Brad Friedel and Blackburn took advantage of shorthanded regional rivals Wigan to enhance their European hopes, while Fulham failed to create survival momentum at Newcastle.

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BORO EDGES OUT DERBY
Middlesbrough pulled three points to take them safely out of the relegation zone, sinking lowly Derby even farther down in the Premier League cellar with a 1-0 victory at the Riverside Stadium.

Eddie Lewis started and played the full 90 at left wing for the Rams in their latest of an incredible 23 losses this season. Benny Feilhaber did not make the match day squad.

It was a game that featured few chances and even less entertainment, as there were barely any shots on goal for either team apart from Tuncay Sanli's 32nd minute winner.

The Turkey international drifted across the Derby defense and fired home from outside the box, allowing the Boro defense to sit back and easily absorb anything that Derby could throw at them.

Derby next face Fulham in what should be a vital relegation clash for the Cottagers, if not for the as good as dead Rams.

Scoring
BORO - Tuncay Sanli 6 (George Boateng) 36'

Line-ups
BORO - Mark Schwarzer; Luke Young (Mohamed Shawky 65'), Emanuel Pogatetz, Andrew Taylor, David Wheater, Gary O'Neil, George Boateng, Stewart Downing, Lee Cattermole, Jeremie Aliadière (Alfonso Alves 86'), Tuncay Sanli (Adam Johnson 86')

DC - Roy Carroll; Darren Moore, Andy Todd, Dean Leacock, James McEveley, Robbie Savage (Hossam Ghaly 62'), Mile Sterjovski (Emanuel Villa 39'), Eddie Lewis, David Jones (Stephen Pearson 62'), Robert Earnshaw, Kenny Miller

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TOON GET WELL AGAINST FULHAM
Fulham's already under-threat Premier League status got a lot shakier on Saturday with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Newcastle United.

As always, Fulham's lineup was chock full of Americans, with an all-yank starting combo of Eddie Johnson and Brian McBride up top, Kasey Keller in goal. Clint Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra began on the bench, with the former coming on as a second half sub.

It seemed a game that both sides were destined to lose, with Newcastle carrying a 13-game winless streak into the match, while Fulham hadn't won an away tie in the Premier League in 32 tries.

However, Mark Viduka showed that this game would have some signs of life early on, as he took hold of a Geremi cross and fired past Keller for the game's first goal in only the sixth minute.

Afterwards, chances were mixed for both sides. Fulham was saved from more damage for a while thanks to stellar goalkeeping by Keller, while Newcastle's porous defense had plenty of occasions to thank the Cottager front line for missing easy chances.

Still, Michael Owen was able to break through and put things beyond all doubt just seven minutes from time, heading home from yet another Geremi cross.

Fulham next face a crucial relegation battle with hopeless Derby County.

Scoring
NEWC - Mark Viduka 6 (Geremi) 6'
NEWC - Michael Owen 6 (Geremi) 83'

Line-ups
NEWC - Steve Harper; Steven Taylor, Habib Beye (David Edgar 87'), Sanchez Jose Enrique, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Abdoulaye Faye, Joey Barton, Mark Viduka (Alan Smith 84'), Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins (Charles N'Zogbia 74')

FUL - Kasey Keller; Paul Konchesky, Aaron Hughes, Paul Stalteri (David Healy 84'), Brede Hangeland, Leon Andreasen, Jimmy Bullard, Danny Murphy (Moritz Volz 71'), Simon Davies, Brian McBride (Clint Dempsey 66'), Eddie Johnson

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10-MAN ROVERS TOP WIGAN
Blackburn Rovers survived going a man down to beat Wigan 3-1 on Saturday, strengthening their push for a place in the UEFA Cup.

Brad Friedel started and played the full 90 for the home side, who survived going a man down in just the 16th minute after Christopher Samba brought down Emile Heskey in the box as the last defender.

By that time, Roque Santa Cruz had already scored for Rovers, and Marlon King's penalty kick goal only served to level matters temporarily.

The lost man didn't seem to affect Blackburn at all throughout the match, as they created and finished two more scoring chances before 90 had passed. Jason Roberts put the home side ahead on the stroke of halftime, and then Santa Cruz added a second in the 63rd minute.

Next up for Rovers is a trip to Reading for an all-American netminders duel.

Scoring
BLA - Roque Santa Cruz 13 12'
WIG - Marlon King 1 17' (Pen)
BLA - Jason Roberts 2 (Roque Santa Cruz) 45
BLA - Roque Santa Cruz (David Bentley) 14 63'

Line-ups
BLA - Brad Friedel; Zurab Khizanishvili, Andre Ooijer, Stephen Warnock, Christopher Samba, Steven Reid, David Dunn (Aaron Mokena 84'), Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Bentley, Jason Roberts (Tugay 78'), Roque Santa Cruz (Benedict McCarthy 89')

WIG - Chris Kirkland; Emmerson Boyce, Mario Melchiot, Erik Edman (Ryan Taylor 41'), Paul Scharner, Michael Brown, Kevin Kilbane, Antonio Valencia, Wilson Palacios, Marlon King (Marcus Bent 64'), Emile Heskey

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HAMMERS KNOT UP EVERTON
Everton's hopes of a Champion's League place were dealt a serious blow on Saturday as West Ham showed tremendous spirit, fighting back for a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.

