Manchester United's grip on the English Premier League trophy tightened on Saturday as rivals Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough.
That left defending champions United, who claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over bottom side Derby earlier in the day, at the top of the table on goal difference with a game in hand over their rivals.
It was the Gunners' fourth successive draw in the league but it could have been worse but for Kolo Toure's 86th-minute header, which cancelled out a first-half strike by Gunners old boy Jeremie Aliadiere.
Chelsea were also 1-0 winners, at relegation-threatened Sunderland, and are well-placed to challenge United in the title run-in.
Derby are on track to finish the season with the lowest points total of any side since the launch of the Premiership in 1992-1993.
But Paul Jewell's side nevertheless defied the champions for over an hour before the good fortune that had seen Cristiano Ronaldo spurn a handful of chances finally deserted them.
Wayne Rooney, from what seemed to be an offside position, rolled the ball across goal for his prolific team-mate to notch his 31st goal of the season with a side-footed finish.
Arsenal went behind at the Emirates Stadium as a result of sloppy defending, Turkish striker Tuncay Sanli allowed to run unchecked on to Mark Schwarzer's forward punt before crossing for Aliadiere to finish.
But just as it seemed that Boro would win, Toure popped up in the box to power a Cesc Fabregas corner goalwards, the ball richocheting off Schwartzer and Andrew Taylor on its way to the back of the net.
John Terry's tenth-minute header from a corner, was enough to give Chelsea the points at the Stadium of Light.
Liverpool kept the pressure on Merseyside rivals Everton in the battle for fourth place by coming from behind to beat Reading 2-1.
Portsmouth leapfrogged Aston Villa to move into sixth place in the table with a 2-0 win at Fratton Park and youth team striker Fred Sears marked his West Ham debut with the winner as Alan Curbishley's side beat Blackburn 2-1 at Upton Park.
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