LONDON, ENGLAND - SOUTH Africa striker Benni McCarthy scored twice as Blackburn Rovers began life under new manager Sam Allardyce with a 3-0 win at home to Stoke City on Saturday.

Victory was only Rovers's fourth in 18 English Premier League matches and came just three days after former Bolton and Newcastle boss Allardyce replaced the sacked Paul Ince.

However, despite a win which ended a run of six straight defeats, Rovers remained in the relegation zone.

Saturday's late kick-off at Upton Park was heading for a goalless draw until James Milner cross's deflected off Neill and looped over keeper Robert Green.

Victory moved Villa on to 34 points, two more than United, although Sir Alex Ferguson's side do have two games in hand.

'I'm delighted to be third,' said Villa manager Martin O'Neill. 'At the moment it is nice and it would be lovely to just hang in there. Points on the board are very important.

'But I think we've got a lot of work to do. (Goalkeeper) Brad Friedel had a magnificent game for us. We have a distance to go.' Earlier, Sunderland climbed out of the bottom three with a 4-1 win away to high-flyers Hull.

Elsewhere Fulham recorded their sixth home league win in nine games this term with a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough, while Bolton beat Portsmouth 2-1.

A modest Allardyce played down his part in Rovers's win, telling Sky Sports: 'I just tried to give the lads a few pointers, so I have made a small contribution today, but the big contribution came from the players out there.

'Three-nil after 27 minutes, what more do you want?' Sunderland's success saw them complete back-to-back wins for the first time this season and took their tally under caretaker boss Ricky Sbragia, who took charge after Roy Keane's departure from the Stadium of Light, to eight goals in two games following last weekend's 4-0 thrashing of basement club West Brom.

Sbragia was coy when asked if he wanted the manager's job on a permanent basis, saying: 'I'm enjoying it but I am still learning.'

Sunday sees leaders Liverpool go in search of their first victory at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium while Newcastle and Tottenham, both on the fringes of the relegation zone, meet at St James' Park.

Manchester City, now in the bottom three after Sunderland's victory, travel to West Brom. Second-placed Chelsea are away to Everton on Monday.

McCarthy put Rovers ahead at Ewood Park with a ninth-minute penalty before Jason Roberts added a second after Australia international's Brett Emerton cross was diverted into his path.

McCarthy then made it 3-0 before the half-hour mark after being played in by fellow forward Roberts.

Portsmouth, who had conceded eight goals in their previous four league matches, were 2-0 down inside three minutes at the Reebok Stadium.

Former Portsmouth midfielder Matt Taylor put Bolton ahead in the first minute when he volleyed home before setting-up Ricardo Gardner.

England striker Peter Crouch pulled a goal back for Portsmouth with a 20th minute header. Steed Malbranque put visitors Sunderland ahead with a 25-yard shot in the 10th minute before Nick Barmby levelled nine minutes later.

However, Sunderland restored their lead in the 78th minute thanks to an onw-goal from Kamil Zayatte.

Hull's day then saw Sam Ricketts sent-off for a second bookable offence before Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse both scored.

Unsettled midfielder Jimmy Bullard put Fulham in front four shortly before half-time at Craven Cottage when he followed up after Bobby Zamora's shot was blocked by keeper Ross Turnbull.

After the break, Danny Murphy made it 2-0 from the penalty spot before United States international Clint Dempsey added a third on the hour. -- AFP