The battle for UEFA Champions League places continues to hot up at the Premier League summit after Liverpool and Aston Villa both won but Tottenham had to settle for a point, while at the opposite end of the table the basement dwellers could not be separated.
Liverpool showed plenty of endeavour but lacked any real rhythm prior to taking the lead at home to Bolton. Dirk Kuyt's opener at the back end of the first half was hardly a classic but the Dutchman will care little, as he prodded in from close range after Alberto Aquilani had done well to nod Emiliano Insua's over-hit cross back into his team-mate's path.
Birmingham followed up losing their fine unbeaten run to Chelsea in midweek with a battling point, as Liam Ridgewell's effort at the death denied Spurs. Jermain Defoe's instinctive finish had earlier put Harry Redknapp's side in control in the Midlands.
Fulham's Chris Smalling may be one for the future but for the moment he is still a work in progress, as it was his poor positional play that allowed Villa striker Agbonlahor to register with a powerful header from Stiliyan Petrov's pinpoint delivery at Craven Cottage.
Hull City enjoyed a flying start in the battle of the strugglers at the KC Stadium. In the 11th minute Jozy Altidore made inroads on Wolves' backline before feeding in strike partner Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, whose low finish was unnervingly accurate in beating Marcus Hahnemann.
West Ham ushered in a new era at Upton Park with an uninspiring goalless draw with a Blackburn side who once again look difficult to beat.
Everton's goalscoring midfielder Cahill did what he does best as his header, six minutes from time, gave David Moyes' side a fourth league win from their last five matches.
Louis Saha had a decent appeal for a penalty turned down in the first half, while Wigan conjured the odd half-chance to give the home support hope.
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