JOIN USA Titus Bramble own goal helped Manchester United edge closer to their 20th league title when they won 1-0 at Sunderland on Saturday to stay 15 points clear of champions Manchester City with only eight Premier League games left to play.
City, whose manager Roberto Mancini conceded the title race was over on Thursday, beat Newcastle United 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium with goals from Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure after they started the match 18 points behind United who kicked off earlier in the day.
United have 77 points from their 30 matches, with City in second on 62. The race for the other two Champions League places hotted up with Tottenham Hotspur winning 2-1 at Swansea City to leapfrog Chelsea into third place after they lost 2-1 at Southampton.
Spurs have 57 points, two ahead of Chelsea on 55 with Arsenal, who beat Reading 4-1, on 53.
Arsenal's win meant Reading, who had new manager Nigel Adkins in charge for the first time, dropped to the bottom of the table below Queens Park Rangers, who play Fulham on Monday, on goal difference.
Wigan Athletic beat Norwich City 1-0 to move out of the relegation zone, at least until Aston Villa, who are 18th, play Liverpool on Sunday.
Andy Carroll gave Roy Hodgson a timely reminder of his talents as he inspired West Ham United to an impressive 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion that eased any lingering hopes of relegation at Upton Park.
The decisive goal in United's win at Sunderland came after 27 minutes when Robin van Persie ended a jinking run on the left with a shot that took a deflection off Bramble's thigh leaving Black Cats keeper Simon Mignolet stranded.
United, closing in on their 20th title and their fifth in the last seven seasons, went ahead after 27 minutes when Robin van Persie ended a jinking run on the left with a shot that took a deflection off Bramble's thigh leaving Black Cats keeper Simon Mignolet stranded.
Van Persie, who has scored 19 league goals this season but not found the net since a 2-0 win over Everton on February 10, told Sky Sports he would be claiming the strike.
"Of course, no question about it. It's been a while so it's nice to score again and it was an important goal," the Dutchman said.
United midfielder Michael Carrick, named man of the match, added: "I thought we played some really good football and controlled the game without creating all the scoring opportunities we would have liked. "They are fighting for their lives but we defended well and are delighted with the three points,’’ he added.