LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Bolton Wanderers squandered a chance to leap into the Champions League places when they were held 1-1 at home by Everton while fourth-placed Arsenal drew 0-0 at Newcastle United, their fourth match without a win, in the Premier League on Monday.
Striker Kevin Davies put Bolton ahead in the 18th minute when he volleyed home Ivan Campo's free-kick but James Vaughan equalised for Everton in the 33rd minute.
However, 18-year-old Vaughan's joy turned to despair when he was taken to hospital after severing an artery in his left leg after a challenge from Abdoulaye Meite.
Arsenal stay two points ahead of Bolton on 56 while leaders Manchester United, who have 78 points, second-placed champions Chelsea, on 75, and Liverpool, who have 60, prepared for Champions League quarterfinal, second leg matches this week.
At St James' Park, Arsenal ended a run of three consecutive defeats but they have only scored once now in four games.
"At end of day it was important not to lose," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "If you want to improve your confidence it's not a bad result."
Newcastle defender Nolberto Solano twice saved on the line from Gilberto Silva in a goalmouth scramble near the end of a second half that began with James Milner hitting the Arsenal bar with a swerving cross from well out on the right.
Manchester City passed their relegation worries to Fulham with a surprise 3-1 win in London, their third away in succession, to climb to 12th on 40 points. Fulham, on 35, are only four points above the drop zone.
Wigan Athletic's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa left them three points above the relegation zone. Wigan played with 10 men for 56 minutes after Ecuador's Luis Antonio Valencia was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Villa's Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma.
Bottom club Watford claimed their biggest victory of the season, 4-2 at home to Portsmouth, but it has almost certainly come too late to help them avoid relegation.
Adrian Boothroyd's side won for just the fourth time in the Premiership this season thanks to a double strike from Hameur Bouazza and goals from Gavin Mahon and Tamas Priskin.
Matt Taylor had given Portsmouth an early lead but Harry Redknapp's team showed no stomach for a fight and Arnold Mvuemba's late goal was no consolation for the visitors.
Watford, eight points from safety, are still likely to suffer a quick a return to the Championship after just one season in English football's top division.
Portsmouth arrived on a high after their win over leaders Manchester United on Saturday and took the lead in the 16th minute through Taylor.
He controlled Gary O'Neil's pass 25 yards out and had time to assess his options before curling a shot past Hornets keeper Ben Foster.
Watford snatched an equalizer after 27 minutes.
Priskin provided the opportunity by winning a penalty when he stumbled under Djimi Traore's challenge after cutting in from the byline.
After a debate among the Watford players over who should take the penalty, Bouazza stepped up to send David James the wrong way.
Watford then went ahead through Mahon's stunning strike on the stroke of half-time.
James punched Tommy Smith's cross out to the edge of the area, but Mahon latched on to the loose ball and drove a fierce half-volley for his first goal of the season.
Watford extended their lead with a well-worked goal after 51 minutes. Bouazza slipped a pass to Steve Kabba on the left and the striker whipped in a cross to the far post, where Priskin sent his shot back past James into the opposite corner.
Bouazza got his second in the 73rd minute when he played a one-two with Kabba and beat James from close range at the second attempt.
Mvuemba got one back for Portsmouth with his first goal following his loan move from Rennes. The French midfielder turned and lashed a shot into the roof of the net after 81 minutes, but there was never any chance of a late comeback.
Meanwhile, in the night match, Charlton claimed another point in their battle against relegation with a 0-0 draw against Reading.
The result leaves the south London side fourth bottom of the table, a point ahead of Sheffield United -- who have a game in hand.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Striker Kevin Davies put Bolton ahead in the 18th minute when he volleyed home Ivan Campo's free-kick but James Vaughan equalised for Everton in the 33rd minute.
However, 18-year-old Vaughan's joy turned to despair when he was taken to hospital after severing an artery in his left leg after a challenge from Abdoulaye Meite.
Arsenal stay two points ahead of Bolton on 56 while leaders Manchester United, who have 78 points, second-placed champions Chelsea, on 75, and Liverpool, who have 60, prepared for Champions League quarterfinal, second leg matches this week.
At St James' Park, Arsenal ended a run of three consecutive defeats but they have only scored once now in four games.
"At end of day it was important not to lose," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "If you want to improve your confidence it's not a bad result."
Newcastle defender Nolberto Solano twice saved on the line from Gilberto Silva in a goalmouth scramble near the end of a second half that began with James Milner hitting the Arsenal bar with a swerving cross from well out on the right.
Manchester City passed their relegation worries to Fulham with a surprise 3-1 win in London, their third away in succession, to climb to 12th on 40 points. Fulham, on 35, are only four points above the drop zone.
Wigan Athletic's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa left them three points above the relegation zone. Wigan played with 10 men for 56 minutes after Ecuador's Luis Antonio Valencia was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Villa's Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma.
Bottom club Watford claimed their biggest victory of the season, 4-2 at home to Portsmouth, but it has almost certainly come too late to help them avoid relegation.
Adrian Boothroyd's side won for just the fourth time in the Premiership this season thanks to a double strike from Hameur Bouazza and goals from Gavin Mahon and Tamas Priskin.
Matt Taylor had given Portsmouth an early lead but Harry Redknapp's team showed no stomach for a fight and Arnold Mvuemba's late goal was no consolation for the visitors.
Watford, eight points from safety, are still likely to suffer a quick a return to the Championship after just one season in English football's top division.
Portsmouth arrived on a high after their win over leaders Manchester United on Saturday and took the lead in the 16th minute through Taylor.
He controlled Gary O'Neil's pass 25 yards out and had time to assess his options before curling a shot past Hornets keeper Ben Foster.
Watford snatched an equalizer after 27 minutes.
Priskin provided the opportunity by winning a penalty when he stumbled under Djimi Traore's challenge after cutting in from the byline.
After a debate among the Watford players over who should take the penalty, Bouazza stepped up to send David James the wrong way.
Watford then went ahead through Mahon's stunning strike on the stroke of half-time.
James punched Tommy Smith's cross out to the edge of the area, but Mahon latched on to the loose ball and drove a fierce half-volley for his first goal of the season.
Watford extended their lead with a well-worked goal after 51 minutes. Bouazza slipped a pass to Steve Kabba on the left and the striker whipped in a cross to the far post, where Priskin sent his shot back past James into the opposite corner.
Bouazza got his second in the 73rd minute when he played a one-two with Kabba and beat James from close range at the second attempt.
Mvuemba got one back for Portsmouth with his first goal following his loan move from Rennes. The French midfielder turned and lashed a shot into the roof of the net after 81 minutes, but there was never any chance of a late comeback.
Meanwhile, in the night match, Charlton claimed another point in their battle against relegation with a 0-0 draw against Reading.
The result leaves the south London side fourth bottom of the table, a point ahead of Sheffield United -- who have a game in hand.
Copyright 2007 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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