Ferdinand's strike keeps the pressure on United
NEWCASTLE United put the pressure back on nearest rivals Manchester United by beating Everton 1-0 at St James' Park yesterday and increasing their lead at the top of the English Premier League to seven points.
The valuable win came despite Newcastle being reduced to 10 men when John Beresford was dismissed for a professional foul on Everton's speedy winger Andrei Kanchelskis. It was one of five red cards in Premier League play on the day. Peter Beardsley inspired the crucial opening in the 17th minute when he supplied the telling pass to striker Les Ferdinand in the area. Ferdinand, coming off another disappointing England outing against Portugal on Tuesday, then steered his shot home for his 21st score of the season.
Things turned against the Magpies with the Beresford sending off in the 33rd minute but they held on for the win. Newcastle now have 42 points to the 35 of Manchester United who lie in second place. United have a chance to regain lost ground today but they must do so in the most difficult circumstances - away to Liverpool. Savo Milosevic ended his home goal drought in style with a hat-trick at Villa Park as Aston Villa thrashed 10-man Coventry 4-1. The win helped Villa move up into fourth place on 32 points.
Villa opened the scoring thanks to a superb solo effort by Tommy Johnson in the 12th minute. Johnson was at the centre of another key incident in the 38th minute when City's Kevin Richardson was sent off for bringing down the Villa forward. Then Milosevic took over with goals in the 55th, 62nd and 88th minutes.
Dion Dublin's diving header had given Coventry false hope at 2-1. Champions Blackburn Rovers, still waiting to find any semblance of consistency this season, enjoyed a well-deserved 1-0 win over the pretenders from Middlesbrough. Rovers' goal came four minutes before half-time when England international Alan Shearer powered home a snap shot. Blackburn's England midfielder Graeme Le Saux was carried off on a stretcher with an injured left ankle after a heavy challenge by Boro's Brazilian Juninho.
Middlesbrough ended up with 10 men after Derek Whyte's last-minute dismissal.