Tim Howard started and played the full 90 in net for the Toffees, while Jonathan Spector came off the bench and played eight minutes in place of Scott Parker for the Hammers.

Everton looked strong early on, and they wasted no time putting their park on the game as Ayegbeni Yakubu struck for the game's first goal just eight minutes in.

From then on, West Ham only got stronger and stronger until the second half, when they had several chances to take all three points.

As it was, their first and only breakthrough came via Dean Ashton, who rose above Phil Jagielka to head in a well-taken cross from Lucas Neill in the 68th minute.

West Ham youngster Freddie Sears nearly made it a dream comeback for the Hammers at the death, but his stabbed shot rolled slowly along the line after hitting the post with Howard beaten.

Scoring
EVE - Ayegbeni Yakubu 13 8'
WHU - Dean Ashton 7 (Lucas Neill) 68'

Line-ups
EVE - Tim Howard; Joleon Lescott, Phil Neville, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Tim Cahill (Manuel Fernandes 10'), Lee Carsley, Leon Osman, Mikel Arteta, Ayegbeni Yakubu, Victor Anichebe

WHU - Robert Green; Lucas Neill, George McCartney, Anton Ferdinand, James Tomkins, Hayden Mullins, Scott Parker (Jonathan Spector 82'), Fredrik Ljungberg (Nolberto Solano 80'), Mark Noble, Dean Ashton, Luis Boa Morte (Fred Sears 50')

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ROYALS BAG ANOTHER SURVIVAL WIN
Full recap to follow...

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WATFORD DRAW WITH PLYMOUTH
Watford drew 1-1 at Plymouth Argyle on Saturday despite playing with a man advantage from the 68th minute on.

Plymouth had two attempts on goal go just over the bar early in the match. Paul Wotton's shot from 35 yards out missed and Gary Teale's shot sailed over the bar. Watford was the first to test the opposing keeper when Dan Shittu's hard low shot was saved by Pilgrim keeper Luke McCormick.

The Pilgrims broke the deadlock in the 34th minute on a goal set up by Rory Fallon, whose pass found Jermaine Easter on the right flank and the Welsh striker was able to beat Hornet keeper Richard Lee.

The lead did not last very long and the man who set up Plymouth's goal also set up Watford's. Fallon fouled Jobi McAnuff just outside the box and a free kick was given to Lee Williamson, whose right-footed shot found the upper left corner of the net to equalize the match.

Plymouth's Péter Halmosi was sent off in the 68th minute when he received his second yellow card for a fouling Mathew Sadler.

Sadler's free kick found Darius Henderson, whose header could not find the goal and the Hornets would not get anymore good chances to win the match.

Watford is in fourth place, two points behind Bristol City for the coveted second automatic promotion spot. Watford has played one less game than the three teams in front of them and they visit third place Hull City on Saturday.

Scoring
PLY - Jermaine Easter 4 (Rory Fallon) 34'
WAT - Lee Williamson 2 37'

Line-ups
WAT - Richard Lee; Leigh Bromby, Dan Shittu, Mathew Sadler, Jay DeMerit, Tommy Smith, Lee Williamson, Jobi McAnuff, John-Joe O'Toole, Darius Henderson, Collins John (Nathan Ellington 77')

PLY - Luke McCormick, Russell Anderson, Paul Connolly, Marcel Seip, Gary Sawyer, Chris Clark (Lilian Nalis 74'), Paul Wotton, Gary Teale (James Paterson 74'), Péter Halmosi, Rory Fallon (Krisztián Timár 88'), Jermaine Easter

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MILLWALL SHARE AT OLDHAM
Millwall drew 1-1 at Oldham on Saturday despite scoring what looked like a game winner with about 15 minutes to play.

The match was filled with mistakes and few chances to score. Oldham's Kelvin Lomax put a shot over the bar in the 68th minute and Gary McDonald was also off target two minutes later.

Millwall broke the deadlock in the 76th minute thanks to Bas Savage. Ryan Smith put the ball into the box and Savage received to put it in the net.

Oldham responded only three minutes later when Chris Taylor put a cross into the box and Leon Constantine headed it in from about six yards out. Constantine is on loan from Leeds and it was his first goal for the Latics.

Millwall is in 18th place and next host relegation bound Luton Town.

Scoring
MW - Bas Savage 2 (Ryan Smith) 76'
OLD - Leon Constantine 1 (Chris Taylor) 79'

MW - Rhys Evans; Paul Robinson, Danny Senda, Zak Whitbread, Zoumana Bakayogo, Ahmet Brkovic, Ryan Smith, Ali Fuseini, Jay Simpson, Jem Karacan, Bas Savage

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ON THE SIDELINE
Frank Simek is still recovering from an injury and did not dress in Sheffield Wednesday's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.

Cory Gibbs did not appear in Charlton's 1-1 draw with West Brom.

Goalkeeper Matt Pickens sat on the bench in QPR's 3-3 draw at Wolverhampton.