moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with
a 2-0 win over ten-man West Brom.
With second-placed Southampton not playing until
Monday night, Jose Mourinho's men took the opportunity
to extend their lead at the summit as they coasted to
victory against the Baggies at Stamford Bridge.
Diego Costa was afforded too much space in the box to fire
home his 11th goal of the season with just over ten minutes on
the clock, before Eden Hazard capitalised on more lax defending
to add a second inside 25 minutes.
West Brom's afternoon went from bad to worse just a few
minutes later as they were reduced to ten men, with Claudio
Yacob's two-footed lunge towards Costa deemed worthy of a
straight red card despite the defender appearing to make
contact with the ball.
It was a case of damage limitation for the visitors from that
moment on and they did well to stop Chelsea from adding to
their tally in the second half, although the home side appeared
happy to keep possession and see the game out.
Chelsea remain eight points ahead of third-placed Manchester
City, who came from behind to beat Swansea 2-1 at the Etihad
Stadium.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini warned his side they could not
afford to lose any more games in 2014 on the eve of the clash
with the Welsh club.
His players did not appear to get the message, though, as
Wilfried Bony celebrated signing a new contract earlier this
week by giving Swansea a shock lead inside ten minutes.
But City fought back to level through Stevan Jovetic on 19
minutes, before Yaya Toure clinched a much-needed victory for
the champions with a well-taken strike midway through the
second half.
Newcastle's remarkable run continues, meanwhile, as they
secured a fifth successive victory by beating QPR 1-0.
The Magpies couldn't buy a win at the start of the season and
supporters loudly called for manager Alan Pardew's dismissal.
But Pardew has overseen a remarkable turnaround in recent
weeks, and they are now up to fourth in the Premier League as
Moussa Sissoko's strike 12 minutes from time earned them all
three points against QPR.
The Hoops are now propping up the table, as Burnley beat Stoke
2-1 at the Britannia Stadium to move off the bottom.
The newly-promoted Clarets had failed to win any of their
opening ten games of the season but it is now back-to-back
victories for Sean Dyche's side.
Danny Ings' quick fire double early in the first half earned them
the win, with Jonathan Walters' strike proving a mere
consolation for the hosts.
Burnley are now level on points with 17th-placed Leicester, who
remain without a victory since September after being held to a
goalless draw at home to Sunderland.
And finally, West Ham's five-match unbeaten run was brought
to an end by Everton at Goodison Park.
Mauro Zarate had cancelled out Romelu Lukaku's fifth goal of
the season to level for the Hammers but Leon Osman marked
his 400th Everton appearance with the winning goal for the
home side.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
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