Robbie Keane came off the bench to score the winner, and Tottenham rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat second-place Charlton 3-2 on Saturday in the English Premier League.
In another comeback, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice to lead Manchester United to a 3-2 victory at Fulham.
Darren Bent scored two goals to put Charlton in control at The Valley until Tottenham hit back with strikes by Ledley King and Egypt striker Mido.
Ireland international Keane, who has spent most of the season sitting on the bench and appearing late, scored the winner in the 80th minute to put Tottenham level on points with Charlton but third on goal difference.
”We had to take a gamble and make a decision to use three forwards,” Spurs manager Martin Jol said. ”We believed in it and it’s a very important away win for us. But we gave two cheap goals away. That was a big disappointment for me because we only conceded three goals in seven matches before that.”
Both teams are six points behind defending champion Chelsea, who could move further ahead on Sunday by winning at Liverpool. The Blues visit Liverpool for the second time in four days after Wednesday’s 0-0 draw in the Champions League at Anfield.
Manchester United fell behind at Craven Cottage when Collins John put Fulham ahead after just two minutes.
In a five-goal first half, Van Nistelrooy’s strike and Wayne Rooney’s goal put United ahead. Claus Jensen’s free kick made it 2-2, but United, who had failed to win any of their previous three league games, captured all three points when Van Nistelrooy scored a second goal in the final minute of the first half.
”At one point, I thought it could end up 20-20,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. ”But common sense took over, or boring football took over [in a goalless second half]. It was a terrific game, end to end, and Fulham played a great part in that.”
Two goals in the last 10 minutes by substitute Shefki Kuqi gave Blackburn a 2-0 victory over struggling West Bromwich Albion, who have collected just one point in their past six games.
”We have to ask questions about ourselves after this performance,” said West Brom manager Bryan Robson, whose side escaped relegation with a victory on the final day of last season.
”The big concern for me is that we are conceding too many goals, and you cannot afford to do that at this level. It is about two a game.”
Newcastle went into their game at Portsmouth without Michael Owen, who injured his leg in training on Friday. But the visitors held on for a 0-0 draw at Fratton Park.
Sunderland climbed out of the relegation zone but still surrendered a lead in a 1-1 draw with West Ham at the Stadium of Light.
Tommy Miller fired Sunderland ahead in the final minute of the first half, only for Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun to level 18 minutes from the end.
The point pulled Mick McCarthy’s team out of the last three, leaving Everton, West Brom and Fulham at the bottom. West Ham stayed sixth, nine points behind leaders Chelsea.
Also on Sunday, it’s: Arsenal vs Birmingham; Aston Villa vs Middlesbrough; Manchester City vs Everton; and Wigan vs Bolton.
League Championship leader Sheffield United tumbled 2-1 at second-place Reading, cutting their lead to three points. Third-place Luton won at Cardiff 2-1. — Sapa-AP