Blackburn Rovers 3 - 1 Fulham

Ten-man Blackburn clawed their way out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone for the first time in four months with a 3-1 win over Fulham.

The first red card of Ayegbeni Yakubu’s nine-year career in English football in the first half seemed to add to beleaguered manager Steve Kean’s woes. But Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Dunn struck either side of the interval and, despite Damien Duff pulling one back, Mauro Formica sealed only Rovers’ fourth league win of the season.

Frank Lampard proved the master of being in the right place at the right time once again as Chelsea survived a second-half scare to beat Sunderland 1-0.

Lampard scored for the third successive match as Gary Cahill, at Stamford Bridge after undergoing a medical ahead of his move from Bolton, looked on.

West Brom crashed to their third straight league defeat as Steve Morison’s header sealed victory for Norwich at The Hawthorns.

Andrew Surman’s volley handed the Canaries the advantage in the 43rd minute, but Shane Long equalised with a penalty in the 68th minute. But it was not enough to salvage them a point, with Morison nodding in the winner 11 minutes from the end.

Everton substitute Victor Anichebe enjoyed another good day in the West Midlands yesterday by rescuing a point for his side in the clash with Aston Villa.

Villa striker Darren Bent had broken the deadlock but the Toffees deserved their equaliser.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish failed to come up with the winning formula at Anfield as his side were held to a goalless draw against Stoke.

It took until after the break for Dalglish’s side to find their feet but they still struggled to carve out chances and it cost them yet another three points.