Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City: It may now still be 12-points but the win for City does keep their slim title hopes alive. From possibly to win their 20th Premiership in two games time, United now need ten points from the remaining 21 in order to lift the trophy. Rafael came closest to giving United lead when his effort hit the bar before going behind for a goal kick. The deadlock was finally broken six minutes in to the second half when James Milner's effort took a slight deflection off Phil Jones which was enough to wrong-foot David De Gea. City's lead only lasted eight minutes though when Robin Van Persie's corner was headed towards goal by Jones before going in off Vincent Kompany's back, the second own goal in two games for United, a stark contrast to what the Belgian did the last time these two met on a Monday. City began to put United on the back foot and substitute Sergio Aguero managed to get a yard ahead of the defence before smashing the ball past De Gea at his near post with only 12-minutes left on the clock.
Chelsea 2-1 Sunderland: Paolo Di Canio's first game in charge sees Chelsea regain third place on goal difference with Sunderland now on the edge of relegation. The defeat leaves the visitors out of the bottom three on goal difference alone, but Wigan do have a game in hand. It started better for Sunderland though as they took the lead just before half-time when a corner was flicked on and then sliced in to his net by Cesar Azpilicueta. Chelsea levelled two minutes in to the second half when Oscar's parried shot came off Matthew Kilgallon and somehow rolled in to the corner of the net. The winner came just eight minutes later when David Luiz's shot cruelly deflected off Branislav Ivanovic to bamboozle Simon Mignolet and end up in the net.
QPR 1-1 Wigan: Two great goals leave the two struggling sides no better off than what they were before a ball was kicked today. The point keeps QPR seven points from safety while Wigan's last gasp equaliser keeps them in bottom three on goal difference alone, with a game in hand. QPR's task was made harder on 21-minutes when Bobby Zamora sent off for kicking Jordi Gomez in the head whilst going for the ball, this came after Loic Remy had hit the post. But QPR recovered and played extremely well with ten men before actually taking the lead five minutes before the end; a Maynor Figueroa free-kick was blocked and Rangers set off on the counter attack through Stephane Mbia. Mbia then laid the ball off to Remy and the Frenchman side-footed the ball in to the corner of the net from just outside the box, a truly spectacular goal. Mbia then became the villain with the last kick of the game by conceding a free-kick. Shaun Maloney took the free-kick and sublimely struck it home, although Adel Taarabt did seem to duck under the ball a la Samir Nasri.
Tottenham 2-2 Everton: Spurs remain level with Chelsea in fourth place and two points ahead of Arsenal, although both have a game in hand over Andre Villas-Boas' men. Tottenham took the lead in the first minute when Jan Vertonghen's deep cross beat a couple of defenders before Emmanuel Adebayor slid the ball between Tim Howard's legs. Everton equalised on the quarter of an hour mark when Phil Jagielka headed in a corner at the far post. The visitors then took the lead eight minutes in to the second half when Victor Anichebe's touch sent Kevin Mirallas off on another run, the Belgian zigzagged his was through the defence before scoring another great solo goal. Moussa Dembele did have his deflected effort somehow saved on to the crossbar by Tim Howard before Spurs found an equaliser three minutes from time; Adebayor's effort hitting the post before Gylfi Sigurdsson stroking the rebound home. Everton remain six points behind Chelsea and Spurs.
Newcastle 1-0 Fulham: A very late winner sees Newcastle move five points clear of the relegation zone. Fulham are three points further ahead after this defeat and aren't potentially out of the woods just yet, but they should be safe. A deflected Vurnon Anita shot did hit the cross bar for Newcastle in the second half before the hosts ended up hitting the post twice from a corner. The winner came on the 93rd minute when a blocked shot fell to Papiss Cisse and the Senegalese half-volleyed it home.
Liverpool 0-0 West Ham: Liverpool's Hillsborough tribute couldn't produce a goal let alone a win for the hosts. Liverpool's best chance came in the second half when Steven Gerrard's effort was saved off the line before the Reds ended up hitting the post from a low ball across the box. Liverpool did have the ball in the net through Daniel Sturridge, but he offside and the goal was rightly disallowed. West Ham came close towards the end when a header from a corner was saved off the line. West Ham are six points clear of relegation.
Stoke 1-3 Aston Villa: Villa move three points clear of the relegation zone and to within a point of Stoke after a win at The Britannia. Villa took the lead after nine minutes when Matt Lowton's slight pull back was finished by Gabriel Agbonlahor on the second attempt. Andreas Weimann thought he had made it 2-0 but his first half effort came back off the post. Villa looked to squander yet another winning position when Stoke equalised ten minutes from time; Charlie Adam springing the counter attack before getting it back off Jonathan Walters. Adam then poked the ball across to Michael Kightly who finished in to the bottom corner from the penalty spot. But Villa's blushes were spared when a cleared corner came to Matthew Lowton, the defender chested the ball before hammering the ball home on the volley from 35-yards with just three minutes left to play. The points were then sealed in injury time when Christian Benteke beat the last man just inside the Stoke half with a great touch. The Belgian then roared down in to the Stoke box with three team mates around him but Benteke coolly finished past Asmir Begovic.
West Brom 1-2 Arsenal: Arsenal are now just two points behind Chelsea and Tottenham in the race for Champions League football, The Gunners also have a game in hand over Spurs. Tomas Rosicky prevented Arsenal from going behind with a header off the line. The Czech then put them ahead on 20-minutes when he headed a cross-come-shot from Gervinho past Ben Foster, his first league goal in 65-matches. Rosicky then scored his second five minutes in to the second half after following up his parried powerful effort to beat Foster again. West Brom were awarded a penalty 20-minutes from time when Per Mertesacker brought Shane Long down. The German was last man and had no option but to be sent off. James Morrison stepped up and just squeezed it down the middle to make it 2-1. But the ten men managed to hold on to continue their fight for Champions League football.
Norwich 2-2 Swansea: Perhaps a mid-table battle although Norwich do only sit five points clear of the relegation zone. Swansea took the lead on 35-minutes when Michu fired home from a Jonathan De Guzman pull back after the Spaniard had had a goal ruled out for offside earlier on. Swansea's lead only lasted five minutes though as Robert Snodgrass headed in to the empty net from an Elliot Bennett cross. Norwich then took the lead on the hour mark when Michael Turner ghosted in to the back post to tap home a free-kick. But Luke Moore would equalise on 75-minutes, low volleying a header back across goal in to the net, to ensure both teams earned a point. There was a strong case that substitute Grant Holt should have been sent off just minutes after coming on for stamping on Chico Flores, but Holt even escaped without getting a yellow card.
Reading 0-2 Southampton: Nigel Adkins' side remain rock bottom after his former side came to The Madejski and walked away with the three points, leaving Reading eight points off safety. The win for Southampton sees them move seven points above the bottom three and possibly safe. Southampton took the lead 11-minutes before half-time when Jay Rodriguez beat Adam Federici to the ball and put it through his legs, questions have to be asked about Federici's commitment as he rather chickened out of the challenge with the striker. Rodriguez did hit the cross bar later in the half before the points were wrapped up on 72-minutes when a good team move was brilliantly finished off by Adam Lallana.
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