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Red Devils nip at Gunners' heels

Charlton Athletic's Talal El Karkouri, right, challenges Manchester United's Wayne Rooney at The Valley in London on Sunday. Manchester United won the match 4-0. PHOTO: AP

Manchester United moved within a point of second-place Arsenal with a 4-0 victory at Charlton on Sunday.

Goals by Paul Scholes, Darren Fletcher, Alan Smith and Wayne Rooney overpowered ailing Charlton, and it would have been worse for Alan Curbishley's team had it not been for the standout saves of debutant Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen.

Although Chelsea clinched the title on Saturday by winning 2-0 at Bolton, the Reds can still get second place. Their victory at The Valley gave Alex Ferguson's team 73 points from 35 games. Arsenal has 74 from 34 and hopes to restore its four-point advantage by winning at relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

Andersen had already made reflex saves to foil Rooney and Scholes before his blunder handed United a 34th-minute lead.

The young Dane fumbled a low 20m shot from Rooney, and Scholes was first to follow up and prod the ball into an empty net.

Scholes, lucky to escape with just a yellow card for a two-footed challenge on Dennis Rommedahl, played a part in United's second goal. He found Fletcher on the edge of the Charlton area and the Scottish international guided a low, right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Rooney got clear of the Charlton defender only to hit the post, before Smith scored his sixth league goal of the season -- but first in 2005 -- after Moroccan defender Talal El Karkouri failed to clear the ball.

Rooney took a pass from Brazilian World Cup star Kleberson to run into space and add the fourth in the 67th minute.

Charlton defender Chris Perry was sent off five minutes from the end for bringing down a goalbound Wes Brown.

"It was a fairly comfortable game for us, which we needed," said Rooney, who believed the Reds could still catch Arsenal for second place.

"I think so. They've got a tough game tomorrow against West Brom, who are fighting to avoid relegation. Hopefully West Brom will do us a favor and we can pip them."

After 14 years at The Valley, Curbishley admitted for the first time that he might be considering his future with Charlton.

"I do feel like that at this moment in time," he said. "I am a bit down at the moment, I feel the players have let me down. I expect a bit more from them.

"You can't defend like that against Man United. It was bewildering at times. Man United don't need the leg-up. Some of the things we've done beggars belief."

Meanwhile, Frederic Kanoute scored twice as Tottenham outplayed Aston Villa 5-1 to move up to seventh in the Premier League and closer to a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Defenders Ledley King and Stephen Kelly and midfielder Andy Reid also hit the target at White Hart Lane. By the time Gareth Barry replied with a penalty just before halftime, his team was already 3-0 down.

Croatian striker Dado Prso scored twice as Rangers won 3-1 at Aberdeen to cut Celtic's championship lead to two points.

Celtic's surprise 3-1 loss at home to Hibernian on Saturday handed Rangers an unexpected chance to get back in the title race and Alex McLeish's team took advantage at rain-soaked Pittodrie.

Barry Ferguson gave the 'Gers a 10th-minute lead only for Chris Clark to level in the 33rd for fourth-place Aberdeen.

Prso restored the lead two minutes before halftime and added a third in the 59th to take his tally for the season to 21.

The victory gives Rangers 84 points while Celtic has 86 and both teams have three games remaining.

Hibs' triumph on Saturday meant that Tony Mowbray's players cemented their position in third place and stayed on course for a berth in next season's UEFA Cup.

Livingston climbed away from last place by beating Dunfermline 2-0 to leave the beaten Pars at the bottom. Dundee United moved away from relegation danger by winning 2-1 at neighbor Dundee. Hearts and Motherwell tied 0-0 while Kilmarnock won 2-1 at Inverness.
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