Villa crushed at Old Trafford

Premier League round-up

SPL review

Berwick relegated 

Manchester United put on an awesome display as they crushed Aston Villa 4-0 at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with an astonishing back heel on 17 minutes before Carlos Tevez netted after 33 minutes.  Wayne Rooney completed a truly pulsating United performance with a second-half double. The Red Devils are now six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal remain in the title race after a dramatic 2-3 win against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. Matthew Taylor gave the home side a 14th minute lead before Arsenal’s Abou Diaby saw red after a horror challenge on Gretar Steinsson on the half hour. Matthew Taylor grabbed his second before the break to put the home side firmly in control. However, the second-half saw William Gallas pull one back, Robin Van Persie equalise from the spot and the Gunners completed their remarkable comeback with a last-minute own-goal from Jlloyd Samuel.

Derby County have been relegated to the Championship after drawing 2-2 with second from bottom Fulham at Pride Park - a result that leaves Roy Hodgson’s men  in trouble as well. Beleaguered Rams boss Paul Jewell said: “It has been a long hard season, a terrible season and a very difficult time. Now that relegation has been confirmed there is only one thing that matters and that is the start of next season. I’ve seen what a fantastic club this is - with the right players and the right mentality we can move forward.” County have only won once all season and still need five points to avoid recording the worst points tally in Premier League history. Sunderland claimed this unwanted record when they managed just 15 points in the 2005-2006 campaign.

Jermain Defoe scored twice as Portsmouth beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at Fratton Park to maintain their chase for fifth-place and ensure Wigan still have one eye on the relegation zone, Andy Reid scored deep into injury-time as Sunderland beat West Ham United 2-1 at the Stadium of Light to  earn Sunderland back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since December 2001 and 10-man Birmingham City beat Manchester City 3-1 at St Andrews to move four points clear of the drop zone.

There was stalemate at the Madjeski Stadium between 10-man Reading and Blackburn Rovers. Marek Matejovsky was sent off for Reading on 72 minutes after picking up his second yellow card of the game.  

Kevin Thompson scored on the stroke of half-time as Rangers beat Celtic 1-0 at Ibrox to move six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League. Elsewhere, Gretna were relegated after a 2-0 defeat at St Mirren, Aberdeen edged a thrilling Highland derby against 10-man Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3-4 at Caledonian Stadium, Falkirk and Kilmarnock played out a goalless draw at the Falkirk Stadium while both Heart of Midlothian and Motherwell recorded 1-0 home wins over Dundee United and Hibernian respectively.

Berwick Rangers were relegated from the Scottish Second Division after a 2-2 draw with Peterhead at Shielfield Park.  

Nathan Davies