LONDON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea scored a less than comfortable 1-0 win at Charlton on Saturday to move back to within three points of Premiership leaders Manchester United.

The Blues could and should have won by more than just Frank Lampard's 18th minute drive - but Charlton went close in the second half as they threatened to dent the champions' title defence further.

Lampard's goal was an archetypal effort from the England star as he picked up the ball 20 yards from goal before firing into the bottom corner leaving Scott Carson helpless.

Bolton are now four points clear in sixth after they claimed a 1-0 win at bottom of the table Watford. Nicolas Anelka's goal just after the hour mark was enough for Sam Allardyce's men.

In a poor day for the bottom three, West Ham also lost - as they went down 1-0 at Aston Villa.

John Carew was the hero for the home side as he fired home on his Villa Park debut to seal the win. West Ham's miserable day was compounded by an injury in the first half to new signing Matthew Upson.

Wigan took full advantage of the results of the bottom three as they beat Portsmouth 1-0 at The JJB Stadium - which takes them five points clear of the drop zone.

The winner came from Lee McCulloch who stroked the ball home with just 20 minutes left to give Wigan's survival hopes a major boost.

Reading capitalised on Pompey's slip-up as they claimed a very good 2-0 triumph over Manchester City.

Leroy Lita had a first half effort ruled out very controversially, but he bounced back with two fine strikes in the second 45 to inflict defeat on City - who lost keeper Nicky Weaverto an injury midway through the first half.

Blackburn moved into the top half of the table as they secured a hard fought 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Ewood Park.

Morten Gamst Pedersen headed Rovers ahead, only for former Blackburn man Jon Stead to level moments alter.

Just when The Blades looked destined for a point, Pedersen struck again as he curled home a fantastic free-kick from the edge of the area.

Newcastle suffered their first league defeat of the year as they lost 2-1 to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Heidar Helguson latched onto an error from Nicky Butt to give his side the lead before Brian McBride fired home to seal the win. Obafemi Martins fired home in stoppage-time to give Newcastle a consolation.

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