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Man Utd four clear at top, Newcastle beat Norwich

Antonio Valencia tormented Wolves throughout, and managed to get himself on the scoresheet © Getty Images

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Sunday gallery
Plays of the Day: Barren runs ended

Manchester United enjoyed something of a Sunday stroll against Wolves to give themselves a significant cushion from rivals City in the Premier League title race, while Newcastle boosted their slim hopes of Champions League football with victory over Norwich.

Manchester United went four points clear of City at the top thanks to a 5-0 thrashing of ten-man Wolves at Molineux. United, who stole first place from City a week ago, have cranked up the heat on Roberto Mancini's men ahead of their midweek match against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.

Wolves, meanwhile, sink to the bottom of the table, one point from safety, with boss Terry Connor's credentials coming into question just four matches into his reign.

Connor's men gave as good as they got for the opening 20 minutes, but fell behind soon afterwards as their defensive woes once again came to the fore. Michael Carrick had far too much time to cushion a back-post corner from Wayne Rooney into the path of Jonny Evans - who, unmarked in the middle of the six-yard box, drilled the ball into the net for his first United goal.

The hosts were struggling to keep the ball long enough to hurt United, and their plight worsened when, on 40 minutes, Ronald Zubar was sent off for two bookable offences. Connor would have wanted to get to half time and consolidate, but he was out of luck: Antonio Valencia doubled United's advantage by drilling in following an incisive counter-attack that sprang from a Wolves corner - then, in first-half stoppage time, Danny Welbeck put the game well beyond the grasp of Connor's men, picking his spot with a side-foot finish from close to the penalty spot.

Javier Hernandez got himself in on the act early in the second period, profiting from some more generous defending to head in with almost embarrassing ease. And the Mexico international also grabbed United's fifth, stroking home following yet more terrific work from the rampaging Valencia, who produced one of the performances of the season.

Newcastle very much have their eye on Europe, whether it be Champions League or Europa League, after they snapped a four-game winless run by defeating Norwich 1-0. The Magpies move within five points of fourth-placed Arsenal with victory, while Liverpool are now the same distance behind them in seventh.

Alan Pardew's men got off to a flying start at St James' Park, with Papiss Demba Cisse scoring a wonderful opener. Jonas Gutierrez provided the left-wing cross, and Cisse raced across his marker to guide a tough volley into the roof of the net.

Norwich had several chances to level, once through Anthony Pilkington and then again when Tim Krul brilliantly denied Zak Whitbread, but Newcastle held out for victory.

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