Reuters
Manchester United's Louis Saha (centre) celebrates his goal as Manchester City's Ben Thatcher (3) and goalkeeper Nicky Weaver watch during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester yesterday.

LONDON (Reuters):

Manchester United surged nine points clear at the top of the Premier League with an edgy 3-1 derby victory over Manchester City yesterday.

City had not won a league game at Old Trafford since 1974 and their hopes of ending that depressing sequence were dashed as Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha struck before halftime.

Hatem Trabelsi pulled a goal back for City with 18 minutes remaining, but Cristiano Ronaldo eased United's jitters when he tucked in a late third.

United, who have 44 points from 17 games, now hold their biggest lead in a title race since 2001, although Chelsea can close the gap to six points with victory over Arsenal today.

"There are a lot of hurdles to navigate but I don't see any reason why we can't do it," manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. "With us playing before Chelsea, we can relax now and watch the game tomorrow and support the Gunners."

Portsmouth moved third on 28 points after a 2-0 home victory over Everton with Nwankwo Kanu's ninth goal of the season, putting him top of the Premier League scoring charts.

On target

Steven Gerrard put Liverpool on the way to a second successive 4-0 league victory and fourth place. Jamie Carragher, Luis Garcia and Mark Gonzalez were also on target.

Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov's double helped Tottenham Hotspur to a 5-1 rout against lowly Charlton Athletic, their ninth home victory in succession in all competitions.

Watford are keeping Charlton off the bottom, however, after drawing their eighth match of the season at home to Reading.

The Manchester derby proved an eventful encounter and maintained United's long unbeaten league run which stretches back to September.

Stuart Pearce had not tasted defeat at Old Trafford since taking over as City boss, but that record came to an end thanks largely to some shoddy defending that would not have impressed the former England hard man.

All three of United's goals were down to defensive mistakes, beginning in the fifth minute when Ronaldo's cross was not dealt with and Rooney swept in his 50th Premier League goal.

City had their moments, most notably when teenage full back Micah Richards headed narrowly wide after indecision in the United defence and when Georgios Samaras stung Edwin van der Sar's fingers with a volley.