United win, Spurs shock Chelsea.
Manchester United beating Manchester City 1-0 on City of Manchester Stadium and Hotspur blew the Premier League title race wide open when shocking ten-man Chelsea with a 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane in Saturday's late kick-off.
Manchester United's win earlier in the day, secured thanks to a last-gasp goal from Paul Scholes, put considerable pressure on leaders Chelsea and they buckled in the first half when Jermain Defoe scored a penalty, following a handball from John Terry, and Gareth Bale grabbed his second goal in four days.
Earlier in the day, Manchester United underlined their supremacy in their home city thanks to an injury-time goal from Scholes which secured a 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Scholes, who signed a new contract on Friday to prolong his career by a further year, stole into the City box to direct a header past Shay Given with just 20 seconds remaining of injury time, the second time this season that United have beaten City in dramatic circumstances in the league following a 4-3 win at Old Trafford in September.
Tottenham Hotspur Having defeated arch-rivals Arsenal on home turf in midweek, Spurs produced another superb performance to secure a victory which moves them two points clear of Manchester City and into fourth, putting Champions League football within their grasp.
Terry, who escaped a booking in the penalty incident, was shown two yellow cards in the space of three minutes in the second half, and although Frank Lampard pulled a goal back in injury time, Spurs held on for another famous win.
Everton kept alive their lingering hopes of Europa League football with a dramatic 3-2 win at Blackburn, only the third time that Sam Allardyce's side have been beaten at home this season. The result means Everton are one point behind seventh-placed Aston Villa having played two games more than Martin O'Neill's side.
Mikel Arteta put Everton in front from the penalty spot after just four minutes when being fouled by Ryan Nelsen. Steven Nzonzi (69) replied for Rovers and when Yakubu (79) edged Everton back in front, Allardyce's men fought back one more through Jason Roberts (81). Tim Cahill settled the tie in injury time when scoring his eighth Premier League goal of the season, but the first with his feet.
Fulham appear entirely focused on their Europa League campaign and in a game of little significance for the Cottagers, Roy Hodgson's side drew 0-0 with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mick McCarthy's side are now six points clear of danger.
Bolton have surely guaranteed their top-flight status for another season after coming from a goal down to beat Stoke City 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium. The win takes them seven points clear of Hull in 18th, although they have played a game more than the Tigers.
Owen Coyle, hailed as the man to bring entertainment back to the Trotters, had seen his side go four games without a goal in the Premier League, and Stoke took the lead at the Britannia Stadium when Tuncay Sanli set up Dave Kitson for his third league goal of the season.
But Matthew Taylor turned the game on its head in the space of three second-half minutes. The midfielder levelled the scores on 85 minutes when converting from a free-kick, before scoring from close range from a Vladimir Weiss cross after 88 minutes.
Burnley's unlikely survival bid was dented with a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Brian Laws' side secured their first away victory of the season when hammering Hull City 4-1 last week but remain four points shy of safety after reverting to type on Wearside.
Kenwyne Jones hit the post early on for Sunderland but it was Fraizer Campbell who opened the scoring after 25 minutes when latching on to a cross from Alan Hutton. Darren Bent claimed his 23rd league goal of the season to make it 2-0 when converting from Campbell's header after 41 minutes.
Two substitutes combined to bring Burnley back into the game when Robbie Blake teed up Steve Thompson with eight minutes remaining.
Burnley remain four points behind 17th-placed West Ham following defeat, but Hull, who along with the Hammers have played a game less than the Clarets, are one point closer thanks to a 0-0 draw at Birmingham City.
Responding well to their humbling at the hands of Burnley, Hull recorded only their fifth away point of the season against a side in Birmingham that are unbeaten at St Andrews since September.
