Another two points down the drain

LONDON (AP): Manchester United's troubles on the road persisted with a 0-0 draw at Sunderland coming after their dressing room was flooded by a sewerage pipe before kick-off yesterday.

English Premier League champion Chelsea can surge five points clear of Man United by winning today's London derby against third-place Arsenal.

It could have been a worse day for United, who have drawn all four away matches this season, had it not been for solid defending and several crucial saves from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

difficult

"We had to defend very well and the pleasing thing for me is that the back four were fantastic," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "We've had difficult away games but the consistency of not losing is something we can take ... .

"It's always more difficult for a team that plays in Europe to then play on Saturday."

But Tottenham, who also won in the Champions League last Wednesday, returned to domestic action by coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1, with Rafael van der Vaart scoring twice.

Two records fell at St Andrews, with Everton recording their first win of the season at Birmingham, whose 2-0 loss ended a 13-month unbeaten run at home.

Fulham drew 1-1 at West Ham after American forward Clint Dempsey beat Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green with a left-footed volley in their first meeting since the Englishman's howler at the World Cup.

Stoke leapt up the standings with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn, Wigan climbed out of the relegation zone by beating Wolverhampton 2-0, and West Bromwich held Bolton to 1-1.

The match at the Stadium of Light was delayed for 20 minutes after Man United were forced to move dressing rooms due to the pipe bursting.

The disruption seemed to affect United, who began on the back foot. Steed Malbranque could have put Sunderland ahead from close range after 16 minutes but was thwarted by Van der Sar's low save.

Nedum Onuoha had a shot cleared off United's goal line and Bolo Zenden's fierce 20-metre shot hit the post.

United striker Dimitar Berbatov, who came on for Michael Owen, had a goal rightly disallowed for offside. Sunderland nearly went ahead when Malbranque's shot deflected up off Rio Ferdinand but it looped just over the crossbar.

Instead of joining Chelsea on 15 points, United remains two adrift.

Sunderland have already drawn against Arsenal and Liverpool and beaten Manchester City at home this season.

"You have to give credit to Sunderland, their home record is fantastic," Ferguson said.

At White Hart Lane, Van der Vaart showed again why he could be the bargain buy of the summer transfer window.

The eight-million pound (then US$12 million) Dutch deadline-day recruit scored in first-half stoppage time and in the 75th for Tottenham after Marc Albrighton's first goal for Villa gave the visitors an early lead.

Van der Vaart, whose goals were both set up by headers from Peter Crouch, has scored four goals in three home matches since joining from Real Madrid.

"He's started well, he's going well, he's going great," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said. "He's always looking to get on the ball and he's always looking to score. He's got that knack of scoring goals."

At Upton Park, Green couldn't be blamed for not stopping Dempsey's 12-metre strike - unlike in June.

Green fumbled Dempsey's weakly hit long-range shot through his arms at the World Cup, gifting the Americans an equaliser in their opening draw with England.

Yesterday, Frederic Piquionne headed Green's West Ham level at the start of the second half.

fourth straight loss

Wolverhampton's fourth straight league loss came after having captain Karl Henry sent off after 11 minutes for a reckless challenge on Jordi Gomez.

Gomez put the hosts ahead with a free kick that went in off the underside of the crossbar before Hugo Rodallega deflected in the second.

Bolton missed the chance to move above opponents West Brom and into sixth after losing a lead at The Hawthorns.

Johan Elmander scored his fourth of the season from Kevin Davies' layoff, but after Martin Petrov squandered a chance to extend Bolton's lead, James Morrison headed West Brom level.

Everton finally picked up three points at the expense of Birmingham thanks to Roger Johnson's own goal and Tim Cahill's stoppage-time header. The 2-0 win sent Merseyside rival Liverpool into the relegation zone ahead of their match against Blackpool today.