Manchester City's hunt for fourth place continues after a routine yet unconvincing 2-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers. Adam Johnson and Patrick Vieira were able to make debuts and the younger Englishman was the more impressive in winning the penalty that gave Carlos Tevez the chance to score City's first goal.

Vieira had looked somewhat leggy and off the pace but he nevertheless completed the full ninety minutes and showed a glimpse of his old self after four-and-a-half years away from the Premier League when supplying the slide-rule pass with which Emmanuel Adebayor secured the three points for City. That took them level on points with Liverpool with a game in hand. Bolton's position is precarious after Owen Coyle made it four defeats from six games in charge of the Trotters.

Portsmouth may continue to be in crisis, with mixed reports surrounding their ability to ward off a winding-up order from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, but they live to fight another day after a late surge to deny Sunderland and get a 1-1 draw. Arun Dindane's 95th minute header secured a paltry point for Pompey but they will accept the small mercies of a fine comeback.

Sunderland had taken an early lead from a Darren Bent penalty that also caused Ricardo Rocha to be sent off after just nine minutes of his home debut for Portsmouth. But it was Sunderland who would lose their shape and discipline when Lee Cattermole was sent off for a second bookable offence and youngster substitiute David Meyler lasted just three minutes before his own dismissal.

Portsmouth's siege of the Sunderland goal resulted in Dindane's leveller and a small crumb of hope despite being still six points from safety.

Wigan Athletic were able to draw a point clearer in their battle for safety after a 1-1 draw with Stoke City. Paul Scharner had put the home team ahead before Tuncay headed the Stoke equaliser.

Burnley's dreadful away record continued and kept them in further danger when they were easily despatched 3-0 by an injury-hit Fulham. Danny Murphy grabbed Fulham's opener before David Elm netted his first goal for the Cottagers.

Bobby Zamora completed an easy win that had Brian Laws reminding his Burnley team to acknowledge their long-suffering away followers as the game finished at Craven Cottage. Burnley are just two points ahead of the bottom three.