Chelsea's Premier League title bid suffered a major with a 4-2 home defeat by Manchester City in the lunch time kick off, but bottom club Portsmouth ended the week on a positive note. Errors from stand-in Chelsea keeper Henrique Hilario allowed Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy to profit, then Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack were red carded as Tevez and Bellamy scored again to fire City back into the top four.
Chelsea remain just one point clear of Manchester United.
Portsmouth started their bid to avoid almost certain relegation after going into administration on Friday by winning 2-1 at Burnley.
Frederic Piquionne opened the scoring in the 25th minute but Martin Paterson brought the home side level six minute's later.
Jamie O'Hara had missed a penalty for the visitor's before Hassan Yebda made it 2-1 to the visitors from the spot.
Pompey then had defender Ricardo Rocha sent off for a second booking in the 90th minute but held on for a morale boosting victory.
A first half injury time penalty from James McFadden gave Birmingham a 1-0 home win over to Wigan to reach the relative safety of 40-points.
The battle of the other Premiership strugglers, Bolton and Wolves, ended in three points for the Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.
Zat Knight's close-range finish close to half-time proved decisive.