Touch of Dutch class

Van Nistelrooy keeps United clear in title race

Ruud Van Nistelrooy celebrates with Roy Keane Michael Steele/Getty Images

LONDON (AP) -- Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his 19th league goal of the season Saturday to give Manchester United a 1-0 win over Aston Villa and strengthen its lead at the top of the Premier League.

The win was United's 12th league win in 13 games and boosted it to 57 points. Arsenal jumped from fourth to second with a 4-1 win over Fulham while Liverpool slipped to third with a 1-1 draw in a cross-town derby with Everton. Arsenal has 54 points and Liverpool 53.

In other results, Derby beat Leicester 3-0 at Filbert Street with goals from Branko Strupar, Georgi Kinkladze and Lee Morris. Both clubs are struggling in the relegation zone -- bottom club Leicester has just 17 points, having won three games all season, with Derby one place above with 25 points.

Southampton and Bolton played a scoreless tie. Bolton is one place above the relegation zone with 29 points, while the Saints have 31 points.

Third place Newcastle plays a northeastern derby at Sunderland on Sunday.

Also Sunday, Leeds plays Charlton and England's first trophy of the season is contested when Tottenham plays Blackburn for the League Cup at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Van Nistelrooy scored in the 50th minute at Old Trafford from a poor Villa defensive error. George Boateng was dispossessed as he dribbled the ball back toward his own box. Roy Keane and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer helped as the ball hit a defender and fell to van Nistelrooy who promptly scored.

United then stepped up a gear but failed to add another while Villa struggled to threaten Fabien Barthez's goal throughout the match.

"He is having a fantastic season for us and getting better all the time," United manager Alex Ferguson said of van Nistelrooy. "He could have had a hat-trick today -- but he shot just past the post in each half."

Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel returned from a shoulder injury to captain Aston Villa in his first competitive return to Old Trafford since he left Manchester United three years ago.

United manager Alex Ferguson said the Dane was "one of the greatest players this club has ever had" and he was cheered loudly by Reds fans.

Frenchmen dominated the game at Highbury. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal played against Fulham, coached by his compatriot Jean Tigana. There were four Frenchmen in Arsenal's lineup, as well as two on the bench, while Fulham fielded a further four with another as substitute.

Arsenal went ahead after five minutes. Cameroon international Lauren, who had been moved forward into midfield, scored from a Sylvain Wiltord pass. Fulham equalized five minutes later against the run of play. Rufus Brevett swung over a deep cross and Steve Marlet, left completely unmarked at the back post, headed the ball into goal.

Patrick Vieira restored the Gunners' lead in the 15th minute. Fulham fullback Brevett tried to play the ball back to teammate Andy Melville but Arsenal's Thierry Henry seized possession and passed to Vieira who scored his first goal of the season.

Henry doubled Arsenal's lead with goals in the 38th and 59th minutes with a fierce drive and a rebound goal.

At Anfield, former Gunner Nicolas Anelka scored in the 72nd minute to rescue a point for Liverpool against cross-town rival Everton.

Emile Heskey fed Danny Murphy, whose neat pass sent Anelka clear in the area to slide his shot past exposed Everton 'keeper Steve Simonsen.

Tomasz Radzinski had put the Toffees ahead in the 52nd minute. The Canadian international, who had been substituted in place of David Ginola, scuffed a shot from the edge of the box, which bounced away from Reds 'keeper Chris Kirkland and into the bottom corner.

French international striker Youri Djorkaeff started for Bolton at Southampton, 10 days after signing from German club Kaiserslautern. Djorkaeff nearly scored in the 15th minute, forcing Southampton 'keeper Paul Jones to tip over his header.

Jones also saved Stig Tofting's powerful free kick.

The Saints' best goalscoring opportunity was through Fabrice Fernandes, who volleyed over the bar despite being unmarked. Southampton's Rory Delap was sent off for a second bookable offence with two minutes left.

Leicester notched up its 12th league game without a win, and its six years in the Premier League is in danger of ending.

Derby goalkeeper Andy Oakes was knocked unconscious in the first half after clashing with Leicester's James Scowcroft. He was taken to hospital as a precaution and replaced by on-loan 'keeper Patrick Foletti from Swiss side Lucerne.

Derby then dominated, with Kinkladze scoring in the 53rd minute with the ball taking a deflection off Leicester defender Stefan Oakes.

Strupar had started his first game in 11 months in place of the suspended Fabrizio Ravanelli. He curled his shot past Foxes keeper Ian Walker in the 64th minute. Morris scored in injury time.

In the English first division, Wolverhampton maintained its lead at the top of the table with a 4-1 win over Stockport. Wolves has 70 points, five points ahead of Manchester City, which drew 0-0 with Walsall. West Bromwich Albion moved up to third with a 5-0 win over Portsmouth.

In other games: Birmingham 3, Watford 2; Coventry 4, Barnsely 0; Crewe 1, Burnley 2; Crystal Place 0, Sheffield United 1; Gillingham 0, Bradford 4; Millwall 0, Wimbledon 1; Nottingham Forest 0, Grimsby 0; Sheffield Wednesday 1, Rotherham 2.

In the Scottish Cup, fifth round, Dundee United drew 2-2 with first division Ayr, a finalist in the Scottish League Cup. First division sides Partick and Inverness County Thistle also drew 2-2. Both games will require replays. Sunday, second division Forfar plays Rangers and Monday, Aberdeen plays Celtic.

 

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