Manchester United's lead in the Premier League was cut to two points on Sunday after it lost to West Ham 1-0 and Chelsea came back to beat Everton 3-2.
Nigel Reo-Coker scored the winning goal in the 75th minute at Upton Park, giving Alan Curbishley a winning start as West Ham manager.
Chelsea twice rallied to beat Everton 3-2 -- needing an 87th-minute winner from Didier Drogba.
PHOTO: AFP
United leads the league with 44 points, two more than Chelsea. Liverpool is third with 31 points and Arsenal is fourth with 30.
Also, Tom Huddlestone and Calum Davenport scored a goal each to give Tottenham a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
Reo-Coker scored with a close-range shot after Marlon Harewood had played the ball back to him from the edge of the pitch.
Reo-Coker dedicated the victory to former manager Alan Pardew who was sacked last week.
"That one's for you, gaffer [Pardew]," the Hammers captain said. Reo-Coker has been widely criticised for a series of below par performances this season, and he admitted he has been feeling the pressure.
"It's been very difficult for me," he said. "People who know me know how stressed I've been. It's been a very stressful week for the whole squad. It's been a whirlwind. It's been a big challenge to make sure we were focused."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson remained upbeat.
"We're two points clear," he said. "It's not been a great day for us, but the championship is not decided in December."
"I'm happy with our form. I thought we played really well," Feguson said. "We've come at a time when there's been a great upsurge in energy and optimism. That happens with a new manager. If they played like that every week, they wouldn't be in the position they're in."
Drogba scored with a curling shot that went over the head of Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and came just moments after he had hit the post.
The goal came six minutes after Frank Lampard had equalized for the visitors.
Mikel Arteta gave Everton the lead with a 38th-minute penalty kick after Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz had brought down Victor Anichebe.
Michael Ballack then scored in the 49th minute with a curling free kick that bounced in off the post.
Joseph Yobo again put Everton ahead in the 64th, heading in a corner that got a slight deflection off Ballack's head. Lampard scored his long-range goal in the 81st.
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