TNT Sports
United close on Chelsea
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Published 01/04/2006 at 18:09 GMT+1
Manchester United moved to within seven points of faltering leaders Chelsea with a hard-earned 2-1 win at Bolton on Saturday. Meanwhile, Thierry Henry produced two sublime goals as Arsenal closed in on fourth place with a 5-0 humbling of Aston Villa.
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ARSENAL 5 ASTON VILLA 0
Arsenal, bouyed by their midweek Champions League win over Juventus, crushed hapless Villa at Highbury to increase the pressure on manager David O'Leary.
Villa have not beaten Arsenal since 1998 and never threatened to once Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor headed in a 19th-minute opener.
Thierry Henry exquisitely took down a Jose Antonio Reyes pass to lob Thomas Sorensen six minutes later and the French striker got his second and Arsenal's third a minute after the break. Substitutes Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby added further goals to bury Villa.
BOLTON WANDERERS 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
United's victory, courtesy of Ruud van Nistelrooy's 150th goal for the club, gave Alex Ferguson's side renewed hope of reeling in leaders Chelsea with six games to play.
Dutch striker Van Nistelrooy, starting from the bench again, slotted in from Louis Saha's cross after 79 minutes. Frenchman Saha, with his 14th goal of the season, had equalised 12 minutes before halftime with a fine curling effort.
Bolton, losing at home for the first time in 22 games in all competitions, had led through Kevin Davies.
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EVERTON 2 SUNDERLAND 2
Rory Delap's late equaliser for the bottom side denied Everton a seventh straight league win at home.
The game was a notable one for Sunderland's England under-21 striker Jonathan Stead, who scored his first goal for the club at the 32nd attempt, his goal cancelling out Leon Osman's early opener
Scot James McFadden quickly restored Everton's advantage but Delap's header on 80 minutes gave Sunderland reward for another battling display.
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FULHAM 1 PORTSMOUTH 3
Seemingly staring relegation in the face, Portsmouth have conjured three successive wins to lift spirits at Fratton Park.
In a frenetic encounter, Harry Redknapp's side scored with their first attack when Gary O'Neil's scuffed shot bounced over keeper Mark Crossley.
The lead lasted nine minutes before French midfielder Steed Malbranque thumped in from 25 metres. Lomana LuaLua shook off Zat Knight's close attentions to send Pompey in 2-1 up at the break.
O'Neil's deflected effort just past the hour gave Portsmouth breathing space and they held on comfortably after Fulham midfielder Michael Brown was sent off for a lunge at Sean Davis.
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NEWCASTLE UNITED 3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1
Spurs remain fourth but suffered a blow to their hopes of securing a Champions League place.
All the goals came in the opening half hour. Lee Bowyer tapped in after two minutes before Ireland's Robbie Keane levelled, powerfully heading in Aaron Lennon's cross for his sixth goal in five games.
Shola Ameobi folowed up to make it 2-1 after England keeper Paul Robinson had parried Nolberto Solano's shot and Alan Shearer added a third from the penalty spot.
Spurs defender Michael Dawson was sent off for a second booking on 61 minutes.
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