Wayne Rooney scored twice as Manchester United bounced back from a mini-slump to beat Wigan 4-0 and cut the gap to Premier League leaders Chelsea to nine points on Wednesday.
Also, West Ham beat Everton 2-1 for only their third away win since they were promoted this season.
United manager Alex Ferguson has had a tough month. United were eliminated from the Champions League after the group stage last week for the first time in 10 years and then drew 1-1 with Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.
Pressure has been building on Ferguson despite his eight English league titles in the 19 years in charge.
After Darren Fletcher put the ball in the net but was called offside, Rio Ferdinand’s header goal in the 30th minute was his first United score in 140 appearances.
Rooney was denied by a fine save by Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt, but he made it 2-0 five minutes later, showing superb skill to keep the ball despite slipping when he received it, then evading two defenders to score with his weaker left foot.
Rooney hit the ball over the bar early in the second half, but scored for 3-0 in the 55th, running clear of Wigan defenders from the halfway line and chipping the ball over Pollitt.
Ruud van Nistelrooy converted a 70th-minute penalty, earned when referee Alan Wiley ruled that Pollitt brought down the Dutchman in the box at Old Trafford.
James Beattie scored after nine minutes for Everton against West Ham, side-footing the ball in from 6m. West Ham made it 1-1 when Everton defender David Weir diverted a Tomas Repka cross into his own net.
Bobby Zamora scored the winner in the 67th. — Sapa-AP