Arsenal took a huge step towards the Premiership title as they extended their unbeaten run with a 2-1 defeat of Charlton while Manchester United were held a Fulham.
The victory stretched the Gunners' lead at the top of the table to nine points with 11 games left to play.
Charlton were fighting hard just to stay in the game as two goals flew in inside the first four minutes.
Robert Pires swept home the opener in the second minute from Fredrik Ljungberg's cross and Thierry Henry doubled the Gunners' advantage moments later.
But Alan Curbishley's side pulled a goal back after 59 minutes when Claus Jensen beat Jens Lehmann with a free-kick from 25 yards out after Paolo di Canio had won a foul from Lauren.
Manchester United, humbled 2-1 by Porto in the Champions League in midweek, suffered one of Alex Ferguson's "blips" as they drew 1-1 at Fulham and surrendered second place to Chelsea on goal difference.
With Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs on the bench, Louis Saha looked to have settled United nerves with his 14th-minute strike.
After inspiring the Londoners to a 3-1 win at Old Trafford earlier this season, the Frenchman returned to Loftus Road to haunt his former employers by finishing off a typically swift United counter attack sparked by Cristiano Ronaldo.
But Fulham gave Ferguson more Portuguese worries when Lisbon-born Luis Boa Morte levelled in the 64th minute.
Van Nistelrooy was booked before he came on as a substitute after encroaching on the pitch and, although the Dutchman replaced Diego Forlan in the second half, that was his most notable contribution to the game.
Chelsea, fresh from their impressive win at Stuttgart in the Champions League, moved into second place after they withstood waves of Manchester City attack before Eidur Gudjohnsen snatched a 1-0 win for the Londoners with an 82nd-minute goal.
Struggling Blackburn suffered an early setback when Kevin Phillips gave visiting Southampton a fifth-minute lead only to battle back for a 1-1 draw.
Phillips netted from a knockdown from James Beattie, who was restored to the starting line-up after starting on the bench against Everton last weekend.
But Andy Cole levelled for the home side, netting after seven minutes of the second half with Rovers much improved after the break.
Everton were given a welcome fillip by a 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa with Tomasz Radzinski coming off the bench to net the opener in the 78th minute.
David Moyes' side, who had been in danger of getting drawn into relegation fight, doubled their lead through Thomas Gravesen six minutes later.
The relegation battle between Wolves and Leicester at the Walkers Stadium ended scoreless.
Premiership results
Arsenal
2-1Charlton
Blackburn
1-1Southampton
Everton
2-0Aston Villa
Fulham
1-1Man Utd
Leicester
0-0Wolverhampton
Man City
0-1Chelsea
Details to follow...