Man U close in on title

LONDON (AP):

Manchester United edged closer to a record 19th English title by squeezing past Everton 1-0 yesterday while Fernando Torres ended his long scoring drought in second-place Chelsea's 3-0 win over West Ham that kept the defending champions in contention.

Javier Hernandez rose high to head home at the far post in the 84th minute to secure United's victory at Old Trafford, leaving his side needing seven points from the last four games to guarantee the title.

"The way we're going about our business gives us an outstanding chance,'' United manager Alex Ferguson said. "There's a winning attitude about the team and a real determination. They refuse to give in.''

Chelsea stayed six points adrift by seeing off West Ham at a rain-swept Stamford Bridge, with Torres netting his first Chelsea goal since his £50 million (then US$81 million) move from Liverpool on January 31.

"After 14 games waiting for my first goal, that was not what I expected when I signed,'' Torres said. "I want to thank all my teammates.''

Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda scored Chelsea's other goals.

Arsenal, who visit Bolton today, are a further three points behind.

Missed chance

Argentina midfielder Maxi Rodriguez scored a hat-trick for sixth-place Liverpool in their 5-0 thrashing of Birmingham at Anfield, moving the team three points behind Tottenham, who missed a chance to leapfrog Manchester City into fourth by being held to a 2-2 draw by West Bromwich Albion.

Netherlands forward Dirk Kuyt - with his seventh goal in the last six league matches - and substitute Joe Cole also scored for Liverpool, who are level on 18 English titles with United.

Simon Cox denied Spurs all three points at White Hart Lane with an 81st-minute equaliser for West Brom after Jermain Defoe had put the hosts ahead with his 100th Premier League goal.

At the other end of the table, Wolver-hampton moved off the bottom, ahead of West Ham, with a 1-1 home draw against Fulham and Wigan dropped into the relegation zone by losing 4-2 at Sunderland.

Blackpool moved up a place to fourth bottom after drawing at home to Newcastle, with DJ Campbell's 10th goal of the season levelling for the hosts after Peter Lovenkrands' opener.

England striker Darren Bent's 15th goal of the season earned Aston Villa a 1-1 draw with FA Cup finalist Stoke, which went ahead through Kenwyne Jones.

Everton came close to denying United a 13th successive home victory in the league, but Hernandez made it 19 goals in all competitions by connecting with Antonio Valencia's floated cross to beat visiting goalkeeper Tim Howard, who had made several great saves earlier in the match.

Results of English football matches played yesterday (home teams listed first):

Premier League: Manchester United 1 Everton 0; Aston Villa 1 Stoke 1; Blackpool 1 Newcastle 1; Liverpool 5 Birmingham 0; Sunderland 4 Wigan 2; Tottenham 2 West Bromwich Albion 2; Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Fulham 1; Chelsea 3 West Ham 0.

League Championship: Cardiff 2 Queens Park Rangers 2; Derby 2 Burnley 4; Hull 2 Middlesbrough 4; Portsmouth 0 Swansea 0; Sheffield United 3 Bristol City 2; Watford 1 Barnsley 0; Millwall 4 Preston 0.

League One: Brighton 1 Southampton 2; Bristol Rovers 2 Charlton 2; Rochdale 2 Carlisle 3; Swindon 1 Notts County 2; Walsall 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1; Yeovil 2 Bournemouth 2.

League Two: Hereford 0 Shrewsbury 2; Accrington Stanley 3 Bradford 0; Aldershot 1 Burton Albion 2; Cheltenham 0 Macclesfield 1; Gillingham 2 Barnet 4; Oxford 0 Chesterfield 0; Port Vale 1 Stockport 2.