West Ham beat Blues as Watford go down

West Ham United's hopes of remaining in the Premiership have received a boost after Alan Curbishley's men beat Everton 1-0 at Upton Park on the day Watford's relgation was confirmed.

Adrian Boothroyd's Hornets will make an immediate return to the Championship despite holding Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road after Tamas Priskin cancelled out Darius Vassell's 53rd-minute opener which came after a blunder by goalkeeper Ben Foster.

But the battle to avoid the remaining two relegation places is truly on after the Hammers picked up three vital points against David Moyes' Europe chasers thanks to Bobby Zamora's 11th goal of the season on 13 minutes at Upton Park.

Curbishley's men are now just three points off the relative safety of 17th-placed Sheffield United after Neil Warnock's men were held to a 1-1 draw at 18th-placed Charlton Athletic.

Talal El Karkouri looked to have put the Addicks on course to pick up three vital points just before the hour-mark only for Jonathan Stead to level the relegation six-pointer at The Valley with his fourth goal since joining the visitors during the January transfer window.

The Blades are now level with Wigan Athletic on 35 points after Dirk Kuyt's brace was enough to consign Paul Jewell's Latics to a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool, who have moved four points clear of Arsenal in the battle for third place.

Fulham, who are a point better off than both Sheffield United and Wigan, missed out on the chance to put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom four.

The Cottagers had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers after Benni McCarthy's 21st goal of the season cancelled out Vincenzo Montella's tenth-minute opener.

Meanwhile, Reading have boosted their chances of playing European for the first time next season after Steve Coppell's Royals came from behind to win 3-1 at Bolton Wanderers thanks to a Kevin Doyle brace.

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