David Dunn, Damien Duff and Andy Cole scored the goals as Rovers' 3-0 victory over Villa at Ewood moved them to within a point of safety.
Under-fire Sunderland boss Peter Reid was boosted by his side's 1-0 home win over fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers, courtesy of a Jason McAteer goal. The victory kept Sunderland five points clear of the bottom three, but left Bolton in deep trouble, level with Ipswich on 30 points but having played two games more.
There was more good news for Town fans as a Robert Pires effort at Highbury proved enough to take Arsenal to the top of the table, leaving opponents Derby second from bottom and four points adrift of safety.
| 14 | West Ham United | 28 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 37 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 31 | 44 | 34 | -13 | ||||
| 15 | Everton | 28 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 27 | 34 | 30 | -7 | ||||
| 16 | Ipswich Town | 27 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 19 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 35 | 43 | 30 | -8 | ||||
| 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 29 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 22 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 31 | 44 | 30 | -13 | ||||
| 18 | Blackburn Rovers | 28 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 36 | 37 | 29 | -1 | ||||
| 19 | Derby County | 29 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 29 | 7 | 5 | 17 | 23 | 46 | 26 | -23 | ||||
| 20 | Leicester City | 28 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 24 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 18 | 50 | 17 | -32 | ||||