Manchester United kept the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the English premier league on Saturday when they won 2-0 at Southampton while Arsenal needed a last-minute goal to beat Fulham 2-1 at Highbury.
Arsenal bounced back from the disappointment of conceding a last-minute goal at Liverpool on Wednesday to beat Fulham thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Robert Pires, who had also put the champions ahead early in the game.
All three goals in the London derby were scored by Frenchmen as Arsenal moved on to 56 points from 26 matches -- six clear of United who have a game in hand.
United moved back into second place above non-playing Newcastle following their win at Southampton, their fifth successive league victory.
Newcastle slipped back to third place with 48 points from their 25 matches as their Tyne-Tees derby match at Middlesbrough was postponed, while Chelsea stayed fourth after being held to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge by Tottenham.
At the bottom, Darren Moore gave West Bromwich Albion a 2-1 victory at Manchester City which lifted them off the bottom of the table. Sunderland are now last after losing 3-1 at home to Charlton whose tally included two Michael Proctor own-goals.
DOUBLE PIRES
Arsenal were made to fight all the way for their three points by Fulham whose recent poor form has seen them nosedive towards the drop zone.
Another defeat for Jean Tigana's men looked certain after Pires headed Arsenal in front in the 17th minute following a cross from Thierry Henry.
But Fulham were level 12 minutes later when Steed Malbranque equalised with an 18-metre volley.
Arsenal, who were denied victory in a 2-2 draw by Liverpool on Wednesday thanks to a goal in the last minute, finally broke down Fulham's resistance with a last gasp goal of their own.
Substitute Francis Jeffers created space on the left-hand side of the penalty area and his pass found Pires who scored the winner with a right-footed shot from six metres out.
"It was frustrating to lose two points in the last minute against Liverpool on Wednesday, but now we have won two points in the last minute today, and that is very positive," said a relieved Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger."
UNITED ON FORM
United kept up their relentless challenge with a convincing victory at St Mary's -- the first time United have kept a clean-sheet away from home this season.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy scored his 25th goal of the season after 15 minutes when he rifled the ball into the roof of the net, and United had the game as good as won seven minutes later when Ryan Giggs scored on his second attempt after Claus Lundekvam blocked his first shot.
United manager Alex Ferguson said afterwards: "This is not an easy place to come to and win, but we played very well as a team. We played with a lot of control and I was very pleased we have come away from home and not conceded a goal. That's important for us and is a barometer of our performance today."
CHELSEA HELD
With Newcastle not playing and Chelsea hosting Spurs -- who had not beaten them in the league for 25 matches -- the Blues had a good chance to close the gap at the top -- but failed to take it.
Teddy Sheringham put Spurs ahead after 18 minutes and the visitors held that lead until Gianfranco Zola scored with a brilliantly-taken free-kick five minutes before the break.
There were no more goals in the second half despite some superb attacking play from both teams and Chelsea finished the day on 45 points -- the same number as Everton who beat Leeds United 2-0 at Goodison Park.
An awful week in which Leeds were forced to sell Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate because of their parlous financial situation, ended in disappointment with a 2-0 defeat at Everton. Second half goals from David Unsworth (56pen) and Tomasz Radzinski (68) sealed their fate.
Leeds manager Terry Venables, whose future at the club remains uncertain, said afterwards: "It has been difficult for everybody involved. It's not an easy situation."
The defeat left Leeds in 13th place, well-clear of the relegation zone, but a long way off challenging for a UEFA Cup place.
One club in a worse state than Leeds is Sunderland who crashed to the bottom of the table after losing 3-1 at home to Charlton. They are on 19 points, one behind West Ham who play Liverpool on Sunday.
Hundreds of Sunderland fans deserted the match even before halftime as their team trailed Charlton 3-0. But they could not leave the stadium until after the break when the exit doors were opened. The exit door to the first division already looks open unless there is a dramatic improvement in Sunderland's form in the next few weeks.
