updated 7:31 p.m. ET Oct. 4, 2008

LONDON - Wayne Rooney scored one goal and set up another for Manchester United in a 2-0 victory at Blackburn on Saturday that moved the Red Devils closer to the leaders in the English Premier League.

Rooney shook off an ankle injury to make it three goals in three games, and defending champion United won its fourth league and cup game in a row after a shaky start to the season. Wes Brown scored United’s other goal.

The Red Devils are sixth in the standings, three points behind Chelsea and Liverpool, who lead with 14. On Sunday, Chelsea hosts Aston Villa and Liverpool is at Manchester City.

A rare headed goal by Cesc Fabregas salvaged a 1-1 draw for Arsenal at Sunderland after the Gunners appeared in danger of a second straight upset loss.

Beaten 2-1 at home by Hull a week ago, Arsenal trailed when Grant Leadbitter headed Sunderland ahead in the 86th minute at the Stadium of Light. Fabregas headed only his second goal in 25 games in the third minute of injury time.

In Saturday’s other games, promoted West Bromwich Albion edged Fulham 1-0 and Middlesbrough won 1-0 at Wigan.

Germany
Bayern Munich tossed away a two-goal lead with seven minutes to go to draw 3-3 with lowly Bochum and slide to 11th in the Bundesliga.

The defending champion appeared to be coasting on two strikes by Ze Roberto and a 15th minute goal by Daniel van Buyten. But Christoph Dabrowski and Dennis Grote hit back for Bochum, which is 14th in the 18-club standings.

“This is extremely frustrating,” Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann said. “We were simply a bit too overconfident.”

It could get worse for Bayern on Sunday if Hannover overtakes Klinsmann’s team with a win at Borussia Dortmund and the champion slips to 12th with nine points.

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Promoted Hoffenheim beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 on goals by Demba Ba to tie Stuttgart for the lead with 13 points. Stuttgart outplayed Champions League contender Werder Bremen 4-1.

Scotland
Shunsuke Nakamura’s close range volley put Celtic on the way to a 4-0 victory over Hamilton to maintain pressure on Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.

Georgios Samaras, Scott McDonald and Aiden McGeady also hit the target at Celtic Park, and Gordon Strachan’s team drew level on 19 points with Rangers, who visit last-place St. Mirren on Sunday.

Celtic and Rangers are already six points ahead of their rivals.

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