Damien Duff's winner lifted Fulham out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 2-1 victory over Everton yesterday while Aston Villa beat neighbour Birmingham 1-0, thanks to a late goal by Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Next-to-last Everton went ahead after 33 minutes at Craven Cottage with the Australian forward heading home a leftwing free kick. But Paul Konchesky equalised in the 57th with a shot that deflected off Everton defender Sylvain Distin.

Duff scored the second in the 79th when he ran at the Everton defense, pulled the ball on to his favoured left foot and beat goalkeeper Tim Howard from just outside the area.

Worst start

The result lifted Fulham eight places to 10th while Everton, which finished fifth last season, remain 19th in their worst start since manager Davis Moyes arrived at the club in March 2002.

Agbonlahor headed home an 85th-minute winner as Aston Villa beat Birmingham to climb to sixth.

The tall striker beat Birmingham goalkeeper Ian Hart after co-striker John Carew had won the ball in the air from Ashley Young's free kick.

Agbonlahor should have scored a second with a minute to go when he got clear of the home defense but fired over the bar.

The result gives Villa nine points from four games with a match in hand on four of the five teams above.

Few chances

"It was a game of very few chances and looked like it was heading for a stalemate," said Villa manager Martin O'Neill. "We had some half chances but we're delighted to have won the game because the points are very important. It's three consecutive wins after a poor start."

Chelsea moved three points clear at the top by winning 2-1 at Stoke while Manchester United triumphed 3-1 at Tottenham to move into second on Saturday. Manchester City beat Arsenal 4-2 and Liverpool outplayed Burnley 4-0.

Blackburn beat Wolves 3-1, Sunderland defeated Hull 4-1, Wigan edged West Ham 1-0 and Bolton won 3-2 at last-place Portsmouth, which have no points from five games.

Newcastle stayed top of the League Championship with a 1-0 victory at Cardiff, behind Fabricio Coloccini's goal after 18 minutes. The Magpies are two points ahead of West Bromwich Albion, which beat Plymouth 3-1 on Saturday.