LONDON (AFP) - Everton missed out on the chance to go level on points with near-neighbours Liverpool in the battle for fourth place after Birmingham City claimed a point in a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Only the Premier League's top four at the end of the season will qualify for the Champions League and Everton's draw left them two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool ahead of the Reds' match against Blackburn at Anfield on Sunday.
At St Andrews, the match was deadlocked until Everton's England defender Joleon Lescott headed in from close range in the 78th minute.
But Argentina ace Mauro Zarate drew Birmingham level seven minutes from time with a 20 yard free-kick, a point leaving the Midlanders on the brink of the drop zone.
"I thought we merited three points but you've got to put the ball in the net," Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said. "It was very cruel for us to go behind but I know the spirit of these players and thanks to a bit of skill from Zarate we got a point."
One consolation for Everton was that fifth-placed Portsmouth remained four points behind them after a goalless draw at home to Newcastle in Saturday's late kick-off match at Fratton Park.
Fulham and Bolton gave themselves hope of staying up with wins over Reading and West Ham respectively.
Although they each remained in the bottom three, Bolton's 1-0 success saw them move to within two points of Birmingham and Wanderers boss Gary Megson praised Kevin Davies, whose 100th goal of his career in the 47th minute wrapped up what could be a priceless victory.
"Kevin played really well, he led the line well and I'm delighted he got the goal. This showed what he is all about. These are the days when it's vital you get three points."
Meanwhile Fulham's 2-0 victory at the Madejski Stadium - their first league win on their travels since 2006 - left them four points adrift of relegation rivals Birmingham.
"We've made it hard for ourselves but we're still in the race and while you're in the race there's always the chance you'll find the sprint that will take you past your rivals," said Fulham manager Roy Hodgson.
Sunderland were left looking nervously over their shoulders after a late flurry of goals saw them lose 2-1 to Manchester City while their north-east rivals Middlesbrough too were left just seven points above the drop zone after a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham.
Aston Villa added to already-relegated Derby County's woes with a 6-0 thrashing of their Midlands rivals.
Reigning champions Manchester United will go six points clear at the top if they beat Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday. But victory for the Gunners would see them go level on points with second-placed Chelsea.
The Blues, three points behind United heading into this latest round of fixtures, are not in action again until Monday when they face Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge.
United States international Brian McBride put Fulham ahead in the 24th minute. The Londoners then hit the crossbar three times before Erik Nevlan's last minute goal secured only their fifth league win this season.
It was goalless at the Stadium of Light until Nyran Nosworthy's foul on Daniel Sturridge led to a penalty 11 minutes from time. City's Brazilian midfielder Elano then scored from the spot.
But Sunderland hit back minutes later though Dean Whitehead. That though was not the end of the scoring with City's England striker Darius Vassell scoring a second for the visitors three minutes from time.
Spurs went ahead at White Hart Lane in the 27th minute when Aaron Lennon's mishit shot went in off Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Grounds for an own-goal before England winger Stewart Downing, a Tottenham target earlier in the season, drew Boro level in the 69th minute.
At Pride Park, visitors Villa were 3-0 up by the 36th minute with Derby keeper Roy Carroll contributing to all three goals.
The Northern Ireland international, under challenge from Swedish international veteran Olof Mellberg, made a hash of dealing with Ashley Young's free-kick as Villa went ahead in the 25th minute and barely 60 seconds later his clearance straight to John Carew was returned into the net by the Norway striker from 20 yards.
Then another poor Carroll clearance led to a wonder-goal from Bulgaria midfielder Stilyan Petrov who lobbed the ball back over the former United keeper's head from just inside the half-way line in the 36th minute.
Gareth Barry made it 4-0 just before the hour mark, Gabriel Agbonlahor added a fifth in the 76th minute and Marlon Harweood became the sixth different scorer five minutes from time.
