United maintain lead with four-star display

Manchester United tightened their grip on the Barclays Premiership with a ruthless 4-0 demolition of Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

A controversial penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo set the Red Devils on their way, before Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs all scored in the second half.

Victory, though, came at a cost as keeper Edwin van der Sar broke his nose in the closing stages, leaving defender John O’Shea to finish the match in goal.

Scholes declared: “This was such a big result for us.

“We will keep plugging away and hopefully at the end of the season we will get our just rewards.”

Frank Lampard maintains Chelsea can stay focused as they bid to usurp United in pole position.

England midfielder Lampard scored his 17th goal of the season at Charlton yesterday which proved enough to secure another three points, while captain John Terry returned for the closing stages after six weeks out with a back problem.

“We have been back to our normal selves lately,” said Lampard.

“We are trying to close the gap and so we have to forget what has happened and look forward.

“Obviously this is a new thing for us to be behind because we have been in front for the past two years, but it is still the same pressure on us to keep winning.”

Charlton remain in deep trouble – six points from safety.

Manager Alan Pardew, however, is expecting leading scorer Darren Bent back this month and said: “The spirit that the players showed is not weak and I think we are going to have a strong finish.”

Arsenal missed the chance to make the most of the goaless Merseyside derby when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough and had defender Philippe Senderos sent off.

“We showed great character and great quality to come back. I would like to see us 1-0 up and Middlesbrough down to 10 men and come back,” said manager Arsene Wenger.

Everton, meanwhile, were clearly left less than impressed by the assertion from Reds manager Rafael Benitez they were a “small club.”

Manager David Moyes said after the game at Anfield: “There is no doubt we are in the shadow of Liverpool, but we are doing out utmost to compete with them.”

West Ham’s miserable season continued at Aston Villa, where they lost 1-0 and saw new signing Matthew Upson hobble off with a calf injury.

Defiant manager Alan Curbishley said: “There are enough games left to win some points – and a three-pointer will lift everyone.”

At Ewood Park, returning hero David Dunn helped earn Blackburn a last-gasp win over Sheffield United.

The midfielder – back at his hometown club after more than three and a half years with Birmingham – came off the bench to win a free-kick deep into injury time, from which Morten Gamst Pedersen secured victory.

“David is fit and well and looking strong, and he is really going to help us move forward in the long term,” said manager Mark Hughes.

Blades manager Neil Warnock bemoaned: “I do not think we got what we deserved. People say it evens up during a season, but I think that is rubbish.”

Fulham beat Newcastle 2-1 at Craven Cottage and manager Chris Coleman reflected: “If we stay up again now, next year will be our sixth in the Premiership and I think that is a good record.

“Since I have been doing the job I feel older – a lot older. And I have put on about three stones in weight. But if you are going to do this job then do it without regrets.”

Steve Coppell continues to insist Reading are still learning despite moving up into the top six with a 2-0 win at Manchester City.

He said: “We are what we are – a team very much with the L-plates on. Sometimes you can find you are not afraid purely because you do not know who you are playing against.”

Bolton also continue to impress, with Nicolas Anelka’s second-half strike giving them a 1-0 win at bottom club Watford.

Manager Sam Allardyce said: “Getting into the Champions League would be like winning the league with 120 points. That is how big it would be for somebody with our spending power and squad.”

Relegation-threatened Wigan halted a run of eight straight Premiership defeats when they beat Portsmouth 1-0 at the JJB Stadium.

“Hopefully we will see a reaction from this win and will kick on from here because it releases the pressure,” said Latics defender Matt Jackson.