benitez will be expected to ring the changes with the likes of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard warming the bench at Craven Cottage.

Like Fulham, who beat Reading 2-0 last week, Bolton Wanderers are showing signs of a last-gasp revival and sit just two points behind fourth from bottom Birmingham City as they prepare for a visit to mid-table Middlesbrough. Victory at the Riverside for Bolton could lift them above Birmingham before the Midlands club's derby clash at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Wigan Athletic, another club still looking anxiously over their shoulder, will look for a victory that would probably ensure their safety when they host a Tottenham Hotspur side already looking ahead to next season. Third-placed Arsenal have nothing left to play for after falling out of the title race last week, but Reading, who have slipped dangerously close to the relegation zone after a poor run of results, will not be relishing their trip to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. (Reuters)

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