Champions Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to two points thanks to defender Sol Campbell's first-half goal and an injury-time strike by Robert Pires against Middlesbrough today.
Campbell produced a full-length diving header from Pires' centre just before the interval to break the resolve of Boro, who before today boasted the second best defence in the Premier League.
The goal made amends for Campbell's earlier miss from Thierry Henry's cross six yards out when he hit the post from a clear header.
Boro also lost Dutch midfielder George Boateng midway through the first half when he fell awkwardly following a challenge from compatriot Giovanni van Bronckhorst. He was stretchered off.
Gilberto Silva missed a header from four yards midway through second half.
Middlesbrough has Luke Wilkshire sent off for a second bookable offence.
Pires then wrapped up the victory late on.
Chelsea moved into second place with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.
The Londoners, who left Gianfranco Zola on the bench, took the lead late in the first half when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink held up a through-ball for Eidur Gudjohnsen to fire low past Peter Enckelman.
Then in the 57th minute Frank Lampard whipped in a cross which evaded everyone in the centre and crept into the far corner of the net.
Newcastle moved ahead of Everton and Liverpool into fourth with a 2-0 win over Fulham, despite the rarity of an Alan Shearer missed penalty.
Nolberto Solano gave the Magpies an eighth-minute lead thanks to an error from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
A back-pass resulted in the Fulham keeper being put under pressure by Alan Shearer. The Dutch keeper checked past the striker but then scuffed his left-footed clearance straight to Solano who struck from 20 yards.
Minutes into the second half Newcastle were awarded a dubious penalty following Sean Davis' tackle on Kieron Dyer but Shearer ballooned the spot-kick over the crossbar.
Pierre Wome was then sent off for a foul on Andy Griffin and Wales international Craig Bellamy netted Newcastle's second midway through the second half, drilling home a left-footed shot.
Sunderland displayed a new-found resilience under Howard Wilkinson as they fought back from 2-0 down at half-time to earn a draw with fellow strugglers West Brom.
Two goals in the first half from Danny Dichio (27th minute) and Jason Koumas' free-kick (33) appeared to have put the home side on course to rise out of the bottom three.
Kevin Phillips ended his miserable scoring run this season when he latched onto a poor backpass by Sean Gregan in the 56th minute and beat goalkeeper Russell Hoult to roll in only his side's 11th goal of the season.
But the England striker then showed why he is so valued at the Stadium of Light as he made a goal out of nothing, cutting in from the left, beating a couple of defenders and driving into the corner of the net.
The bottom two sides West Ham and Bolton remain in the same positions after a 1-1 draw.
Makeshift striker Ian Pearce proved the difference at half-time. The central defender converted Jermain Defoe's knock-on in the 17th minute to drive low and hard under Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The Hammers were made to pay as in the 65th minute Nigerian international Jay Jay Okocha chested down a free-kick and picked out substitute Michael Ricketts who squeezed a shot past James for his first goal in open play since January.
Results
Arsenal
2-0Middlesbrough
Birmingham
1-1Charlton
Chelsea
2-0Villa
Leeds
1-1Southampton
Newcastle
2-0Fulham
West Brom
2-2Sunderland
West Ham
1-1Bolton