Manchester United moved top of the Premier League for the first time this season yesterday as striker Dimitar Berbatov headed a last-minute winner in a 1-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers.
The reigning champions, bidding for an 18th English title, chalked up a 10th consecutive clean sheet in the league on a day of late goals and red cards in the top flight.
Chelsea breathed a huge sigh of relief as England midfielder Frank Lampard struck four minutes into stoppage time to earn a 2-1 victory over Stoke City at Stamford Bridge after Brazilian Juliano Belletti had equalised for the Blues after 88 minutes.
Lampard wore the captain's armband after defender John Terry suffered a back spasm in the pre-match warm-up.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side stayed third, just ahead of Aston Villa who came from a goal down to beat Sunderland 2-1 away despite having striker Ashley Young sent off.
United have 47 points from 21 matches, one ahead of Liverpool who can reclaim top spot with victory over Everton tomorrow. Chelsea have 45 points from 22 matches with Villa on 44.
"The way their kepeer was performing it looked like it wouldn't happen," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.
"We left it very late.
"It's not decisive but it's always nice to be in the lead, it's the best place to be.
"We can reflect on a very, very good period for us," added Ferguson whose side have kept pace in the title race despite a pre-Christmas trip to Japan to claim FIFA's World Club title.
Fifth-placed Arsenal were in danger of losing touch with the title race but they also rallied late to beat Hull City away and stay in the hunt in the evening match.
Arsenal now have 41 points after goals from Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner in the final 10 minutes earned a 3-1 victory at Hull.
Manchester City put aside the hype surrounding their world-record bid for Milan's Kaka to beat Wigan Athletic 1-0 at Eastlands despite ending the match with 10 men after defender Richard Dunne was sent off.
While the battle for the title looks to be the most open for many years, the dogfight at the bottom is equally fascinating.
West Brom moved off the bottom with a 3-0 thrashing of Middlesbrough while Blackburn Rovers climbed out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 defeat of Newcastle United, for whom midfielder Nicky Butt was dismissed.
Tottenham Hotspur are now bottom with 20 points, although they can move out of the drop zone with victory at home to Portsmouth today.
For the second time in a week United ground out a precious three points, having beaten Wigan Athletic 1-0 on Wednesday.
Despite the attacking tolls at their disposal, United's hot streak has been based on a watertight defence and yesterday's clean sheet against Bolton equalled Chelsea's Premier League record despite the absence of Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra.
United, who were without England striker Wayne Rooney who injured his hamstring after scoring the winner against Wigan, looked like being frustrated as Bolton hung on resolutely.
However, they secured a seventh 1-0 league victory of the season when Argentine striker Carlos Tevez, who was about to be substituted, provided the chance for Berbatov to head home a vital winner.
Mifsud winner
Michael Mifsud scored the winner for Coventry City yesterday in a Championship match against Blackpool at the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry went in for the break trailing to Dudley Campbell's goal but Frenchman Guillaume Beuzelin drew the teams level soon after the restart and Mifsud sealed victory for the hosts on 51 minutes.
Mifsud was substituted by striker Leon McKenzie with 17 minutes to go. Victory lifted Coventry to a safer position in the bottom half of the standings.