BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce gained revenge over the club that sacked him last season as Rovers moved out of the bottom three, although for a long while Newcastle were the better side.
The match turned just past the hour mark when Benni McCarthy tucked away a penalty.
Jason Roberts made it 2-0 and struck again after Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt was sent off.
BOLTON WANDERERS 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
United moved to the top of the table after keeping a 10th consecutive clean sheet in the league.
The champions have made narrow victories their trademark this season and were made to battle all the way by a resolute Bolton defence and the outstanding goalkeeping of Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Dimitar Berbatov struck the winner in the 90th minute, heading home after good work by Carlos Tevez.
CHELSEA 2 STOKE CITY 1
Pressure has been growing on manager Luiz Felipe Scolari after Chelsea's dip in form but there is no doubting his side's spirit as they clawed a vital victory out of the fire.
Rory Delap gave Stoke a shock lead with a great finish on the hour and the visitors hung on grimly until two minutes from fulltime when Juliano Belletti headed the equaliser.
The hosts poured forward in stoppage time and Frank Lampard fired the winner through a mass of bodies to keep Chelsea's title hopes alive.
HULL CITY 1 ARSENAL 3
Arsenal avenged their shock defeat by Hull at the Emirates earlier in the season with a deserved victory.
Emmanuel Adebayor headed the Gunners in front before halftime but Hull levelled though Daniel Cousin.
A draw looked the most likely outcome but Samir Nasri slotted Arsenal back in front after great play from Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner added a late third.
MANCHESTER CITY 1 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0
City eased into mid-table thanks to Pablo Zabaleta's first goal for the club -- a thumping shot after 53 minutes.
After a week of intense speculation about City's world record bid for AC Milan's Kaka, their other big-money Brazilian Robinho had a wasteful day, missing several good chances.
City ended the match with 10 men after Richard Dunne was sent off for a kick at Amir Zaki.
SUNDERLAND 1 ASTON VILLA 2
Sunderland were unfortunate to lose after taking the lead but Villa's victory keeps them firmly in the title race.
Danny Collins headed Sunderland into the lead but Villa levelled after 60 minutes when Ashley Young's surging run ended in a cross that James Milner bundled in.
Young was sent off soon afterwards for a reckless tackle on Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead. The hosts looked the more likely winners but Villa were awarded a dubious penalty after Gabriel Agbonlahor tumbled in the area. Gareth Barry made no mistake from the spot.
