By Martyn Herman

LONDON - Cristiano Ronaldo's hot streak continued on Saturday with two more goals in Manchester United's 3-2 victory over Reading at Old Trafford which put them six points clear in the Premier League.

The tricky Portuguese flyer has now scored 12 league goals this season, just one behind Chelsea's Didier Drogba whose 13th goal of the season came in a 2-2 home draw with Fulham.

On a day of torrential rain across the country which resulted in one match being abandoned, the stormclouds are gathering over Stamford Bridge where Chelsea's grip on the title is loosening.

"Six points is not a drama, what is a drama is that we cannot defend," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told BBC Radio.

Drogba looked to have won the points for Chelsea when he headed in Frank Lampard's cross but Carlos Bocanegra equalised late on to give Fulham a draw and take Chelsea's total of goals conceded in their last four league games to eight.

Fulham had taken the lead with Moritz Volz before Lampard's fierce shot was deflected in by Liam Rosenoir.

Reading, who drew 2-2 with Chelsea on Tuesday, had not played a match at Old Trafford for 50 years but pushed the leaders all the way to the final whistle.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave United the lead only for Ibrahima Sonko to head Reading level before halftime.

The second half belonged to Ronaldo who restored United's lead after Solskjaer hit the post before volleying his second. Leroy Lita pulled a late goal back to leave United manager Alex Ferguson complaining about his side's defending.

"It's been a very good day for us but we had to work very hard," Ferguson told Sky Sports. "It was our worst defending of the season, I don't understand that."

United now have 53 points from 21 matches to Chelsea's 47. Bolton Wanderers moved up to third (39) after a 3-2 home win against high-flying Portsmouth in which Nicolas Anelka scored his fifth goal in five games for Wanderers.

Liverpool ended Tottenham Hotspur's 12-game winning sequence at White Hart Lane thanks to Luis Garcia's winner in a 1-0 victory that moved them back into the top four.

Everton moved above Tottenham into seventh with Victor Anichebe scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Newcastle United. Phil Neville was also on target with his first league goal for four years.

Arsenal can reclaim third spot when they play at Sheffield United in a late kickoff.

Bottom club Watford's home match against Wigan Athletic was abandoned in the second half because of a waterlogged pitch with the score at 1-1.

Charlton Athletic boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 victory at home to Aston Villa, Bryan Hughes scoring in the last minute after Darren Bent had equalised for the Londoners.

It was Alan Pardew's first victory since taking over as Charlton manager on December 24, but West Ham United, the club who sacked him earlier this month, were beaten 1-0 at home by Manchester City to remain just in the bottom three.

Watford are on 11 points from 19 games, Charlton have 16 from 21 with West Ham on 18. Middlesbrough, beaten 2-1 at Blackburn Rovers, have 21, just one more than Sheffield United.