Premiership: United cruise, Watford break
duck
Manchester United moved three points clear at the top of the
Premiership with a convincing 3-0 victory over Portsmouth.
Watford secured their first Premiership win of the season with a
comfortable 2-0 victory over a woeful Middlesbrough.
An own goal by Jonathan Woodgate after just five minutes, after
Hameur Bouazza's shot, put the Hornets in front, before Ashley
Young made the game safe after an hour by taking advantage of a
George Boateng error to drive home.
Watford's win puts them to within two points of their opponents and
increases the pressure on Boro boss Gareth Southgate.
In the early kick-off, Claus Jensen's deflected second-half strike
was enough to hand Fulham a narrow victory over Everton.
The Toffees dominated the first period but were undone by Jensen's
speculative effort that cannoned off Lee Carsley and into the
Everton net.
Dirk Kuyt's double at Anfield condemned Reading to their fifth
successive defeat and sent Liverpool up to seventh in the
table.
His first was a simple finish from six yards out after Peter
Crouch's knock-down. His second came when Marcus Hahnemann spilled
Crouch's header leaving the Dutchman to volley home from close
in.
Charlton hung on for three valuable points at the bottom of the
table with a nervy 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Darren Bent scored the only goal of the game with a well-placed
header from Jerome Thomas' excellent cross after 27 minutes.
But the Addicks had goalkeeper Scott Carson to thank for their win
after the England international pulled of a string of fine saves to
deny City in the second half.
Iain Dowie's side move off the bottom of the table while City are
dragged back into the relegation battle.
Bolton slipped up at home for the second successive week as Lee
McCulloch's crisp drive from the edge of the area stole three
points from the Reebok Stadium.
Wigan grab their third win in a row while Bolton fall further away
from the top two after an uninspiring clash in Lancashire.
