Two struggling teams showed why they are hovering above the relegation zone in a game with little constructive football and few clear chances. Blackburn's few good efforts were well dealt with by Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly while Andy Johnson clipped a post with a rare opportunity for the home side. The game ended in a flurry of fouls and shoves, Blackburn midfielder David Thompson being sent off after picking up two yellow cards within three minutes.

As if the season had not started well enough for Everton, they chalked up their first derby win in five years and first at home in seven to bring Liverpool down to earth after their Champions League heroics on Wednesday.

It was the 200th Merseyside derby but not one of the most memorable as a scrappy game was settled by Lee Carsley's well-placed shot from the edge of the box after 68 minutes with Everton defending stoutly from then on.

Tottenham made it three league wins in a row but City made it easy for them with another limp display in front of their own fans.

Rohan Ricketts and Robbie Keane missed good chances for Spurs in the first half but Freddie Kanoute showed them the way to finish with a spectacular shot from outside the box 12 minutes after the break.

Newcastle dominated the first half but ran out of ideas and were booed of the pitch. Lee Bowyer put Newcastle ahead after three minutes with a first-time shot from the edge of the box and they missed several chances to increase the lead.

Portsmouth, barely out of their own half in the first half, equalised in the 30th minute with a deflected Steve Stone shot and from then on made things tougher for the home side, who became frustrated and lost their way.

Norwich twice came from behind to claim their second win of the season thanks to two goals from Mathias Svensson and a man of the match performance by on-loan Arsenal forward David Bentley.

Bolton went ahead in the 19th minute with a penalty by Jay Jay Okocha after Gary Docherty had handled but Norwich equalised almost from the restart when Bentley crossed for Svensson to convert.

Bolton regained the lead with a powerful header by Fernando Hierro from a corner in the 23rd minute but Norwich levelled again with their own penalty in the 69th minute as Bentley was brought down and Darren Huckerby converted.

Bentley completed a great day with a killer pass to feed Svensson for the winner six minutes from time.

Harry Redknapp looked to be off to a flying start as Southampton boss as his new club led 2-0, only for Middlesbrough to claim a point with two goals in the last two minutes.

Kevin Phillips's flashing header late in the first half had Saints ahead and after Antti Niemi made a brilliant save from Stewart Downing to keep the lead intact after 63 minutes, Peter Crouch made it 2-0 with a brave header.

But Boro threw everything forward and earned a point when Danny Higginbottom glanced a header into his own net and Downing lashed in a long-range low equaliser. West Brom are even further adrift at the bottom after another home defeat. The only goal came after 30 minutes when Matt Holland drove in a low shot from the edge of the box.

West Brom piled on the pressure in the second half without ever looking like turning the game round.