ANDRE Bikey scored twice to help Reading boost their survival hopes with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Birmingham at the Madejski Stadium. The Cameroon international nodded a John Oster free-kick past Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor in the 31st minute.
Mauro Zarate equalised for Birmingham after he struck home Mikael Forssell's low cross in the 64th minute but Bikey got his head on a Nicky Shorey free-kick 15 minutes later to give his side the points.
Roque Santa Cruz scored twice and set up the
other to help Blackburn to a 3-1 victory over struggling Wigan as both sides were reduced to ten men. Santa Cruz had opened the scoring in the 12th minute after David Bentley's 25-yard strike was parried by Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, which left the Paraguay international to nod the ball into an empty net.
Rovers defender Christopher Samba was then shown a red card after he was harshly judged to have fouled Emile Heskey in the penalty area. Marlon King took the spot-kick and calmly sent the ball past Brad Friedel.
But Mark Hughes' side again took the lead when Santa Cruz knocked the ball down into the path of Roberts and he scored from 18 yards on half-time.
Santa Cruz headed his second of the afternoon in the 63rd minute before Wilson Palacios was sent off for a second-bookable offence. And there was more bad news for Wigan as Erik Edman had to be stretchered off after twisting his left knee while blocking a header from Jason Roberts.
Michael Chopra's 83rd-minute strike gave Sunderland's hopes of avoiding relegation a lift as they recorded a one-goal victory at Aston Villa.
Tuncay Sanli gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 win over bottom side Derby with a superb goal from the edge of the penalty area in the 32nd minute.
Bolton lost further ground on their relegation rivals as they were held to a goalless draw by Manchester City at the Reebok Stadium.
In the day's early kick-off, Darren Bent came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining to inspire Tottenham to a 2-0 win over Portsmouth at White Hart Lane. Bent replaced Michael Dawson and gave Spurs the lead in the 80th minute when a scuffed shot from Dimitar Berbatov bounced into the path of Bent who headed home from close range.
Two minutes later, Spurs' record signing delivered a low cross from the left which fellow substitute Jamie O'Hara slotted into an empty net.
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