LONDON, Dec 28: Ten-man Manchester United held on to beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside on Sunday and extend their lead at the top of the premier league to four points.

With second-placed Arsenal not playing Southampton until Monday, United took full advantage with an own goal by Danny Mills and a battling display after midfielder Darren Fletcher was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 65th minute.

Victory meant United are top on 46 points, followed on 42 by both Arsenal and Chelsea, who recovered from Friday’s mauling by Charlton Athletic with an emphatic 3-0 win over Portsmouth.

United, who absorbed intense pressure in the closing minutes, went ahead when a 14th minute shot from South African midfielder Quinton Fortune took a wicked deflection off Mills and left Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer stranded.

Results:

Aston Villa 3 Fulham 0

Bolton Wanderers 2 Leicester City 2

Chelsea 3 Portsmouth 0

Everton 1 Birmingham City 0

Manchester City 2 Liverpool 2

Newcastle United 0 Blackburn Rovers 1

Tottenham Hotspur 0 Charlton Athletic 1

Wolves 3 Leeds United 1.

Middlesbrough 0 Man United 1

—Reuters