Chelsea fail to find home comfort

Chelsea FC all but conceded the Premiership title with a goalless draw at home to Everton FC this afternoon.

Comfortable cushion
Leaders Arsenal FC had opened up a ten-point lead at the top with a resounding 5-0 win against Leeds United AFC on Friday night, and their failure to beat Everton at Stamford Bridge left Chelsea nine points behind Arsenal with just four games left. Arsenal have five matches to play.

Unexpected success
Manchester United FC also lost ground at the top at they were unexpectedly beaten 1-0 at Portsmouth FC in an earlier kick-off, a result that moved the home side further away from the relegation zone. Steve Stone scored the only goal of the game nine minutes before half-time, prodding into the net from close range after good work by Lomano LuaLua and Yakubu Ayegbeni.

Champions League challenge
A number of teams are in contention for fourth position and a place in the qualifying rounds of next season's UEFA Champions League. Two contenders meet at Villa Park on Sunday as Aston Villa FC play UEFA Cup semi-finalists Newcastle United FC. Liverpool FC remained fourth but were unable to take maximum points from their home game with Fulham FC, Steven Gerrard seeing his 49th-minute penalty brilliantly saved by Edwin van der Sar as the match ended scoreless.

Contenders draw
Charlton Athletic FC drew 1-1 at home to Birmingham City FC, a result that left both sides in contention for fourth place. Birmingham looked to have earned all three points as Clinton Morrison put the visitors in front six minutes from time, only for Matt Holland to equalise two minutes later.

Vital victory
At the other end of the table, Portsmouth's win in the early afternoon put pressure on the sides around them. Blackburn Rovers FC secured a crucial win at home to fellow strugglers Leicester City FC, Nikos Dabizas's own goal three minutes before half-time separating the two sides.

City slump
Manchester City FC dropped to fourth from bottom, two points above the relegation zone, with a 3-1 defeat at home by Southampton FC. Goals either side of the interval from James Beattie and Kevin Phillips gave the visitors all three points, with Nicolas Anelka pulling a goal back late on, only for Phillips to restore the visitors' two-goal cushion almost immediately.

Bolton boost
Tottenham Hotspur FC also failed to alleviate any lingering relegation fears with a 2-0 loss at Bolton Wanderers FC, Iván Campo giving Bolton an early lead before Henrik Pedersen wrapped up the win midway through the second half.

Wolves win
Bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers FC maintained their faint hopes of avoiding the drop with a 2-0 win against Middlesbrough FC, Carl Cort and Henri Camara getting the goals in either half and Camara also missing a penalty.