LONDON, 29 December 2003 — Ten-man Manchester United held on to beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside yesterday and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points.

With second-placed Arsenal not playing Southampton until today, 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 offense 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.

Charlton Athletic took fourth spot with a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur, who dropped into the relegation zone, Fulham slipped to fifth after a 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa and teenager Wayne Rooney came off the bench to score the winner as Everton beat Birmingham City 1-0 to reach the safety of midtable.

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.

Boro enjoyed plenty of second half possession in their search for an equalizer but failed to create any clear-cut opportunities while only a fantastic reflex block by Schwarzer and the crossbar denied United a second through Paul Scholes. Chelsea, whose 4-2 defeat by Charlton was their second loss in three league games, were kept scoreless at Stamford Bridge until a second-half blitz from defender Wayne Bridge and midfielders Frank Lampard and Geremi.

Bridge broke the deadlock with a solo effort in the 65th minute, Lampard, who had hit the post in the first half, found the roof of the net off an Adrian Mutu pass eight minutes later and Geremi volleyed his first goal for Chelsea in the 82nd minute.

Players that Liverpool have offloaded came back to haunt them in a 2-2 draw at Manchester City.

Robbie Fowler was the toast of the City fans after earning a 30th-minute penalty that was converted by former Kop striker Nicolas Anelka and then following up to deny his old club all three points with a 90th-minute equalizer.

Gerard Houllier’s side had come from a goal down to take the lead through midfielders Vladimir Smicer and Dietmar Hamann only for City, helped by another former Anfield favorite, Steve McManaman, to snatch a point.

Rangers Reduce Celtic Lead With Win at Dundee

In Glasgow, champions Rangers reduced Celtic’s lead in the Scottish Premier League to eight points with a 2-0 win at Dundee yesterday. First-half goals from Nuno Capucho and Michael Ball secured victory to take Rangers to 44 points. Celtic thrashed Hibernian 6-0 at home on Saturday.

The Glasgow sides meet in the second Old Firm derby of the season next Saturday and Rangers probably have to avoid defeat to keep alive realistic hopes of retaining their title. “There’s no doubt it was a crucial win for us today before we go to Celtic Park next week,” Rangers manager Alex McLeish told reporters.