Balance of power shifts again in London
A review of Sunday's action in the Barclays Premier League, including victory for Chelsea and a defeat for Tottenham.
Frank Lampard scored his 200th Chelsea goal as the Blues climbed to third in the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 victory over his old club West Ham in the London derby at Stamford Bridge.
On his 595th Chelsea appearance, Lampard headed in an Eden Hazard cross after 19 minutes to move within two of Bobby Tambling's club scoring record of 202 goals.
Former West Ham striker Demba Ba should have scored three times in the first half, but Chelsea went two goals ahead when the impressive Hazard netted after 50 minutes.
Victory took Rafael Benitez's side above Tottenham, who were beaten 1-0 by Fulham earlier on Sunday.
At White Hart Lane, Dimitar Berbatov came back to haunt his former club as Tottenham's chances of Champions League qualification took a huge blow.
Having scored three goals in his last four matches, Berbatov was always going to be Fulham's main goal threat, but even he could not have imagined how easy it would be to score his first goal at White Hart Lane since leaving Spurs in 2008.
The Bulgarian, who scored 46 goals in two seasons at Tottenham, easily spun off his marker and his mis-timed shot flew past Hugo Lloris to give the Cottagers their first win at White Hart Lane in 10 years.
The win must have proved even more sweet for Martin Jol, who tasted victory at Spurs for the first time since he was harshly sacked in 2007 after two top-five finishes.
Andre Villas-Boas' side have now lost three successive games for the first time under his stewardship and they sit four points above Arsenal having played one more game.
Wigan striker Callum McManaman's horror tackle overshadowed a controversial but crucial 90th-minute Arouna Kone winner for Roberto Martinez's relegation-threatened side as they beat Newcastle 2-0 at the DW Stadium.
The Latics forward, on his first Premier League start, caused outrage with a reckless knee-high challenge on substitute Massadio Haidara.
He escaped punishment but referee Mark Halsey sent off furious Newcastle assistant manager John Carver - who twice had to be restrained as he tried to confront McManaman at the end of the first half - and Wigan coach Graham Barrow in an unseemly fracas.
Jean Beasejour's first-half goal had been cancelled by Davide Santon with 18 minutes to go only for Kone to snatch a vital close-range goal in a goalmouth scramble in which the ball appeared to come off team-mate Maynor Figueroa's hand.
Substitute keeper Lee Camp ensured 10-man Norwich left Sunderland with a 1-1 on a day when the Canaries' luck deserted them.
Chris Hughton's men were leading 1-0 at the Stadium of Light through Wes Hoolahan's close-range header when keeper Mark Bunn was dismissed for handling outside his area, and their fortunes took a further turn for the worse five minutes before the break when defender Sebastien Bassong conceded a penalty.
Craig Gardner levelled from the spot and then forced a vital 59th-minute save from Camp as the Black Cats strove in vain for the goal they needed to secure a first win in seven Barclays Premier League games.
However, Norwich left Wearside believing they should have been awarded a 70th-minute penalty for handball against Danny Rose in an eventful encounter.
Saturday
Wayne Rooney's 16th goal of the season was enough to send Manchester United 15 points clear with just nine games left in the Barclays Premier League title race.
Rooney's deflected first-half effort saw off a dogged Reading outfit, who worked hard but lacked the class to fashion an equaliser.
The Royals now look certainties for relegation, sliding seven points adrift of safety with one game fewer than United to save themselves.
Reigning champions Manchester City fell further off the pace with a 2-0 defeat at 10-man Everton.
Leon Osman and Nikica Jelavic struck in either half for the Toffees, who had Steven Pienaar dismissed after picking up two yellow cards.
There was controversy late on as City should have been awarded a penalty for a Marouane Fellaini handball with the scoreline at 1-0.
But, although referee Lee Probert spotted Fellaini's misdemeanour, he only gave a free-kick with replays showing the Belgium international was well inside the area when he blocked Carlos Tevez's strike.
Aston Villa gave their survival hopes another huge boost after winning an enthralling encounter against fellow strugglers QPR.
Villa, who beat Reading last time out, fell behind but eventually ran out 3-2 winners to open up a six-point gap on the bottom three, while Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Jermaine Jenas struck his second goal in as many games to give Harry Redknapp's side the lead at Villa Park but Gabriel Agbonlahor's header levelled matters on the stroke of half-time.
The hosts had been on the back foot for much of the game but found themselves in front when Andreas Weimann struck on the hour.
QPR showed their new-found belief under Redknapp and equalised through Andros Townsend before Christian Benteke scored a vital winner for Paul Lambert's side - his 17th goal of the season.
Southampton recorded an impressive 3-1 win over Liverpool at St Mary's in a game they dominated for large periods.
The hosts opened the scoring early on through Morgan Schneiderlin and Liverpool-born Rickie Lambert should have doubled Southampton's advantage but shot straight at Brad Jones before the striker saw a deflected free-kick make it 2-0 12 minutes before the break.
Philippe Coutinho cut Liverpool's deficit before the break but Jay Rodriguez scored a tremendous individual effort to wrap up the points and Mauricio Pochettino's second win since replacing Nigel Adkins as Saints' manager.
Arsenal closed to within two points of the Champions League places with a 2-0 win at Capital One Cup winners Swansea.
A first Arsenal goal for left-back Nacho Monreal and a strike from substitute Gervinho secured the three points after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rattled the crossbar twice for Arsene Wenger's side in the first half.
Stoke and West Brom shared a goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium.
Sunday's Barclays Premier League Results
AVB wants to ensure Spurs don't repeat collapse
Lampard ecstatic at scoring landmark goal
Martin: This could be a huge point for Norwich
Defeat a bitter bill to swallow for Pardew
Saturday's Barlcays Premier League Results
Livid Mancini blanks media after Everton loss
Redknapp keeps the faith despite crucial loss
Rodgers rues "poor day at the office"
Pulis frustrated by goal-shy Stoke
Wenger proud of Arsenal passion