Rooney treble keeps United in touch

A hat-trick from Wayne Rooney inspired Manchester United FC to a 4-1 win at Premier League strugglers Portsmouth FC which reduced Chelsea FC's lead to two points ahead of the Blues' London derby with Arsenal FC on Sunday.

Three spot-kicks
Rooney opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 25 minutes after being felled by Michael Brown and although Kevin Prince Boateng (32) quickly levelled with another spot-kick, the England striker restored United's lead three minutes into the second half. Rooney completed his treble with his second penalty − his tenth league goal of the season − before Ryan Giggs (87) curled in a late free-kick for his 100th Premier League goal. Portsmouth, now under the guidance of Avram Grant, remain bottom, seven points from safety.

Seven draws
In the late kick-off, Michael Dawson (77) salvaged Tottenham Hotspur FC a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa FC which lifted Harry Redknapp's team above north London neighbours Arsenal into third. Another spot-kick, this time from Jimmy Bullard, earned Hull City AFC a 1-1 draw at sixth-placed Manchester City FC, the latter's seventh in succession in the league, while two points further back Sunderland AFC also missed the chance to close on the top four. The north-east club lost 1-0 to a Wigan Athletic FC team showing just one change from the side beaten 9-1 by Tottenham six days earlier.

Goals galore
Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers FC drew 0-0 at home with Stoke City FC, but there was no shortage of goals at Upton Park where five different players scored for West Ham United FC as the Londoners defeated Burnley FC 5-3. UEFA Europa League contenders Fulham FC, who host PFC CSKA Sofia on Thursday, rescued a 1-1 draw from their home encounter against Bolton Wanderers FC thanks to Damien Duff's 75th-minute equaliser. Liverpool FC and Everton will look to get their respective campaigns back on track in Sunday's Merseyside derby, while Wolverhampton Wanderers FC host Midlands rivals Birmingham City FC.