Chelsea keep title bid alive; BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE.

CHELSEA'S Michael Ballack kept his cool to keep the Barclays Premier League title race alive with a late penalty winner against Manchester United.

Ballack struck from the spot six minutes from time at Stamford Bridge - his second goal of the afternoon - to secure a 2-1 win after a handball by Michael Carrick.

The win puts Chelsea level on points with the champions at the top but United, who had equalised through Wayne Rooney, retain a significant advantage on goal difference with two games remaining.

At the opposite end of the table, Fulham kept their slender hopes of beating relegation alive by coming from 2-0 down to beat Manchester City 3-2 in the last minute.

The Cottagers had looked closer to trap door after a superb Stephen Ireland strike from the edge of the box and a second City goal from Benjani.

But Roy Hodgson's men hit back late on with Diomansy Kamara shooting through the legs of Joe Hart 20 minutes from time and Danny Murphy then fired in a penalty rebound after his spot-kick was saved.

There was still time for a winner and Kamara grabbed it in dramatic fashion just seconds from time after more good work from Murphy.

Bolton and Reading remain on the fringes of the drop zone after drawing at Tottenham and Wigan.

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Bolton went ahead in the first minute of the second half at White Hart Lane when Stelios Giannakopoulos bundled home from close range from a Gretar Steinsson cross.

But Steed Malbranque ran in to level six minutes later.

Reading's clash at the JJB Stadium ended goalless.

Sunderland secured their Premier League status with an eventful 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough - who are not yet safe - at the Stadium of Light.

Tuncay Sanli put Boro ahead with a powerful left-foot shot after just four minutes but Sunderland were level moments later through Danny Higginbotham.

Michael Chopra put the hosts ahead on the stroke of halftime but Julio Arca played in Afonso Alves for a 73rd-minute Boro equaliser.

The game was settled in the final minute when Emanuel Pogatetz put through his own goal.

Newcastle hit back from 2-0 down to claim a point from their mid-table clash with West Ham at Upton Park.

Mark Noble opened the scoring after good work on the left from George McCartney in the 10th minute and Dean Ashton added a second from a tight angle with 23 gone.

But Obafemi Martins pulled one back three minutes before the break and Geremi followed up with another.