Ipswich Town last night clawed their way out of the relegation zone, thanks to Marcus Bent. His seventh goal in eight games came after only 10 minutes and, despite some anxious moments as Fulham posed greater menace in the second half, George Burley's team merited their sixth win in seven league games.

Ipswich's captain and Republic of Ireland player Matt Holland received the crowd's ovation for making his 200th successive league appearance for the club.

Bent will seldom score an easier goal. Sixto Peralta was the creator as he supplied Alun Armstrong on the left. Armstrong's cross-shot was deflected high into the air by Zat Knight and was bound for the far corner before Bent made sure by touching the ball over the line.

Aston Villa began life after John Gregory with a low-key performance as Everton continued their mini revival by gaining a hard-earned point with a scoreless draw at Villa Park and extended their unbeaten run to six league and cup matches. Their chief threat came from Duncan Ferguson, who won more than his fair share of balls in the air although there was no one to take advantage.

Villa skipper Paul Merson worked hard to try to inspire his side - he provided one of the few highlights of the night near the hour mark when a surging 40-yard run ended with a thumping drive which cannoned back off the crossbar.

Meanwhile, Fabrice Fernandes' thunderbolt and Kevin Davies' lucky tap-in upstaged Paolo di Canio as Southampton clinched a 2-0 success against West Ham at St Mary's Stadium. Fernandes' first goal for the club since his switch from Rennes a month ago came in the second half - a blistering 63rd-minute free-kick almost ripping the net.

The home side took the lead after a blunder by West Ham goalkeeper David James in the 43rd minute. He flapped at a Fernandes free-kick from the left and the ball luckily hit Davies' midrift and bounced into the net.