London: Chelsea's recent defensive frailties returned to cost them two valuable points in their quest for a hat-trick of Premier League titles on Tuesday when they drew 2-2 at home to Reading.
Manchester United took full advantage later, extending their lead to four points when they cruised past Wigan Athletic 3-1 at Old Trafford with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.
United now have 50 points from 20 games with Chelsea on 46 while Bolton Wanderers, who beat Newcastle United 2-1, are third with 36 points, one ahead of Portsmouth who managed a 2-1 victory at relegation-threatened West Ham United.
Liverpool's remote title hopes disappeared with a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers which left them 16 points behind United.
Arsenal can go third with victory at bottom club Watford in the final fixture of the holiday programme.
Dider Drogba's 11th and 12th league goals of the season, both headers, had looked like sealing victory for Chelsea in the day's early kickoff.
However, Michael Essien's own goal five minutes from time proved costly for the below-par champions.
Tottenham Hotspur claimed a 12th successive home victory when Jermain Defoe struck twice in the 2-1 defeat of Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.
Manchester City won 1-0 at Sheffield United and Everton drew 0-0 at home to Middlesbrough.
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