Rooney strike puts United 10 points clear

(CNN) -- Manchester United took another step towards a 20th English league title on Saturday with a battling 1-0 win against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Wayne Rooney's 79th minute strike -- coolly side-footing home past Mark Schwarzer -- earned Alex Ferguson's side another vital three points away from home to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points with 13 games remaining.

Title rivals Manchester City play Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Chelsea's stuttering season continued with a 3-2 defeat at Newcastle United.

Demba Ba, who left the Magpies to join Chelsea in January, endured a miserable return to St James Park suffering a broken nose in a clash with Fabricio Coloccini towards the end of the first half.

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Newcastle took the lead soon after -- Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez heading home in 41st minute. But Chelsea hit back with a goal from Lampard in the 55th minute before Juan Mata added a second six minutes later.

But the lead didn't last long. Moussa Sissoko netted in the 68th minute before claiming the winner in stoppage time.

Newcastle's second successive league win sees them pull further away from the relegation zone with 27 points while Chelsea remain third with 46 points.

Lukas Podolski's 78th minute strike earned Arsenal a 1-0 win against Stoke City at the Emirates and close the gap on Everton and fourth-place Tottenham (who play West Bromwich Albion on Sunday) to a point.

West Ham United halted a recent poor run of form with a 1-0 win against Swansea City at Upton Park -- Andy Carroll heading home in the 77th minute to give the Hammers their first win in five league matches.

Reading moved up to 17th place and out of the relegation zone after a 2-1 win against Sunderland at the Madejski Stadium.

Jimmy Kebe scored twice to earn Brian McDermott's side a third win in four matches and leapfrog Aston Villa and Wigan who both drew on Saturday.

Paul Lambert's Villa had been 3-1 up against Everton at Goodison Park, before two goals from Marouane Fellaini -- the second in injury time -- rescued a point for the Toffees.

Wigan also left it late to claim a point against Southampton -- Shaun Maloney scoring for the Lactics in the 90th minute.

Queens Park Rangers played out a goalless draw with Norwich City to leave Harry Redknapp's four points adrift at the foot of the table.