LONDON (AFP) – Tottenham moved ahead in the race to qualify for the Champions League after a 3-0 win at Wigan lifted them into fourth place following Manchester City and Liverpool's dour 0-0 draw on Sunday.
Harry Redknapp's team had started the day in sixth place but, with City and Liverpool forced to settle for a stalemate, it was Spurs who ended the weekend in the final Champions League slot thanks to Jermain Defoe's goal and a late double from Roman Pavlyuchenko at the DW Stadium.
"It was a great performance from us. I was really pleased with the attitude we showed," Redknapp said. "They (the fans) love Pavlyuchenko. He's got ability and when he wants to play and wants to work he's great."
At Eastlands, there were far fewer opportunities for either side to steal a march on their rivals as Liverpool opted for a cautious approach that City completely failed to overcome.
It was hardly the performance to dispel reports of dressing room unrest at City, although boss Roberto Mancini and Liverpool conterpart Rafael Benitez insisted the result was fair to both teams.
Benitez said: "We were working very hard and we had control for most of it. I think a draw was a fair result, we have to be a little bit better in attack in future."
Mancini added: "Every time we don't win a game I am disappointed, but both teams defended very well and a draw was a fair result in the end."
At the DW Stadium, Tottenham won for just the second time in seven league games and are above City on goal difference.
Defoe looked offside when he turned in Gareth Bale's 27th minute cross but the flag stayed down and the England forward was able to celebrate his 22nd goal of the season.
Pavlyuchenko came on for Defoe in the closing stages and delivered the perfect response after he was quoted as saying Redknapp treated him like a joke.
The Russian struck in the 84th minute when he converted Luka Modric's pass and he added his second in stoppage time following a goalmouth scramble.
Aston Villa remain firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place after thrashing Burnley 5-2.
Martin O'Neill's team kept hot on the heels of City and Liverpool thanks to an astonishing second half goal spree at Villa Park.
Second bottom Burnley had taken the lead in the 10th minute through Steven Fletcher, but Ashley Young equalised before half-time.
Stewart Downing put Villa ahead with his first goal for the club in the 56th minute and the former Middlesbrough winger notched his second in the 58th minute as his shot deflected in off Danny Fox.
Emile Heskey turned in Villa's fourth goal three minutes later before Gabriel Agbonlahor added the fifth in the 68th minute.
Martin Paterson's stoppage time strike was no consolation for Burnley, who have now lost 13 of their 14 away league games.
Fulham striker Bobby Zamora fired the Cottagers into ninth place as his stoppage time free-kick secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Birmingham.
Roy Hodgson's team fell behind in the third minute at Craven Cottage when defender Chris Baird headed Lee Bowyer's cross into his own net.
But Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff equalised for the hosts in the 59th minute as he exchanged passes with Zoltan Gera before shooting home off a post.
Just as the match appeared to be heading for a draw, Zamora stepped up to smash in a free-kick that Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart could only help into the net.
At a snowy Ewood Park, Bolton were buried under an avalanche of goals as Blackburn romped to a 3-0 win over their struggling Lancashire rivals.
Blackburn, managed by former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce, took the lead in the 41st minute through Croatian forward Nikola Kalinic.
Jason Roberts came off the bench to add Rovers' second goal in the 73rd minute before French defender Gael Givet's 84th minute strike left Bolton stuck in the relegation zone.
