Manchester United still at the top

Manchester United took their time before turning on the style against Watford to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Premiership.

The leaders ran out 4-0 winners over the rock-bottom Hornets at Old Trafford to keep second-placed Chelsea at arm's length.

United went ahead when Jay DeMerit conceded a penalty for hauling down Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 20 minutes in.

Cristiano Ronaldo showed all the confidence of a man with seven goals in his last seven games to send Hornets keeper Richard Lee the wrong way from the spot.

The leaders were far from their best and were gifted their second goal just past the hour mark when Lloyd Doyley headed Kieron Richardson's left-wing cross into his own net.

United turned on the style for their third and fourth, substitute Henrik Larsson exchanging passes with Wayne Rooney before finishing deftly.

Ronaldo and Rooney then combined in breathtaking fashion, the former's delicious lofted pass releasing the latter, whose outrageous chipped finish left Lee stranded.

Chelsea were almost equally comfortable in beating in-form Blackburn 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, re-establishing their five-point lead over third placed Liverpool.

The champions did not take long to open the scoring, Didier Drogba continuing his remarkable scoring form with his 23rd goal of the season six minutes in.

Put through by Frank Lampard, Drogba outpaced Stephane Henchoz before planting a low left-foot shot across Brad Friedel from 12 yards.

In-form Blackburn refused to buckle and it took until the 67th minute for Chelsea to double their advantage, Frank Lampard drilling a rising shot past Friedel from 25 yards.

Salomon Kalou wrapped up the points by sliding the ball home in the first minute of injury-time after Michael Ballack nodded on Wayne Bridge's pass.

Charlton moved level on points with third-bottom West Ham thanks to a hard-fought 1-1 at Bolton.

It looked ominous for the Premiership strugglers when Henrik Pedersen grabbed his first goal of the season six minutes in.

The striker netted from eight yards from Gary Speed's left-wing cross.

But it took just another six minutes for the visitors to level, Talal El Karkouri's free-kick deflecting off the wall, hitting Jussi Jaaskelainen's arms before squirming into the net.

An electric start ultimately earned Newcastle a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at St James' Park.

The home side flew out of the blocks, going 2-0 up inside the opening seven minutes.

James Milner got the ball rolling five minutes in, picking up the ball midway inside the Villa half and charging at the defence before unleashing a fierce left-foot shot from the edge of the area.

Milner then turned provider, lofting the ball in from the right for Kieron Dyer to loop a header over Thomas Sorensen.

Ashley then cut the deficit on his debut, drilling the ball home from eight yards after a corner caused confusion inside the Newcastle six-yard box.

It took until stoppage-time for the home side to break Villa's resistance again, Antoine Sibierski sliding home after some trickery from the returning Damien Duff.