(adds later kickoffs paras 7-11)
By Trevor Huggins
LONDON, April 28 - Manchester United stormed back
from two goals down to beat Everton 4-2 and open up a five-point
lead in the Premier League on Saturday as rivals Chelsea were
held to a 2-2 draw by Bolton Wanderers.
With only three games left, United have one hand on the
trophy after their England striker Wayne Rooney scored United's
vital third goal against his old club in the 78th minute at
Goodison Park. Victory was wrapped up by a fourth in stoppage
time from youngster Chris Eagles.
It meant that United, who travel to face Chelsea at Stamford
Bridge on May 9, have 85 points to the champions' 80.
Asked about the momentum in the title race, Ferguson told
Sky Sports News: "With Chelsea drawing, it's back with us. A
five-point lead and superior goal difference gives us an
absolutely marvellous chance with three games left."
Though United did the job at Everton, they were also helped
by the draw earned in London by their northwest neighbours
Bolton, managed by Ferguson's friend Sam Allardyce.
"I'll be giving him a hug and a kiss," Ferguson joked.
"Maybe two kisses."
Down in the relegation battle, West Ham United improved
their chances of avoiding the drop with a 3-0 win at Wigan
Athletic, while Sheffield United did the same with a 1-0 victory
over already-relegated Watford.
Charlton Athletic are still in trouble after being trounced
4-1 at Blackburn Rovers.
A re-shuffled Liverpool lost 2-1 at Portsmouth, Tottenham
Hotspur won 3-2 at Middlesbrough and Aston Villa beat Manchester
City 2-0 away.
Title fortunes swung one way and then the other on a
thrilling afternoon of sunlit football, with Chelsea at one
stage level on points with United as Alex Ferguson's men trailed
on Merseyside and Chelsea led in west London.
The biggest drama was at Everton, who were 2-0 up with a
deflected free kick by Alan Stubbs after 11 minutes and a superb
shot by Manuel Fernandes just after the re-start before the hosts
committed two costly blunders.
DROPPED BALL
Keeper Iain Turner dropped the ball after an easy catch,
allowing United's John O'Shea to rifle home in the 61st minute,
and former United defender Phil Neville struck an attempted
clearance into his own net seven minutes later.
Rooney, still unpopular with some Everton fans after he left
for United in 2004, got the potentially title-winning goal after
riding one tackle and then steering a shot into the right-hand
corner.
Eagles put the result beyond doubt as United staked their
claim to a title they could win as early as next weekend, making
their game at Chelsea on May 9 a 'dead' fixture.
United have a derby at lacklustre Manchester City, while
Chelsea have a trickier game on paper at London rivals Arsenal.
The champions, who face United in the FA Cup final on May 19
at Wembley, will regret their missed chance at home on Saturday
in a rollercoaster game.
Slovakia defender Lubomir Michalik gave Bolton a surprise
19th minute lead on his full debut, only for Chelsea's Ivorian
striker Salomon Kalou to level soon after with a header.
Kalou was also responsible for Chelsea's second goal,
sending in a header that struck the crossbar and rebounded into
the net off keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in the 33rd minute.
But as Chelsea closed in for the kill, Bolton forward Kevin
Davies exploited a defensive lapse to head an equaliser soon
after the re-start and Sam Allardyce's men held on for a point.
Fans at both matches paid tribute before kickoff with
sustained applause in memory of former Everton player and
England 1966 World Cup winner Alan Ball, who was found dead at
his home after a suspected heart attack on Tuesday night.
Players marked the occasion by wearing black armbands.