AP
Manchester United's manager, Alex Ferguson (centre), applauds his team after its 4-1 win against West Ham United in the Barclays Premier League at Old Trafford yesterday.

LONDON (AP):

TEN-MAN Manchester United beat West Ham 4-1 yesterday with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo to increase the pressure on title rivals Chelsea in the Premier League. United moved three points clear at the top with 84 points and a game left to play. United's only rivals, Chelsea, have 81 points with a game in hand and play Newcastle tomorrow.

"It's been a great day for us and we've got a big chance,'' Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said. ''Our players have been absolutely fantastic this season. We were down to 10 men today and I said to try to run the clock down, keep possession and be patient in the second half and I'm very pleased because there was a bit of tiredness.''

United and Chelsea also play in the Champions League final on May 21 in Moscow.

Also yesterday it was: Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2, Blackburn 3 Derby 1, Fulham 2 Birmingham 0, Middlesbrough 2 Portsmouth 0, Reading 0 Tottenham 1 and Bolton 2 Sunderland 0.

Today, Arsenal host Everton and Manchester City are at Liverpool.

Bolton effectively secured their place in next season's Premier League with a 2-0 win over Sunderland. They now have 36 points in 16th place and have a much better goal difference than 18th-place Reading.

Mathematically safe

"We know we're not mathematically safe, but it puts us on the road to being safe,'' Bolton captain Kevin Nolan said.

That whittles the relegation battle down to three clubs.

Fulham moved out of the relegation zone for the first time this year with their win over Birmingham - pushing Reading down into the bottom three.

Fulham have 33 points for 17th place, ahead of Reading on goal difference. Birmingham are in 19th place with 32 points, with already-relegated Derby with 11 points.

"The atmosphere right now is euphoric and I'm happy about that because you need to take all the good moments that come in football,'' Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said. "But it's not finished yet and the euphoria of this week could turn into sadness next Sunday if we are relegated.''

Ronaldo brought his goal tally to 40 this season with goals in the third and 24th minutes. Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick also scored for United, who played with 10 men from the 37th minute after Nani was sent off.

For Ronaldo's first goal, he took a goal kick from Edwin van der Sar, then dribbled from the sidelines into the box to score, with his shot deflecting in off West Ham defender George McCartney.

His second was more fortuitous. Owen Hargreaves crossed the ball into the box and, as it landed on his raised thigh, Ronaldo turned to divert the ball into goal.

Ronaldo's 30th league goal

It was Ronaldo's 30th league goal and 40th of the season. He was taken off in the 64th minute for Darren Fletcher.

"Cristiano has had a fantastic season and he develops all the time,'' Ferguson said.

Carlos Tevez made it 3-0 in the 26th against his former club, dipping in a shot from outside the box.

West Ham pulled a goal back in the 38th through an acrobatic backward scissors kick from Dean Ashton.

Manchester United had Nani sent off for headbutting West Ham defender Lucas O'Neill, who was shown a yellow card.

Despite the man disadvantage, Michael Carrick made it 4-1 for United with a long-range shot that deflected in off O'Neill.