Chelsea Open Five-Point Gap with Man U Win

By Adeleke Afolayan
Chelsea this evening opened a five-point lead atop the Premier League table courtesy of an eventful lone goal win over champions Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The result drops the Red Devils to third on 25 points behind Arsenal, that have a game in hand, on goal difference while Chelsea now have 30 points and look in good stead for a run to the title.

United however had more of the ball in the first half with Darren Fletcher running the strings from the midfield but with Joe Cole's introduction in the second half; for his 250th league appearance on his 28th birthday, for Deco handed Chelsea the initiative which soon resulted in a goal 15 minutes from time through a glancing header from John Terry.

The goal was followed by a flurry of yellow cards as the tempers threatened to boil over but the Blues held on for a crucial win that extends United's winless run on its visit to the Bridge to seven years.

Heading into the international break, Arsenal continue to stake claim at a credible title challenge thanks to a 4-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers and maintain its impressive record in front of goal with 36 goals now scored in 11 league games.

Other results saw Manchester City fall to a fifth successive league draw in a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to 10th placed Burnley, dropping the Citizens to sixth on 20 points after Aston Villa's crushing 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers to rise to fifth with 21 points.

Tottenham Hotspur now occupies fourth thanks to a 2-0 win over Sunderland with Darren Bent losing a penalty against his old club while Blackburn Rovers came from a goal down to beat Portsmouth 3-1 and Hull City did same in defeating Stoke City 2-1 to ease the pressure on manager Phil Brown.