Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes kept champions Manchester United's Premier League title ambitions alive with a stoppage-time goal in a 1-0 derby win away to Manchester City on Saturday. There were barely 20 seconds left in the three minutes of added-on time at the end of the match when Scholes headed in Patrice Evra's cross to the despair of home fans at Eastlands.
-- Everton beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2
-- Bolton Wanderers beat Stoke City 2-1
-- Burnley closer to the drop
Victory saw second-placed United close to within a point of leaders Chelsea, with three games left, and dented City's bid for Champions League football. But Chelsea will restore their four-point advantage if they win away to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's late kick-off.
However, victory for Tottenham would see them leapfrog City into fourth place and the final qualifying spot on offer to English clubs for next season's Champions League. "We deserved to win the game but I couldn't see a goal coming," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.
"Towards the end, City made a bit of a charge, it got a bit open, the game, and I decided to push Scholesy forward a bit and it paid off." City boss Roberto Mancini, while disappointed by defeat, insisted his side's bid for Champions League was still on course.
"The crucial match will be against Tottenham here (on May 5)," the Italian said. "We have four games left and we must try to win them." Elsewhere, Sunderland edged Burnley nearer relegation with a 2-1 home win while second-bottom Hull remained in the drop zone after a goalless draw away to Birmingham.
Australia international Tim Cahill's 10th goal of the season boosted Everton's European hopes as he scored the winner in a 3-2 victory away to Blackburn Rovers. Bolton all but assured themselves of Premier League football next season after two goals in the final five minutes from Matt Taylor saw them come from behind to beat Stoke 2-1.
Wolves inched nearer safety with a goalless draw away to Europa League finalists Fulham. Darren Bent and Alan Hutton set up Frazier Campbell's 25th minute opener for Sunderland. Campbell returned the favour when, five minutes before half-time, his header was volleyed in by England striker Bent. Steven Thompson gave Burnley hope with an 82nd minute goal.
Everton took the lead at Ewood Park through Mikel Arteta's fourth minute penalty after the Spaniard was brought down by New Zealand's Ryan Nelsen. But Rovers levelled after Steven Nzonzi let fly with a swerving 30-yard shot in the 69th minute.
Substitutes then scored for both sides, Everton forward Yakubu heading the visitors 2-1 up less than 30 seconds after coming on before Rovers striker Jason Roberts equalised nine minutes from time. Yakubu then turned provider for Cahill's 90th minute winner, the midfielder scoring with his foot rather than his head for a change.
At the Britannia Stadium, Stoke striker Dave Kitson fired the hosts into a 13th minute lead. Bolton equalised through Taylor's free-kick five minutes from time before, in the 88th minute, he turned in Vladimir Weiss's cross. Wigan, still not yet assured of Premier League survival are at home to Arsenal on Sunday with the Gunners looking to bounce back from their midweek derby defeat by Tottenham.
Burnley slumped ever deeper into the relegation mire when they lost 2-1 at Sunderland, with the home side 2-0 up at halftime thanks to goals from Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent. Steven Thompson pulled a goal back for Burnley with a right-footed shot in the 82nd minute.
Burnley dropped to 19th place, with only relegated Portsmouth behind them, on 27 points and having played one game more than Hull City who leapfrogged ahead on 28 after a goalless draw at Birmingham City. West Ham United, three points clear of Hull, play at Liverpool on Monday.
Europa League semi-finalists Fulham moved up to 10th with a 0-0 home draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who climbed closer to safety. Everton beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2. Meanwhile, already-relegated Portsmouth are at home to Aston Villa. Liverpool, on the market after US co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett put the club up for sale on Friday, face strugglers West Ham at Anfield on Monday.
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