Sunderland scored the Premiership result of the day and ended a run of 11 matches without a win at Stamford Bridge when they came from behind to beat Chelsea 4-2.
Marcel Desailly's first goal since August put the Blues in front and, after a Don Hutchison volley levelled the scores, Eidur Gudjohnsen restored the lead.
But Hutchison scored with a header from a tight angle, Gavin McCann swept past two defenders to finish smartly and Kevin Phillips cashed in on an error to claim his 15th of the season.
Across the city at Charlton, Mark Viduka netted the fastest Premiership goal to date when he put Leeds in front at The Valley. Viduka got Leeds off to a great start, his goal officially clocked at nine seconds.
South African international Shaun Bartlett headed the equaliser but Alan Smith ended the Addicks' nine-match unbeaten run when he made it 2-1 early in the second half, Viduka the provider.
Runaway leaders Manchester United faced a Leicester side dedicated to defence and it took the 88 minutes to make the breach. Ole Gunnar Solksjaer scored after 88 minutes and Mickael Silvestre in the dying seconds made it 2-0 to ease United closer towards the title.
The champions lost Fabien Barthez before the start when he was injured in the warm up to give Paul Rachubka his debut.
Southampton remain the Premiership's form team with a fifth win on the trot, Jo Tessem's strike giving them a 1-0 win over Everton at The Dell where rumours about Glenn Hoddle's future were rife.
Tottenham, the side Hoddle is favourite with the bookmakers to take over at, brushed aside Coventry with a 3-0 victory the goals coming from Steffen Iversen, Les Ferdinand and Sergei Rebrov.
The battle at the bottom ended all square with Manchester City not drawing much hope from a 2-2 draw at Bradford. Gerard Wiekens put the Blues in front but the Bantams took advantage of defensive mistakes for Robbie Blake to level and Ashley Ward to net his first Premiership goal in his 24th outing. Joe Royle was mighty relieved when Shaun Goater slipped the ball home 20 minutes from time to salvage a point for City.
Middlesbrough bought themselves some breathing space with their first victory over Newcastle in 10 attempts. Alen Boksic rattled the Magpies with two goals in five minutes, the second a breathtaking freekick. But Boro were down to 10 men for the whole of the second half when Phil Stamp was sent off for a second bookable offence.Carl Cort volleyed Newcastle back into it but Nolberto Solano missed the chance to level when he hit a penalty against the bar.
A Martijn Reuser freekick after 60 minutes gave Ipswich a 1-0 win over West Ham, their first in nine meetings and left the Hammers sliding towards the danger zone.