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Goalless draw dents United's title hopes

Dimitar Berbatov missed a great chance to give Manchester United victory but they were held to a 0-0 draw at Blackburn.
Dimitar Berbatov missed a great chance to give Manchester United victory but they were held to a 0-0 draw at Blackburn.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Manchester United are held to a 0-0 draw at Blackbuirn Rovers on Sunday
  • The result leaves them one point behind Chelsea, having played a game more
  • Manchester City consolidate fourth place with a 5-1 thrashing of Birmingham
  • Liverpool held to a goalless draw at home to Fulham to see hopes of fourth place fade
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(CNN) -- Manchester United's hopes of claiming a fourth successive English Premier League title have taken a huge knock after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Blackburn on Sunday.

United were missing talismanic England striker Wayne Rooney through injury -- and they lacked a cutting edge in attack against a Blackburn side who have also held Chelsea and Liverpool to home draws this season.

Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, who has been overshadowed by Rooney's superb form this season, had the best chance to win a tight match with 10 minutes to go, but he shot straight at goalkeeper Paul Robinson from near the penalty spot after good work on the right from Paul Scholes.

The result leaves United still a point behind leaders Chelsea, but have played a game more than the London side.

Arsenal are two points behind United in third position, but also have a game in hand on Alex Ferguson's side.

The draw also completes a difficult week for United, who lost at home to Chelsea last weekend before crashing out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will be favorites to beat lowly Bolton at home on Tuesday -- a win which see them extend their lead over United to four points, with just four games left.

Arsenal face their bitter north London rivals Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, needing a win to remain three points behind Chelsea.

While United struggled, neighbors Manchester City consolidated fourth place in the Premier League with a 5-1 home win over Birmingham with Nedum Onuoha and Emmanuel Adebayor both scoring twice at Eastlands.

It left Roberto Mancini's side four points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have still to visit City but have played a game less.

Liverpool stay in sixth with their Champions League hopes fading after being held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to fellow Europa League hopefuls Fulham.

Carlos Tevez's penalty put City in front in the first half and Onuoha added a second.

Cameron Jerome pulled one back for the visitors before Adebayor scored a third for City almost immediately.

Onuoha scored a fourth midway through the second half before Adebayor complete the rout for City, who host local rivals United next weekend.

Elsewhere, Wolverhampton increased their chances of avoiding relegation after a 0-0 home draw with Stoke. That result leaves them six points of the drop zone, with just four matches left to play.