London: Manchester United and Chelsea kept winning in the English Premier League football championship on Saturday.

Louis Saha scored in the 64th minute to help league leader Man United beat Blackburn 1-0 in the match at Ewood Park.

The victory gave United 31 points, and atoned for an embarrassing 1-0 loss to Southend in the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday.

Chelsea improved to 28 points with Didier Drogba scoring three goals and Andriy Shevchenko adding another in the Blues' 4-0 victory over Watford.

Drogba scored his first two goals in the first half at Stamford Bridge, and Shevchenko added his early in the second half. Drogba capped the scoring in the 69th.

Also, it was: Everton 0, Aston Villa 1; Middlesbrough 1, West Ham 0; Portsmouth 1, Fulham 1; Sheffield United 2, Bolton 2; and Wigan 3, Charlton 2.

Totti strikes twice

AS Roma's bid for the Serie A title gathered momentum when Francesco Totti scored twice to give it a 2-1 win at AC Milan in Rome on Saturday.

The Roma captain struck first in the seventh minute when he volleyed crisply past Milan keeper Dida.

Cristian Brocchi equalised early in the second half, but in the 83rd minute Totti grabbed the winner, heading in a cross by Brazilian winger Mancini.

The win gives Roma 23 points from 11 matches, one point behind joint leaders Inter Milan and Palermo, who play Parma and Torino respectively on Sunday.

Milan's fourth defeat in its last five matches left it stranded in 16th place in the 20-team division with seven points.

Valencia held

Valencia surrendered its 100 per cent home record this season when a last-minute equaliser from Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente earned the beleaguered Basque side a 1-1 draw at the Mestalla in Madrid on Saturday.

Valencia had looked on course for victory after Fernando Morientes scored his fifth league goal of the season when he angled a shot low into the far corner after fullback Miguel had crossed into the area a minute before halftime.

The draw moved Valencia up to fourth place in the table on 18 points, three behind leader Sevilla.

The results: English Premier League: Chelsea bt Watford 4-0; Everton lost to Aston Villa 1-0; Middlesbrough bt West Ham 1-0; Portsmouth drew with Fulham 1-1; Sheffield United drew with Bolton Wanderers 2-2; Wigan Athletic bt Charlton Athletic 3-2.

Italian League: AC Milan 1 lost to AS Roma 2-1; Fiorentina bt Atalanta 3-1.

Spanish League: Atletico Madrid bt Villarreal 3-1; Valencia drew with Athletic Bilbao 1-1.

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