English Premier League Round-Up: May 3rd

Manchester United put the pressure back on Chelsea in this season's thrilling title race by beating West Ham 4-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon. Buoyed by their European success in mid-week, the hosts started brightly and took the lead after only three minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo took advantage of a defensive error from Lucas Neill to fire into the back of the net. The Hammers settled after that, but were beaten by Ronaldo again on 23 minutes, before former hero Carlos Tevez lashed in a long-range stunner to make it three two minutes later.

Dean Ashton then scored a barnstormer of his own with a cracking overhead kick which made it 3-1, and Nani was sent-off for headbutting Neill shortly after, unsettling a previously confident United. However, any fears Sir Alex Ferguson's men were going to choke were put to rest midway through the second half when Michael Carrick drilled home from long range to make it four. The match petered out into a rather dour affair after that, but it will matter little to the hosts. All they need to do now is beat Wigan on the final day and they will seal their second successive Premier League title.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Newcastle could cause an upset against Chelsea on Monday. Chelsea need at least a point against Newcastle to retain any hopes of pipping Sir Alex Ferguson's side to the Premier League title. "The way Chelsea have been talking is that it'll be easy up there - but we know that's not the case," he said.

United had Nani red carded for a headbutt on Hammers defender Lucas Neill but rarely looked like dropping points in their last home game of the season.