Aston Villa came from behind to shock
Chelsea 3-2 at Villa Park. Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo (11) opened the scoring for the visitors, but Darius Vassell (39) equalised from the penalty spot after a foul by Mario Melchiot in the area.
After the break a long-range effort from Thomas Hitzlspergber (49) and a Lee Hendrie shot (52) put clear daylight between themselves and the Champions League semi-finalists.
Crespo grabbed a late goal but it was too little too late for Claudio Ranieri's men. Chelsea are now seven points adrift of league leaders Arsenal, who have a game in hand over them, and six points ahead of third-place Manchester Untied, who also have games in hand over the Blues.
Charlton beat Liverpool 1-0 for their first win at Anfield since 1954 to throw the race for Champions League football wide open.
Liverpool dominated the first half against Charlton but never looked like scoring, and they paid the price when Shaun Bartlett's 63rd minute header gave the Addicks their first win at Anfield in 50 years.
Despite defeat Liverpool are in the Premeirship's coveted fourth place but wins for Villa and Charlton mean that, along with Newcastle, four clubs are now in within two points of the final Champions League spot.
At the other end of the table Portsmouth gave their Premiership survival hopes an enormous lift with a vital victory over Birmingham at Fratton Park.
Goals from Dejan Stefanovic (45) and Lomana LuaLua (62) put the home side in charge before Stern John pulled one back for the visitors with 23 minutes remaining.
But Aiyegbeni Yakubu sealed victory from the penalty spot after Kenny Cunningham was adjudged to have handled in the area.
The victory, which took Harry Redknapp's side three points clear of the relegation zone, was sparked by the controversial end to the first half.
Redknapp and his players were furious when they were seemingly denied the opener after goalkeeper Maik Taylor handled outside the area and Yakubu fired home the loose ball, only for referee Barry Knight to call play back for the free-kick.
Taylor was sent off amid the ensuing melee but when play eventually resumed several minutes later, Stefanovic ensured justice was done by curling in the free-kick.
Blackburn joined Pompey on 34 points with a thrilling 4-3 win at Fulham in the evening game.
Andy Cole smashed Rovers in front after 23 minutes but poor set-piece defending allowed the new arrival Collins John to put the Cottagers 2-1 up at the break.
However, after an inspirational half-time team talk from manager Graeme Souness, Rovers came out firing as first Jonathan Douglas and then defender Lorenzo Amoruso scored within six minutes of the restart.
Fulham levelled the seesaw match with the goal of the game, a length-of-the-pitch breakaway finished by Luis Boa Morte, but Rovers' former Huddersfield forward Jon Stead had the last say with a brilliant 75th-minute strike.
Wolves, however, look doomed to an instant return to the Nationwide League after going down to a late goal at home to Bolton.
Henrik Pedersen put the visitors ahead just two minutes before the interval only for Henri Camara to level seconds later.
Dave Jones' side pushed forward in search of an essential victory but were caught out in the last minute, Kevin Davies striking the killer blow which leaves Wolves six points adrift of Leeds with just five games remaining.
Manchester City remain firmly in danger after Nicolas Anelka's goal was cancelled out by Jermaine Defoe of Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Anelka took advantage of some poor defending by the home side to put the visitors in front on 25 minutes, and victory would have taken them to within a point of David Pleat's side.
But Defoe equalised seven minutes into the second half to leave City just three points above the relegation zone.
Elsewhere Middlesbrough cruised to victory over Southampton at the Riverside, goals from Juninho and Szilard Nemeth giving Steve McClaren's side a 2-0 half-time lead.
Massimo Maccarone grabbed the third before James Beattie scored a consolation for the visitors.
| Home |
|
Away |
| Aston Villa |
3-2 |
Chelsea |
| Fulham |
3-4 |
Blackburn |
| Liverpool |
0-1 |
Charlton |
| Middlesbrough |
3-1 |
Southampton |
| Portsmouth |
3-1 |
Birmingham |
| Tottenham |
1-1 |
Manchester |
| Wolves |
1-2 |
Bolton |