Manchester United missed the opportunity of going joint level at the top of the Premiership after crashing 3-0 at Fulham. Fulham were fully deserved of the three points. Danny Murphy gave the Cottagers the lead after a mistake by makeshift centre half Darren Fletcher.

This advantage was doubled immediately after the break when in-form striker Bobby Zamora fired past Tomasz Kuszczak.

Damien Duff rounded off a splendid afternoon for the home side by volleying a third with 15 minutes remaining.

Manchester City meanwhile finally saw of Sunderland 4-3 at Eastlands as the Black Cats kept clawing their way back into the game.

City were two up in the opening 12 minutes courtesy of Roque Santa Cruz and a Carlos Tevez penalty.

But, by the 24th minute City's defensive frailties allowed Sunderland to draw level.

Johns Mensah reduced the deficit then Jordan Henderson smashed an equaliser.

Before the break City regained the initiative as Craig Bellamy coolly finished just after the half hour.

Back came the visitor's in the second half and Kenwyne Jones again brought the scores level on 62 minutes.

Seven minutes later came the winning goal as Santa Cruz claimed his second of the afternoon.

Liverpool's visit to the South Coast proved a nightmare as not only was Javier Mascherano dismissed in the first half but bottom club Portsmouth ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

A brace from Peter Crouch at a snowy Blackburn Rovers was enough to claim the three points.

Goals late on in both halves saw off Rovers who saw Benni McCarthy hit a post but overall Spurs were good vale for the win.

Aston Villa sit third in the table with a hard fought 1-0 win over Stoke City at Villa Park.

Ashley Young provided the cross for John Carew to claim the winner in the second half.

Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen had previously kept the Potters in the game with a series of fine save, denying Stiliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor .

Glenn Whelan blazed over for the Potters during a goalless first half.