Chelsea needed two late goals to see off battling Fulham at Stamford Bridge to open up a five-point gap at the top of the Premier League table. Chelsea needed a Chris Smalling own goal to beat Fulham 2-1 as the Blues were forced to recover from conceding an early goal.
The Cottagers took the lead after just four minutes as Zoltan Gera hooked the ball home after Bobby Zamora had nodded back Paul Konchesky's cross.
Chelsea had to wait until deep into the second half before drawing level.
On 73 minutes Didier Drogba headed the ball back beyond Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.
And just two minutes later fortune favoured Chelsea as substitute Daniel Sturridge's shot was parried by Schwarzer and bounced off the luckless Smalling into the net.
Meanwhile Birmingham City equalled a club record of 11 top-flight matches unbeaten as Cameron Jerome's goal saw off Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
The Blues ground out a 1-0 win thanks to a goal early in the second half against a disappointing Stoke outfit.
All the goals came in the second half at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
Black Cats old boy El Hadji Diouf denied his former club a first win in seven games as Blackburn twice came from behind.
Sunderland grabbed the lead in the 52nd minute after Darren Bent volleyed home.
Within a minute Rovers were level as Morten Gamst Pedersen hit a low right-footed shot which went in off the post.
Bent then claimed his second on 65 minutes only for Diouf to head an equaliser with 13 minutes remaining.
Everton won for the first time in eight league matches after beating 10-man Burnley 2-0 at Goodison Park.
Two late goals proved decisive as the Clarets miserable away form continues.
Substitute James Vaughan scored on 83 minutes and Steven Pienaar doubled the advantage in the final minute.
By now Burnley were down to ten-men after Stephen Jordan was shown a second yellow card following a foul on Steven Pienaar.
Tottenham boosted their Champions League hopes, and kept a fourth clean sheet in a row in the process, after a 2-0 home success over London rivals West Ham.
