Premier League leaders Chelsea suffered their third defeat of the season on Sunday with Fulham winning a pulsating west London derby 1-0 to ease their relegation fears.
The champions threw everything at Fulham after defender Paulo Ferreira's clearance had cannoned against Luis Boa Morte's knee to beat Petr Cech on 17 minutes but were repelled time and again by Chris Coleman's side.
French defender William Gallas was sent off in stoppage time as Chelsea's frustrations, raised after Didier Drogba's goal had been controversially ruled out, boiled over in a touchline melee.
Hundreds of Fulham fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle, which could land the club in trouble with the FA.
The leaders remain on 75 points from 30 games, 12 ahead of Manchester United who have a game in hand.
Earlier, third-placed Liverpool cruised to a 3-1 win at Newcastle United, who had defender Jean-Alain Boumsong sent off six minutes after halftime.
Fulham, beating Chelsea for the first time in 26 years, moved up to 14th after ending a run of four successive defeats.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said his side were confident of securing a second successive title even if United won their game in hand.
"Nine points is better for them (United) than 12 and will maybe give them hope. I think nine points with eight matches to go is a very comfortable situation for us," Mourinho told Sky Sports.
The coach, so unhappy with his side's display in the first half hour that he took off Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips and introduced Drogba and Damien Duff, was left fuming when Ivory Coast striker Drogba had a goal ruled out just as Chelsea were building up a head of steam.
Drogba shot into an unguarded net after 58 minutes but was penalised for controlling the ball with his hand, referee Mike Dean denying the striker after a long consultation with his assistant.
"Everybody says it was handball, so the decision was correct," he said. "But I can promise you the linesman did not see it.
"They did it (disallowed the goal) not because what they saw but because of the pressure on them and because of the reaction of the Fulham players."
FIERCE DRIVE
Fulham, unlucky not to gain an early penalty when John Terry appeared to scythe down Moritz Volz, were buoyed by Boa Morte's goal as they harried their opponents in midfield and denied their wingers space.
Duff did test Mark Crossley with a fierce angled drive but Chelsea were also grateful to Petr Cech for denying Collins John just before the break.
The second half, apart from a Mark Pembridge free kick, was all Chelsea but they found Fulham's defenders and Crossley in inspired form, epitomised when Crossley tipped away Terry's goalbound header at the death.
Fulham coach Coleman, reportedly under pressure to keep his job after his side's slump, said he had been confident of upsetting the leaders.
"We thought maybe, just maybe if we got the lads dug in, and produced an outstanding performance, that we could get a result. It all fell into place for us," he said.
Well-taken goals from Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard put Liverpool on their way to a comprehensive win over Newcastle at St James Park.
Crouch headed home a Jan Kromkamp cross after 10 minutes and Gerrard ended a flowing move with a second.
Shola Ameobi replied late in the first half for Newcastle but their hopes of a fightback were hit when Boumsong earned a straight red for hauling down Crouch six minutes after the break. French striker Djibril Cisse made it 3-1 from the penalty spot.
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