Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard struck late in the first half to secure a 1-0 home win over Manchester United and open a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Belgium international Hazard found a neat finish in the 38th minute to grab his 18th goal in all competitions this season after Chelsea spent much of the opening period on the back foot.
United continued to dictate possession after the break but the hosts defended stoically and stretched their advantage over second-placed Arsenal, who they visit next weekend.
United are a further point back in third, four clear of rivals Manchester City who host West Ham United on Sunday.
Leicester City claimed a third successive Premier League victory and boosted their relegation great escape act after a 2-0 home win against Swansea City on Saturday.
Leicester's survival hopes have looked bleak for most of the season and they have been bottom since November but they faced Swansea full of confidence after back-to-back league victories.
Leonardo Ulloa, who was called into the starting lineup just before kick off after David Nugent was injured in the warm-up, set Leicester on their way before Andy King added a second late on.
Nigel Pearson's side move up to 18th, level on 28 points from 32 matches with Hull City, who are outside the drop zone only on goal difference.
"To get three wins on trot in this division is very hard and doubly so considering the position we are in," Pearson told the BBC.
"We are delighted. Our fate is still in our hands which is how we want to keep it for as long as possible."
Struggling 10-man Burnley had no such luck in their bid for Premier League survival as they sunk to the bottom of the pile on 26 points from 33 games after a 1-0 defeat at 12th-placed Everton.
Everton's Ross Barkley missed an early penalty but Kevin Mirallas made amends before Burnley's Ashley Barnes was sent off for a second bookable offence at the end of the first half.
Queens Park Rangers, who like Hull do not play this weekend because of the FA Cup semi-finals, are second-bottom and level on points and number of games with Burnley.
Stoke City claimed their first victory in five matches and moved up to ninth after coming from behind to beat sixth-placed Southampton 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium, hurting the visitors' hopes of Champions League football.
Tony Pulis's return to Crystal Palace as West Bromwich Albion manager was a happy one as his side won 2-0 and ended a run of three straight defeats.
Goals from James Morrison and Craig Gardner at Selhurst Park look to have guaranteed West Brom's Premier League status as they are 13th with 36 points. Palace remain 11th with 42 points from 33 matches.
