( CNN ) -- Manchester United claimed a controversial 2-0 victory at home to Tottenham on Saturday night to keep up the pressure on English Premier League leaders Chelsea . United stayed within five points of the defending champions , who came from behind to beat Blackburn 2-1 earlier in the day , following a bizarre incident late in the match at Old Trafford . Nani was allowed to put the ball into the Tottenham net while goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was trying to take a free-kick , after the Portugal midfielder handled when he went down having vainly claimed a penalty . The linesman instantly flagged , but referee Mark Clattenburg over-ruled him and awarded United a second goal to the fury of the visiting team -- who have been on the wrong side of several controversial decisions at Old Trafford in the past decade . United boss Alex Ferguson said Nani had correctly played to the whistle . `` Nani looked back and looked at the referee , and the referee said play on , so what can he do but put the ball in the net , '' Ferguson said . `` You can look at the referee and look at the linesmen and blame them , but the goalkeeper should know better . He 's an experienced goalkeeper . I thought he made a mess of it . `` I thought it was a penalty first of all and I think Nani felt he handled the ball . But the referee did n't blow for it . '' Fifth-placed Tottenham extended their historically dreadful run at United 's home ground to 21 years without a victory , but had been in the match until the 84th-minute incident . Park Ji-Sung hit the base of the Spurs post in the eighth minute , but Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart rattled his compatriot Edwin van der Sar 's woodwork with an even more spectacular effort just after the half-hour mark -- a day after the goalkeeper 's 40th birthday . United took the lead five minutes later as Tottenham paid for poor defending , with Serbia center-back Nemanja Vidic stealing in unmarked to head home Nani 's curling free-kick . Van der Sar then did well to keep out a fierce shot from Luka Modric , but Tottenham lacked the potency to equalize despite their smooth passing game , with boss Harry Redknapp bringing on Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch to replace Robbie Keane and Van der Vaart . Chelsea , still missing injured England midfielder Frank Lampard , needed an 84th-minute winner from Branislav Ivanovic to see off Blackburn , who earlier in the week announced the club is poised to be the first in the Premier League to have Indian owners . Zimbabwean striker Benjani Mwaruwari had headed a 21st-minute opener for his first goal for Rovers , from El-Hadji Diouf 's cross , but former France striker Nicolas Anelka leveled three minutes before the break after Didier Drogba nodded down Florent Malouda 's cross . Blackburn could have led again in the 81st minute but striker Jason Roberts missed a golden chance , and the Londoners immediately pounced for the winner as Serbian defender Ivanovic headed home Yuri Zhirkov 's cross . `` Blackburn could have scored before our goal and we were a little bit lucky , '' Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters . `` To win here was important because they were better . We were not great again . Blackburn put us under some pressure and we were not able to play our football . '' Arsenal claimed second place on goal difference above Manchester United after snatching victory at home to bottom club West Ham , with Alex Song heading a late winner following an end-to-end London derby . France midfielder Samir Nasri hit the crossbar with a long-range free-kick and England winger Theo Walcott struck the post after coming on as a substitute , while former England goalkeeper Robert Green kept the visitors in the game with a series of fine saves . But Cameroon international Song finally broke the deadlock with two minutes to play with a diving effort from fullback Gael Clichy 's cross . Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told reporters that captain Cesc Fabregas should be available for Wednesday 's Champions League trip to Ukraine 's Shakhtar Donetsk despite suffering a hamstring twinge . However , Manchester City 's hopes of a first league crown since 1968 were dented by a second successive defeat , this time at lowly Wolverhampton , which left the club eight points behind Chelsea . Beaten 3-0 by Arsenal last weekend , City went ahead in the 23rd minute with a penalty from Emmanuel Adebayor -- who was partnered up front by Mario Balotelli in the absence of injured captain Carlos Tevez . But Serbia midfielder Nenad Milijas equalized on half an hour and David Edwards -- who headed against the post in the first period -- gave Wolves a first win since the opening day of the season with a 57th-minute strike . But Wolves remained second from bottom on goal difference below Liverpool , who travel to Bolton Sunday . Everton moved up to seventh place with a 1-0 win at home to Stoke City , with Nigeria striker Yakubu scoring his first goal since April in the 67th minute . Fulham climbed to eighth with a 2-0 victory against Wigan , with U.S. international Clint Dempsey netting both goals in the first half for the home side .
Manchester United third on goal difference after beating fifth - placed Tottenham 1 - 0 . Win overturned by late controversy surrounding second goal scored by Nani . Chelsea earlier maintained five - point lead with 2 - 0 win away to Blackburn . Arsenal claim second place after snatching late 1 - 0 win at bottom side West Ham .