Fulham 3-2 QPR: Fulham move a point off the magic 40 mark, plus nine points clear of the bottom three, while QPR remain seven points from safety. Fulham took the lead on eight minutes when Ashkan Dejagah was brought down by Christopher Samba in the box, Dimitar Berbatov stepped up and converted coolly for his fourth goal in successive games, also only the first penalty QPR have conceded all season. The Bulgarian was on the scoresheet again on 22-minutes when poor play from Samba allowed Berbatov in to score his 13th goal of the season with a nonchalant shot from outside his right boot. The game was all but over four minutes before half time when Bryan Ruiz's low cross was turned in to his own net by Clint Hall. QPR were handed a lifeline in first half injury time when a slip from Giorgos Karagounis allowed Adel Taarabt to collect the ball and score from Brede Hangeland's legs. QPR were handed a second lifeline just three minutes in to the second half Karagounis brought down Taarabt in the box and another penalty was given. Loic Remy stepped up but it was magnificently saved by Mark Schwarzer. But the Frenchman made amends two minutes later, scoring after Stephane Mbia was able to loft to the ball over to him. Fulham would then spend the final 11-minutes with ten men as Steve Sidwell was sent off for a late challenge on Armand Traore but the Cottagers held on to keep QPR in deep trouble.
Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool: Villa remain in the relegation zone on goal difference after another game where the hosts would have liked to have finished at half-time. Villa took the lead just after the half hour mark when a long ball was brought down by Gabriel Agbonlahor and half volleyed home by Christian Benteke for his 14th goal of the season. Liverpool hadn't turned over a deficit in the league this season until today and Jordan Henderson gave them the equaliser two minutes in to the second half after a brilliant through ball from Philippe Coutinho. The winner came on the hour mark when Nathan Baker slid in to Luis Suarez and brought him down in the box. Steven Gerrard stepped up and expertly dispatched the penalty in to the bottom corner, despite Brad Guzan guessing correctly.
Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United: United did extend their lead to 18-points for a few hours with this slight victory over struggling Sunderland who now sit just a point above the relegation zone. The only goal of the game came on 27-minutes when Robin Van Persie's hopeful strike across goal was diverted in by Titus Bramble. The win sees United set a record as they become the first side in the Premiership to win 25 of first 30 matches in a season. The defeat for Sunderland has cost Martin O'Neill his job and the Black Cats will announce his successor in the coming days.
Southampton 2-1 Chelsea: The Saints move four points clear of relegation with Chelsea now falling two points behind Tottenham, with a game in hand, and just two points ahead of Arsenal. Southampton took the lead on 23-minutes when Jay Rodriguez coolly slotted home after a one-two with Steven Davis ripped the Chelsea defence apart. The returning John Terry found an equaliser ten minutes later with a free header from a corner. With Rickie Lambert celebrating his 500th senior appearance, there was perhaps nobody else who could win the game. The Saints forward curled a spectacular free-kick in to the net to give Southampton the crucial victory ten minutes before half-time.
Swansea 1-2 Tottenham: Spurs return to third by two points, Chelsea do have a game in hand, after staving off a Swansea fight back. It took seven minutes for Tottenham to take the lead when Jan Vertonghen played the ball to Gareth Bale. Bale returned the compliment with a chip through ball which the Belgian brilliantly controlled and slotted home. The roles were reversed on 21-minutes when Vertonghen fed the ball through for Bale and Welshman took one touch to control it before unleashing another great strike past the unsuspecting Michel Vorm. Swansea hit the woodwork in the first half but managed to pull one back on 71-minutes when Michu rose the highest from a corner to head home off the post. But Tottenham managed to hold on and even went on to hit the post through Bale, eventually taking all three points from the Liberty Stadium.
Arsenal 4-1 Reading: Nigel Adkins' first game in charge actually sees The Royals move to the bottom of the table on goal difference without QPR even playing. The convincing victory for Arsenal means that they are now just two points behind Chelsea in the race for fourth. The deadlock was broken on 11-minutes when Santi Cazorla's low shot-come-cross was tapped home by Gervinho, making it two in two for the Ivorian. Arsenal doubled their lead three minutes in to the second half when the roles were reversed; Gervinho playing the ball to Cazorla and the Spaniard effortlessly curled the ball in to the bottom corner. Gervinho gained a second assist on 67-minutes when the Ivorian sprung a counter attack before playing the ball to Olivier Giroud to slot home. Reading did score a consolation a minute later when substitute Hal Robson-Kanu dived to head home from a Jobi McAnuff cross. But the last word came from The Gunners when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought down by Adrian Mariappa on 77-minutes, Mikel Arteta stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to cap off a good performance.
Wigan 1-0 Norwich: Wigan's latest great escape is still on after moving out of the bottom three on goal difference following this win over Norwich. The winner came nine minutes from the end with Arouna Kone finding a shot that was too powerful for Lee Camp, although Camp knows he probably should have done better. Norwich have now been sucked in to the relegation battle as they are now only four points above the drop.
Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle: City keep the gap at 15 with a good win over Newcastle who are now just three points above the relegation zone. The hosts had to wait for 41-minutes before opening the scoring with Carlos Tevez sliding home a Gael Clichy low cross. David Silva added a second in first half injury time when Samir Nasri thread a ball in to his path and the Spaniard lashed it home. Roberto Mancini and Vincent Kompany have been in the headlines recently over an alleged spat, but all was forgotten when the Belgian diverted Gareth Barry's effort from an undefended corner in to the net 11-minutes in to the second period. The rout was completed on 69-minutes when Yaya Toure's attempted smash across goal was blocked in to the net by the sliding James Perch.
West Ham 3-1 West Brom: West Ham are the biggest movers of the day, managing to move six points clear of the bottom three. Andy Carroll headed West Ham in front from a corner on 16-minutes before Gary O'Neil scored a great goal from the edge of the area, in to the top corner, on 28-minutes. Carroll added a third with a great over the shoulder volley from a defensive free-kick ten minutes before the end. West Ham went down to ten men when substitute George McCartney went off injured. West Brom were given a consolation when Romelu Lukaku went down under an aerial sandwich, Graham Dorrans stepped up and converted straight down the middle with two minutes left to play. The last piece of action came in the fifth minute of added time when Youssouf Mulumbu acted angrily to an O'Neil trip, the Congolese lost his head and picked the ball up before kicking it at O'Neil and was duly sent off.
Everton 1-0 Stoke: Everton keep their hopes of a Champions League place alive by moving four points behind Chelsea, whereas Stoke are now just four points from safety and very much in the mix for relegation. The only goal of the game came on 28-minutes when a punch from Tim Howard was picked up by Kevin Mirallas and the Portuguese ran the majority of the pitch before expertly finishing past Asmir Begovic after beating a couple of defenders.
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