England round-up: United take initiative

Manchester United FC are five points clear of champions Arsenal FC in the English Premiership after a 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Scholes scores
Arsenal dropped two points on Saturday after drawing 2-2 with Bolton Wanderers FC, and United took full advantage at the title holders' London neighbours. David Beckham returned to United's lineup after being excluded in midweek against Real Madrid CF, but it was his England team-mate Paul Scholes who broke the deadlock, converting Ryan Giggs's cross 22 minutes from the end.

Van Nistelrooij reaches 40
Tottenham kept their opponents under pressure as they sought the victory they needed to keep their slim UEFA Cup qualification hopes alive. But Ruud van Nistelrooij claimed his 40th club goal of the season in added time following a Quinton Fortune cross to secure the win.

Possible triumph
United now have two games left, one more than Arsenal. Sir Alex Ferguson's team could clinch the league next weekend if they secure a home win against Charlton Atheltic FC on Saturday and Arsenal cannot gain three points the following day against Leeds United AFC.

Vital West Ham win
West Ham United FC gave themselves hope of avoiding relegation from the English Premiership with a dramatic 1-0 win at Manchester City FC. Former West Ham player Trevor Brooking had taken charge of the club as caretaker earlier this week with regular manager Glenn Roeder hospitalised with a burst blood vessel in his brain.

Tough task
Brooking's side began the day five points adrift of fourth-bottom Bolton and a further point behind Leeds in the race to avoid joining West Bromwich Albion FC and Sunderland AFC in next season's First Division, with two matches left after today. However, West Ham faced a tough task against a City side keen for a good performance in their penultimate match before leaving their Maine Road stadium.

Kanouté winner