Blackburn pulled away from the relegation zone after beating Norwich 3-0 at Ewood Park this afternoon. Morten Gamst Pedersen scored his fifth goal of the season after 17 minutes, taking advantage of Simon Charlton's blunder and smashing past Robert Green from just inside the area.
Paul Dickov added the second six minutes from half-time, heading in from Pedersen's centre. Green's mistake handed Dickov his second of the match, and his 100th club goal of his career.
Aston Villa recorded a rare away victory with a 2-1 win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. The visitors took the lead after 17 minutes with Pompey skipper Arjan de Zeeuw scoring an own goal from Luke Moore's dangerous cross.
But the hosts restored parity seven minutes later when Gareth Barry brought down Steve Stone in the penalty area and Aiyegbeni Yakubu scored from the spot. Thomas Hitzlsperger was brought on in the second half and volleyed in the winner after 73 minutes following good work from Juan Pablo Angel.
Liverpool's Champions League qualification hopes were dented at St Andrews as Birmingham recorded an impressive 2-0 win. Walter Pandiani blasted in the opener from the penalty spot after Sami Hyypia was adjudged to have fouled Emile Heskey seven minutes from the break.
Julian Gray added the second, volleying home after a deep cross from Jermaine Pennant on the stroke of half-time.
Derby sensed an FA Cup upset and took the fourth-round clash at Fulham to extra-time. Grzegorz Rasiak scored early on for the Rams at Craven Cottage, but they went in level at the break after Michael Johnson handled in the area and Papa Bouba Diop scored from the spot.
Luis Boa Morte finishing at the far post in the 50th minute after good work from Tomasz Radzinski and Andy Cole, but Paul Peschisolido levelled for the Coca-Cola Championship side after Edwin van der Sar saved Inigo Idiakez' free-kick.
Brentford won their fourth-round replay against Hartlepool with Isaiah Rankin scoring the only goal of the game at Victoria Park. The home side were reduced to 10 men in the eighth minute when Jack Ross brought down Stephen Hunt when through on goal, although Hunt had the resulting penalty saved by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Rankin hit the bar before snatching the winner just after the break, setting up a tie at Southampton.