MANCHESTER United took a step closer to the English Premier League title with a 2-0 win at Stoke City to re-establish a 15-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table.
Michael Carrick gave United an early lead and Robin van Persie completed victory by claiming his first club goal in 11 games.
Victory allowed United to return to winning ways after last Monday's loss in the Manchester derby, although City have a game in hand.
Tony Pulis' side sit three points above the relegation zone, but have played two games more than third-last Wigan Athletic.
Phil Jones met a right-wing corner from van Persie and, with the ball bobbling around the area, Carrick stuck out his foot to toe it into the bottom-left corner.
Earlier, Sunderland won 3-0 at local rivals Newcastle United to boost their bid to avoid relegation and give Paolo Di Canio a memorable victory in his first northeast derby.
Stephane Sessegnon, Adam Johnson and David Vaughan scored excellent goals, moving Sunderland three points clear of the bottom three and to within two points of Alan Pardew's Newcastle.
The recalled James McClean picked up a loose pass from Jonas Gutierrez and fed Sessegnon, who held off Gutierrez and drilled a low shot past goalkeeper Tim Krul from 25 metres.
Di Canio's reaction was typically effusive, the new Sunderland manager sprinting down the touchline and punching the air in delight.
Newcastle received a blow shortly before the hour when Krul had to go off after landing awkwardly, with Rob Elliot coming on in his place. Krul sustained a dislocated shoulder, ruling him out for rest of the season.
The hosts had a goal controversially disallowed for offside in the 62nd minute, despite Papiss Cisse appearing to be onside when he fired home from close range.
Johnson made it 2-0 in the 74th minute, drifting in from the right and shaping a 20-metres shot inside the left-hand post. This time, Di Canio opted for a knee slide.
Vaughan killed the game with eight minutes to play by arrowing a glorious shot into the top-right corner from 20 metres, although the Welshman appeared to be offside when he received the ball.
"We were better in the second half but the crucial moment in the game was when our goal was ruled out for offside," said Pardew.
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