A close-range finish from Gavin McCann gave Bolton a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough which lifted them out of the bottom three.
McCann's tap-in ensured Gary Megson's side move up to 16th place ahead of Reading on goal difference while Birmingham, who face Aston Villa on Sunday, slip into the drop zone.
Wanderers broke the deadlock in the 61st minute after an inswinging corner from Matthew Taylor was met by the head of Gary Cahill but his attempt was parried by goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.
McCann was the first to react and seized on the loose ball which he knocked home from a matter of inches.
Jermaine Pennant scored one and set up another as Liverpool strolled to a 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage which left Roy Hodgson's side five points adrift of safety.
The Liverpool winger was sent clear with a clever pass from Lucas and his shot from a tight angle deceived goalkeeper Kasey Keller and flew into the top-right corner of the net.
Rafael Benitez's side added a second in the 70th minute when Pennant turned provider. A dangerous run from Pennant culminated in a neat through-ball to Peter Crouch and he slipped his shot through the legs of Keller from just inside the 18-yard box.
Striker Emmanuel Adebayor scored his 27th goal of the season to help Arsenal claim a 2-0 win over Reading the day's early kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.
Kolo Toure floated a lovely ball over to the edge of the penalty area from the right in the 30th minute which Adebayor controlled on his thigh before he coolly slotted past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.
Arsene Wenger's side added a second eight minutes later with a deflected effort from Brazilian midfielder Gilberto.
Cesc Fabregas cut the ball back for Gilberto and his 20-yard strike was on target, but it cannoned off the head of Royals defender Andre Bikey and flew past a wrong-footed Hahnemann into the top-left corner.
Emile Heskey equalised Dimitar Berbatov's opening goal as Wigan's clash with Tottenham at the JJB Stadium finished 1-1.
Berbatov had broken the deadlock in the sixth minute when Aaron Lennon crossed for the Bulgaria international to slide the ball home from close range.
But Heskey collected Kevin Kilbane's pass from the left flank before shrugging off the attentions of the Spurs defence and smashing a low shot past goalkeeper Radek Cerny.
Manchester United needed a late goal from Carlos Tevez to snatch a point from a 1-1 draw at Blackburn, leaving them in the box seat in the Premier League title race.
The Argentinian striker headed the ball home from close range with two minutes to go after Paul Scholes had flicked on a corner from Nani. Earlier Brad Friedel in the Blackburn goal had pulled off a string of fine saves to deny United.
Tevez's goal cancelled out the opener from Roque Santa Cruz leaving Sir Alex Ferguson's men three points ahead of Chelsea with the teams meeting next Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
Carlton Cole's 77th-minute strike gave West Ham a 2-1 win over a spirited Derby side at Upton Park.
Alan Curbishley's side had opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Bobby Zamora headed a George McCartney free-kick past a stranded Roy Carroll.
Tyrone Mears equalised in the 65th minute when he was sent clear by Hossam Ghaly and calmly dispatched the ball past goalkeeper Robert Green.
But Cole steered the ball home after he was set up Freddie Ljungberg who had delivered a low cross into the six-yard box to give the Hammers the points.