LONDON. Apr 3: Alan Shearer blasted open the English championship race on Saturday with two
goals as Blackburn beat leaders Manchester United 2-0 in a fierce top-of-the-table clash, reports Reuter.
Blacktmrn moved to within three points of the defending champions after inflicting only the third defeat of the season on United.
England striker Shearer, back in top scoring form after a lean spell. Showed all his renowned guile and pace as he took his personal goal tally for the season to 32 and ensured a thrilling run-in to the Premier League title battle.
Blackburn cast aside their disappointment of a midweek 4-1 defeat at Wimbledon to forge the victory vital to maintaining their champfonshlp challenge.
And it was top striker Shearer who sent a clear message to Old Trafford that United's second successive championship was anything but secure.
After a tense first half which produced no shots on goal from either side and 31 free-kicks. Shearer struck instantly after the interval.
He slipped his marker at the far post to send a powerful header past Peter Schemlchel from captain Tim Sherwood's cross.
United roared back at Blackburn, who had won their 11 previous home league games. And went close twice in three minutes.
Blackburn keeper Tim Flowers saved instinctively as Andrei Kanchelskis volleyed Lee Sharpe's cross at him from close-range in the 62nd minute, and then Paul Ince hit the post as he struggled to
control a bouncing ball.
Blackburn, who had not beaten United at Ewood Park in 32 years continued to go forward and Shearer wrapped up the game in the 77th minute when he ran onto a long ball, outpaced England defender Gary Pallister and fired past a flat-footed Schemichel.
With only seven games remaining. United are still in the driving seat three points ahead and with a far superior goal difference, although they have won only twice in their last seven games.
Shearer said: "People wrote us off after losing at Wimbledon, but we came back in styl&f There's a hell of a long way to go still and United have to slip up for us to catch them."
Teddy Sheringham returned like a lucky charm sifter five months on the sidelines to lift Tottenham's relegation worries with a goal in their 2-1 victory at Norwich on Saturday.
Within three minutes of coming on as a substitute for his first game since October following three knee operations. Sheringham put Tottenham ahead in the 56th minute.
But it took an heroic penalty save from Ian Walker and a Norwich own goal to secure Tottenham's second victory in 12 games.
Six minutes after Shering-ham's goal, Chlrs Sutton had a
penalty sav$d by Walker, before he equalised in the 71st minute with his 26th goal of the season.
But five minutes later Norwich defender Colin Woodthorpe handed all three points to Spurs when he diverted Darren Andertons hopeful cross past a wrong-footed Bryan Gunn.
Sherlngham said: Tm still in dreamland. I can't believe it. It's just nice to come back and score a godl and get three points."
Tottenham manager Ossie Ardiies said: Teddy is a class player and to have him back in action is the best thing that could have happened to us."
Everton slipped closer to the relegation zone with a crushing 5-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday — their fourth in five games.
Their plight was made worse as Oldham, Manchester City and Sheffield United below them all won.
Norwegian striker Jostein Flo ended a personal goal drought with two in Sheffield United's shock 2-1 win at Liverpool, while Manchester City crushed League Cup winners Aston Villa 3-0.
FA Cup semifinalists Oldham also weighed In with a big win, coming from behind to thrash Queens Park Rangers 4-1 and pull level on points with Everton, who are now only three points above the relegation zone.
Bottom-placed Swindon Town drew 1-1 at Arsenal, with Paul Bodin's 29th minute penalty cancelling out Alan Smith s fourth-minute opener.
Southampton slipped to second bottom after losing 2-0 at Chelsea with John Spencer scoring his sixth goal in nine games and Norwegian defender Erland Johnsen his first in four years, at the club.