Leeds' fortunes took another positive turn as they beat second-placed Chelsea 2-0 at Elland Road today.
Jonathan Woodgate's 30th-minute header set the Yorkshiremen on the way before 16-year-old James Milner scored his first senior home goal with a curling shot from the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time.
Chelsea old boy Terry Venables led his team to their third win in four Premiership matches against a Blues team featuring seven changes from the one which drew at home to Southampton on Boxing Day.
The only black mark for Leeds was an injury to Harry Kewell, who was forced to go off with a knee injury after Woodgate had opened the scoring.
Manchester United took their time to find a way past resilient Birmingham at Old Trafford as former United defender Steve Bruce made his first competitive return to the club as a manager but came away beaten 2-0.
Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan ultimately broke the deadlock eight minutes before the interval for his eighth goal of the season. David Beckham marked his return to the starting line-up by chipping in a second (73) to move the Red Devils level on points with Chelsea, third only by virtue of inferior goal difference.
Despite spending most of the match on the back foot, Birmingham twice seriously tested Fabien Barthez in the second half, first through Clinton Morrison and then through Aliou Cisse.
West Ham twice fought back from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Andy Cole's 150th Premiership goal heaped the pressure on Glenn Roeder to make it 2-1 but Jermain Defoe equalised with four minutes to go.
A David James blunder allowed Damien Duff to get Rovers off to a great start in the fourth minute. Cole then hit the crossbar for the home side before Steve Lomas' deflected effort deceived Brad Friedel and flew in after 23 minutes and seemed to be the slice of luck the east Londoners needed.
West Brom - one place above the Hammers in 19th - saw their own predicament worsen at The Valley against Charlton, who took the lead in the sixth minute through Kevin Lisbie's header. The Baggies are now ahead of West Ham only on goal difference, with both teams locked together on 16 points.
James Beattie's 12th goal in as many games in the 73rd minute appeared to have sunk Sunderland at St Mary's Stadium but the Black Cats fought back quickly and Tore Andre Flo nodded in from Kevin Kilbane's corner four minutes later.
However, Jo Tessem popped up in the fourth minute of injury time to condemn Sunderland to a heartbreaking defeat.
Bolton are now one point ahead of the Wearsiders in 17th after they held Everton 0-0 at Goodison Park, thanks in particular to a wonderful save by Jussi Jaaskelainen to keep out Lee Carsley.
Wayne Rooney tried to put his Boxing Day dismissal at Birmingham behind him but was denied by the crossbar as he attempted to draw first blood against the Trotters.
Dion Dublin's 200th career goal helped Aston Villa beat Middlesbrough 1-0. The former Manchester United striker turned the ball in after 10 minutes from Juan Pablo Angel's centre and matters were made worse for Boro by the sending-off of Mark Wilson for a second bookable offence.
Fulham's woes continued as Nicolas Anelka's goal for Manchester City sealed a 1-0 win and left the Cottagers with just one win from their last eight games.