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United fail to exploit Blackburn's slip

LONDON (AFP): Blackburn lost the chance of a Premier Division lead on Saturday, but Manchester United followed it to defeat two hours later and remain top on goal difference only.

Long-time leader United fell at Wimbledon to a 23rd minute goal from John Fashanu. The Dons' captain pounced on a blunder by goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel for his 11th goal of the season.

Vinny Jones could have made it 2-0 but sent a free header over the bar from a corner.

United laid siege to the Wimbledon goal in the second half but could find no way back. Brian McClair twice went close as did substitute Dion Dublin. Paul Ince had a goal disallowed four minutes from the end after a clear foul on Segers.

In the final minute, Schmeichel went up for a corner and managed to connect with a Giggs' corner but saw his header float wide of the post.

United boss Alex Ferguson said: "I was very disappointed with out first half display but we had more of a go in the second half, but just didn't have the luck.

Kenny Dalglish raged about the blow to Rovers' title ambitions in its 3-1 defeat at Southampton.

Referee Joe Worrall awarded a penalty against Rovers' midfielder Tim Sherwood for intentional hand-ball. But Dalglish insisted afterwards: "It hit him in the face -- right on the chin.

Southampton manager Alan Ball could not judge the validity of the referee's decision but said: "I'm a very happy man tonight.

Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle revealed that his FA Cup final injury problems are increasing, with Norwegian defender Erland Johnsen the latest casualty.

Johnsen missed the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal after appearing to pull a hamstring in midweek. "I don't want to tell you any details of his injury in case I have to play him half-fit at some stage, but it could possibly be long-term," said Hoddle.

Arsenal too has injury worries. "We are down to about our last 15 players now but we've got to maintain our momentum chasing third place in the Premier League," said manager George Graham.

Kevin Keegan enjoyed his Newcastle team's 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. England contenders Robert Lee and Andy Cole shot the goals that keep Newcastle in contention for Europe.

"Coley just enjoys scoring," added Keegan. "Lee also scored an excellent goal and if we had gone in at half-time leading 4-1 it would have been a fair reflection of the chances."

Everton boss Mike Walker labeled the officials "scandalous" after his side's 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers which left it deep in relegation trouble.

The Merseysiders, beaten eventually by Les Ferdinand in the 88th minute, had taken the lead through Tony Cottee. But it was Rangers' equalizer, scored in the 66th minute by Devon White, that left Everton fuming.

Eintracht

In Bonn, Anthony Yeboah led long-time German leaders Eintracht Frankfurt to a 5-1 triumph against Wattenscheid on Saturday -- but their title hopes are almost certainly over.

Ghanaian Yeboah, who failed to impress in the African Nations Cup, became the league's top scorer with 17 goals thanks to his 25th minute opener. And that is a remarkable statistic for Yeboah who has missed about four months of the season.

Thomas Reis, Manfred Binz, Mirko Dickhaut, and Juirgen Skok hit the others for Frankfurt with Souleyman Sane pulling one back for Wattenscheid .

Third-placed Eintracht's main aim is to hang on for a UEFA Cup spot should they manage at least fifth place. But only three points separate Eintracht from Werder Bremen in 11th spot, with Bayer Leverkusen, Karlsruhe, Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart, FC Cologne, MSV Duisburg, and SV Hamburg all in with a chance of a UEFA place.

But Bayern Munich has yet again made a seemingly easy march to the title a tough business after their 4-0 loss at Kaiserslautern on Thursday. A Munich win would have put them six points ahead of their second-placed opponents and virtually guaranteed the Bavarians the title with three matches to go. Instead they have just a two-point margin.

Bayern coach Franz Beckenbauer will remember with regret how Werder Bremen upstaged them to grab first place on the penultimate day of last season.

All of Kaiserslautern's goals came in about the last half- hour. Martin Wagner opened the scoring in the 58th minute before Mario Kuka made it two eight minute later. Ciriaco Sforza got in on the act too, before Kuka completed the 4-0 rout a minute before time.

The challenge of fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen is all but over following their 2-1 loss at Werder Bremen and a Mario Basler double strike. Kirsten pulled back a late consolation, but Leverkusen are now four points adrift of Bayern.