Bolton beat Boro to climb out of bottom three

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - Bolton Wanderers secured a priceless three points in their bid to escape relegation on Saturday, winning 1-0 at Middlesbrough.

Gavin McCann struck after the break at the Riverside to take Wanderers out of the relegation zone, above Birmingham City and Reading, who had earlier lost 2-0 at Arsenal.

Reading could find themselves in the relegation zone on Sunday should Birmingham beat Aston Villa.

While Bolton earned a second consecutive 1-0 victory to claw themselves towards safety, things were looking grim for Fulham who lost 2-0 at home to a below-strength Liverpool.

Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch, both of whom are unlikely to start in Liverpool's Champions League semi-final, first leg against Chelsea next week, were on target to leave Fulham five points from the safety zone with three games to play.

Liverpool are now eight points clear of fifth-placed Everton and on target for a Champions League qualifying place next season.

Wigan Athletic edged a point nearer survival with a 1-1 draw at home to mid-table Tottenham Hotspur while relegated Derby County went down 2-1 at West Ham United.

With just one win and 11 points Derby are on course to become the worst team in Premier League history.