Kalou keeps Chelsea in title race

Charlton close the gap

Rams and Black Cats in top two

—– Only a last minute goal from Salomon Kalou gives Chelsea victory at bottom-of the-table Watford.
Manager Jose Mourinho admits that without that goal, the champions would not have been able to catch leaders Manchester United: “I think that if we had gone from six points to eight or nine behind Manchester United, mathematically it would still be possible to win the title but mentally not.”
Earlier in the afternoon it seemed that Manchester United were about to slip up too.
At half-time, they trailed Blackburn Rovers 0-1 in front of a new Premiership record attendance at Old Trafford.
United underline their title credentials though with a superb second-half display to run out 4-1 winners.
Liverpool leap-frog Arsenal to move up to third position with a 4-1 win against the Gunners at Anfield.
Peter Crouch returns from injury to net the first hat-trick of his club career.
The relegation dogfight is cranked up another couple of gears after wins for Charlton Athletic and West Ham United.
Charlton beat fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic at The Valley with a debatable late penalty converted by Darren Bent.
Manager Alan Pardew concedes that luck appears to be on their side at the moment: “I think it was a tough call but it was that kind of game. With the roll we are on and the good feeling in the stadium it was a big moment for the referee and sometimes they go your way.”
They are now just a point behind Sheffield United who lose 0-1 at Bolton Wanderers to a goal from self-confessed Blades fan Kevin Davies.
Although still five points in arrears, West Ham win for the second game in a row as they beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at Upton Park.
Having been under severe pressure a couple of weeks ago, Manchester City give their survival hopes a major boost as they jump up to 13th place with a 1-0 win at Newcastle United.

—– Derby County stay on top of the Championship with a 2-1 win at Barnsley to equal a club record of 12 away wins in a season.
Sunderland move back into the top two after a 1-0 win at Play-Off contenders Cardiff City.
West Bromwich Albion end a run of five games without a win to move back up to fifth. They win 2-1 at Queens Park Rangers with Zoltan Gera netting the late winner.
The result of the day is Southampton’s 6-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in a key Play-Offs encounter. Marek Saganowski bags a hat-trick as Wolves concede six at home for the first time since the Saints won 6-2 at Molineux in October 1976.
To the immense credit of the Wolves fans - and in stark contrast to the so-called England supporters in midweek - manager Mick McCarthy and the team are applauded off the pitch at the end of the game.
On the day before his 38th birthday, another hat-trick scorer is Hull City’s Dean Windass as the Tigers beat Southend United 4-0 in the crunch relegation meeting at the KC Stadium.
In Kevin Blackwell’s first game in charge, Luton Town stay bottom despite earning a crucial point in the goalless draw at Burnley.

—– Scunthorpe United extend their lead at the top of League One to four points after they beat relegation-haunted Bradford City 2-0 at Glanford Park while Bristol City and Nottingham Forest (second and third, respectively) draw 1-1 at Ashton Gate.
In the other big promotion clash, Oldham Athletic go above Yeovil Town into fourth place after a 1-0 win against the Glovers at Boundary Park.
Blackpool retain the fourth and final Play-Off place with a 2-1 home win against Crewe Alexandra.
Cheltenham Town move out of the bottom four with a 2-1 home win against fellow strugglers Leyton Orient.

—– Walsall and Swindon Town both win at home to go second and third in League Two.
The Saddlers beat Accrington Stanley (3-2) while the Robins overcome Shrewsbury Town (2-1).
Their day is made even better as none of the teams below them in the top 11 win.
Torquay United keep their faint Football League survival hopes alive as Reuben Reid’s last minute goal against Wycombe Wanderers at Plainmoor gives the Gulls their second win in 11 games.
Boston United sink into the bottom two as Bury end their 16-game winless streak with Andy Bishop’s late strike at York Street.