A resurgent Manchester United rattled up their seventh consecutive victory in all competitions in real style Saturday, while rock bottom West Ham's woes continue for Glenn Roeder.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer headed them in front, with the help of a deflection from West Ham defender Tomas Repka, who conceded a free kick two minutes later, which Juan Sebastian Veron pocketed from 25m.
Another luckless West Ham defender, Frenchman Sebastien Sche-mmel, turned Gary Neville's low cross into his own net in the 61st minute though the scoreline could have been bigger -- Van Nistelrooy missing a potential hat-trick.
Ast. Villa 2, W Bromwich Albion 1
Thomas Hitzlsperger won the Midlands derby for 10-man Villa in stoppage time, though his side had always looked the more likely winners.
Villa's Dion Dublin missed a header from 6m out but Darius Vassell soon made amends, prodding home the loose ball on 16 minutes after Hitzlsperger's free kick ricocheted off the wall.
Jason Koumas levelled for Albion in the 29th minute but, despite a 68th-minute red card for Steve Staunton, Villa snatched the win with Hitzlsperger's last-ditch shot.
Charlton Athl. 2, Man. City 2
Charlton, who celebrated their best ever premier league run last weekend with four consecutive wins, were denied a fifth after leading 2-0 by a double from City's Marc-Vivien Foe.
After a scrappy first half, brightened only by a couple of flurries from the visitors' French striker Nicolas Anelka, Charlton were awarded a penalty six minutes after the break that Jason Euell drove past Peter Schmeichel.
Substitute Claus Jensen added their second goal just after the hour mark before Foe pulled one back in the 73rd minute and added another in the 85th to snatch a draw.
Everton 2, Blackburn Rovers 1
Teenage sensation Wayne Rooney, making a rare start, got Everton back to their winning ways after two consecutive defeats -- making one and scoring another for a stirring comeback win.
Andy Cole gave Rovers a sixth minute lead but Lee Carsley levelled six minutes later, snapping up the rebound after a Rooney shot hit the post. Rooney made it 2-1 after 25 minutes with a route one goal, collecting keeper Richard Wright's goal kick, slipping his marker and firing home a half-volley.
Blackburn's chances suffered a major setback in the 74th minute when Lucas Neill was shown the red card.
Middlesbrough 1, Chelsea 1
Chelsea's hopes of a victory that would propel them to the top of the table -- at least until Arsenal's game at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday -- were dashed by the dogged defending that keeps Boro unbeaten at home this season.
Boro's Geremi curled a superb 25m free kick past Carlo Cudicini on 32 minutes, but John Terry levelled 10 minutes later -- poking the ball home in a goalmouth melee. Only a goalline clearance by striker Massimo Maccarone just before the break denied Mario Stanic with a header from a corner.
Southampton 1, Newcastle Utd. 1
Southampton keep their unbeaten home record this season but New-castle should have won the match in the first half. Alan Shearer missed a sitter and KieronDyer failed to score after rounding Southampton goalkeeper Paul Jones.
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