Chelsea loss lets United move level

Lee Bowyer's first-half strike proved the difference at St Andrew's as the champions lost for the third time in four games. Patrice Evra and Javier Hernandez grabbed the goals in Manchester United's 2-0 win over nine-man Wigan at Old Trafford, as Wayne Rooney made his comeback off the bench. Bolton thrashed 10-man Newcastle 5-1, Blackpool beat Wolves 2-1 at Bloomfield Road, while Stoke triumphed 3-0 at West Brom. At Birmingham, Bowyer latched onto a header from Cameron Jerome to slide the ball home from eight yards in the 17th minute to hand Carlo Ancelotti's Blues their second successive loss. Bowyer's goal came against the run of play and Chelsea were denied an equaliser when Ben Foster produced a fine save to deny Didier Drogba, who also hit the woodwork. Foster then pulled off a string of fine saves in the second-half to keep Chelsea at bay. The Blues now lead at the top only on goal difference over Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson's side took advantage of Chelsea's slip by recording a 2-0 victory over Wigan. Patrice Evra's first goal in three-and-a-half years in first-half injury time and a 77th-minute header from Javier Hernandez earned United all three points to move them level on points at the top with Chelsea. Wigan's task was made worse by red cards for Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega in the space of three minutes in the second-half. First Alcaraz went for a second bookable offence and he was followed by Rodallega, who received a straight for two-footed lunge at Rafael da Silva. Bolton's recent run of rich form continued at home to Newcastle as goals from Kevin Davies (two penalties), Lee Chung-yong and a brace from Johan Elmander gave them an emphatic 5-1 win over 10-man Newcastle. The victory moved Bolton up to fourth in the table. Davies tucked home an 18th-minute penalty after Kevin Nolan was penalised for handball and Lee made it two in the 39th minute after United failed to clear a Matt Taylor shot that had hit the woodwork. Elmander scored his seventh of the season in the 50th minute but newly-capped England international Andy Carroll reduced the arrears two minutes later. However, Elmander grabbed his second of the game in the 72nd minute before Fabricio Coloccini was red-carded for elbowing Elmander. Davies completed the rout by scoring his second penalty in added time. Blackpool beat Wolves 2-1 thanks to first-half goals from Luke Varney and Marlon Harewood at Bloomfield Road. Varney slammed a volley into the top corner for a stunning opening goal in the 3rd minute and then Wolves goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann flapped at a corner to allow Harewood to bundle home a minute before the break. Kevin Doyle scored an 86th-minute consolation goal for Wolves. Three second-half goals, two from the penalty spot, saw Stoke earn their third win in a row with a 3-0 success over West Brom at The Hawthorns. West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson brought down Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones inside the box and Matthew Etherington coolly converted the first spot-kick in the 55th minute. Albion's Simon Cox then fouled Dean Whitehead and substitute Jon Walters fired home the second penalty five minutes from time. Walters then grabbed his second of the game to complete the scoring in added time.