LONDON (Reuters):

STRIKER LOUIS Saha restored Manchester United's three-point lead in the Premier League yesterday, scoring in a 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers after champions Chelsea trounced Watford 4-0.

With United playing later in the evening kick-off, Chelsea had briefly joined them on 28 points after Ivorian striker Didier Drogba fired a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge.

But Saha steered United to 31 points from their 12 Premier League games after the French forward rifled home a fine second-half winner at Ewood Park.

Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa moved up to third place after they beat Everton 1-0 away and two rivals slipped up - Bolton Wanderers squandering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United and Portsmouth held 1-1 at home by Fulham.

West Ham United, late winners over Arsenal last weekend, lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough, Newcastle United drew 0-0 at Manchester City and Wigan Athletic beat Charlton Athletic 3-2. Chelsea were slow out of the blocks against a buoyant Watford, who had earned their first league win of the season by beating Middlesbrough last weekend.

But the promoted club was caught out in the 27th minute when Geremi centred from the right. Ukraine's Shevchenko missed the ball but Drogba made no mistake.

Drogba struck his second after a one-two with Shevchenko, who added the third in the 52nd minute off a Drogba pass.

Drogba completed his second hat-trick of the season, after hitting three against Levski Sofia in the Champions League in September, with a close-range finish from a Geremi cross.

His 14th strike of the season in all competitions also made him the Premier League's top scorer with eight goals.

Chelsea also reached a milestone by becoming only the second club to clock 50 consecutive unbeaten home league games in the top-flight. The record was set by Liverpool, at 63 games, from 1978-81, while Chelsea's last league defeat at Stamford Bridge was by Arsenal in February 2004.