|
|||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sixth victory for rampant Chelsea
![]() Scorer Crespo is flying after helping Chelsea extend their 100 percent start LONDON, England -- Chelsea made it six wins from six games after Hernan Crespo and Arjen Robben guided the Premier League champions to a 2-0 victory at Charlton. Jose Mourinho's side, who have scored 12 and conceded no goals this season, hit the woodwork twice before Crespo headed them into a 55th minute lead. Robben curled in the second just five minutes later to seal the points. Chelsea's victory also secures a new Premier League record for clean sheets from the start of the season. Defeat for Charlton, who stay second in the table pending Sunday's games, was their first after having won all of their four previous league matches this season. West Ham won 2-1 at Fulham in the other London derby, Portsmouth were held 1-1 at home by 10-man Birmingham and there was heartbreak for Sunderland after West Bromwich Albion scored in the final seconds of stoppage time for a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, Tottenham had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa after their England striker Jermain Defoe missed a penalty in the day's late kickoff. Mourinho's assistant Steve Clarke said: "There are no comfortable victories in the Premier League. "The first half was an even game. At halftime we had a little word with the lads and asked them to step up a gear - and I think it showed in the second half that we were on top. "When you know you're in the ascendancy, you have to kill the game at that moment - and we did that." Charlton manger Alan Curbishley said: "We'll take it on the chin. We've been doing well and we start again on Tuesday in the League Cup game (against Hartlepool)." Crespo gave Charlton an early warning when the Argentine sent a 20th minute shot onto the post and France defender William Gallas hit the woodwork after the break. Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, on impressive form, picked out Crespo for their first goal, while Robben showed the range of the Dutch winger's skills with a superb shot for the second. West Ham striker Marlon Harewood, who scored a hat-trick in Monday's 4-0 win over Aston Villa, was their match-winner again at Craven Cottage. He scored a fine solo goal after 47 minutes and then saw a shot fly in off keeper Tony Warner as an own goal. Birmingham settled for a point at Fratton Park after having midfielder Nicky Butt dismissed just before the break for kicking out at Uruguayan striker Dario Silva. It was a very different point for Sunderland, who came within seconds of ending a run of five straight defeats with a morale-boosting win when Hungary midfielder Zoltan Gera headed West Brom's equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| © 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|