Sunderland did their chances of survival the power of good with a vital 1-0 win over Hull at the Stadium of Light.

Djibril Cisse scored the goal which gave Ricky Sbragia's side their first win for eight games and moved them up two places to 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone.

The Tigers had looked the likelier to score in the first half, Kevin Kilbane missing their best chance with a header from Geovanni's cross which brought a great save out of Craig Gordon.

But after soaking up the pressure, the hosts broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, Cisse sending a powerful header past Gordon from Andy Reid's cross.

Stoke on the other hand look safe after Liam Lawrence's second-half strike gave them all three points against Blackburn.

Lawrence collected the ball from Danny Higginbotham's flick-on with 15 minutes remaining , turned Gael Givet inside out and fired past Paul Robinson to move the Potters eight points clear of the bottom three.

Hull and Blackburn are now 16th and 17th receptively, both three points above the drop zone with the same goal difference.

Portsmouth can breathe a little easier after snatching a late win of their own over Bolton.

Veteran striker Kanu came off the bench in the last 20 minutes and bundled the ball over the line with almost his first touch to give them a victory which moves Paul Hart's team six points clear of the relegation places.

Middlesbrough remain in the bottom three after their former keeper Mark Schwarzer kept them at bay in a goalless draw with Fulham at the Riverside.

At the other end of the table, Aston Villa wasted the chance to capitalise on Arsenal's Wembley date with Chelsea after being held to a 1-1 draw against West Ham.

Martin O'Neill's side are now seven points behind the Gunners and the Champions League places after Diego Tristan's header five minutes from time equalised Emile Heskey's early strike.

Villa went ahead after 10 minutes when Heskey converted James Milner's pass from close range and should have extended their lead as the game went on.

But the Hammers rode their luck and came away with a point after Tristan diverted Keiron Dyer's shot past Brad Friedel.