In what was a depleted Premier League programme due to the FA Cup quarter-finals, league leaders Chelsea were once again the big winners.
Their 4-0 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur saw their advantage at the top of the table extended to seven points.
Elsewhere, Manchester United returned to winning ways at the expense of West Bromwich Albion, while Southampton collected a 1-0 win from their trip to Crystal Palace.
The division's bottom two sides met in Wales, and the contest ended in a 3-1 triumph for Cardiff City, but there was nothing to separate Norwich City and Stoke City, who drew 1-1 at Carrow Road.
With all that in mind, Sports Mole has picked out the 11 players who made the biggest impression on us.
John Ruddy (Norwich City)
He didn't have too much to do, but Ruddy was a commanding presence between the posts, particularly during the first half when he was forced into a handful of saves.
Rafael da Silva (Man United)
The Brazilian returned from injury to produce not only a positive defensive display, but he also added an extra dimension to United in an attacking sense. He saw a headed effort hit the bar and then he crossed for Wayne Rooney to score his team's second goal.
Steven Caulker (Cardiff City)
The centre-back did his work defensively, but his two-goal contribution could prove to be crucial for the Bluebirds come the end of the season.
Chris Smalling (Man United)
With Nemanja Vidic bound for Inter Milan, Smalling did his chances of replacing the Serbian next season no harm with a strong showing against the physical Victor Anichebe.
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Fresh from his first outing for England, 18-year-old Shaw's stock continued to rise with another mature performance for the Saints.
Craig Noone (Cardiff City)
The winger was restored to the Cardiff starting lineup and he made the most of his opportunity by sending a host of dangerous crosses into the Fulham penalty area.
Marouane Fellaini (Man United)
Fellaini has been ridiculed since his £28m move to Old Trafford, but he silenced the doubters with his best performance for United to date. He showed good positional sense on numerous occasions and was neat in possession.
Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City)
The Republic of Ireland international was the one player on the pitch at Carrow Road who showed a creative side. The drop in Norwich's domination was noticeable when he was substituted during the second half.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
He missed a straightforward chance during the first half, but the Belgian made amends after the restart as he scored a penalty, as well as being an all-round nuisance to the Spurs defence.
Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea)
Fernando Torres was meant to start at Stamford Bridge, but Eto'o was promoted after the Spaniard suffered an injury during the warm-up. He seized the opportunity by scoring the opening goal and then winning a penalty, which Hazard converted.
Jay Rodriguez (Southampton)
In scoring the only goal of the game against Palace, the England frontman showed great pace and bravery. After that, his constant running of the channels and harrying of the home defence earned him a number of plaudits.
Numpty of the week
Jan Vertonghen: Tottenham had kept things tight at Stamford Bridge for 55 minutes, but that hard work was undone by their Belgian defender. He slipped in possession in the left-back area, but instead of playing the ball out of play, he attempted to pass it back to his goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. He did so without looking, though, because Eto'o intercepted and then slid a shot underneath Lloris for the opening goal of the game.
Goal of the week
Danny Welbeck (West Brom vs. Man United): The Red Devils have not exactly been known for their free-flowing football this term, but there were signs of improvement against the Baggies. Their last goal involved 19 passes, the last eight of which were first-time touches. It was Rooney who released Welbeck and the striker took one touch before bending the ball beyond the reach of Ben Foster.
Liam Apicella
