Second-placed Manchester United kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea with a classy 4-0 win at West Ham United today.
Fellow title contenders Arsenal ended a poor run of form with a 2-0 win over Stoke City, while Liverpool continued to stutter after drawing 0-0 at Blackburn Rovers.
Bottom club Portsmouth got their first win under Avram Grant beating Burnley 2-0, while relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City also recorded important victories.
Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea side can restablish their five-point gap over United with a win at Manchester City today's late match.
The results
Arsenal 2 Stoke City 0Aston Villa 3 Hull City 0
Blackburn Rovers 0 Liverpool 0
Portsmouth 2 Burnley 0
West Ham United 0 Manchester United 4
Wigan Athletic 2 Birmingham City 3
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Bolton Wanderers 1