Football: Blues go five clear

LONDON: Chelsea moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after John Terry’s late goal clinched a 1-0 win over champions Manchester United at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who have now equalled a club record of 11 successive home wins, edged a fiercely contested encounter when Blues captain Terry struck in the 76th minute from a disputed free-kick.

United, beaten for the third time this season, had a first half penalty appeal turned down when Terry tugged Antonio Valencia’s shirt.

Wayne Rooney went close after the break but Chelsea won it in the 76th minute when referee Martin Atkinson ruled that Darren Fletcher’s challenge on Ashley Cole was worthy of a foul.

Frank Lampard curled in the set-piece and Terry timed his run perfectly to glance a header past Edwin van der Sar into the far corner.

Either way, Chelsea were undeniably fortunate to take all three points after a contest that a depleted United side had controlled for long periods.

With a virtually full strength squad to pick from, Ancelotti resolved his one selection issue by opting for Deco rather than Joe Cole at the sharp end of his midfield diamond.

Sir Alex Ferguson, in contrast, had his options limited by the absence of the injured Dimitar Berbatov, although the United manager may well have, in any case, opted to start with Wayne Rooney as a lone striker ahead of a five-man midfield.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink eased the pressure on Hull manager Phil Brown as his stoppage time strike clinched a crucial 2-1 win against 10-man Stoke.

Brown has been fighting to save his job after presiding over a woeful run of just three wins in 33 league games, but he can sleep a little easier after Dutch striker Vennegoor of Hesselink capped a spirited fightback.

Newly appointed Tigers chairman Adam Pearson has been publicly supportive of Brown, yet only positive results could save him from the axe.

So when Matthew Etherington gave Stoke a first half lead at the KC Stadium, Brown must have feared the worst.

However, Hull’s Nigeria midfielder Seyi Olofinjana scored a superb equaliser against his former club before Stoke’s Abdoulaye Faye was sent off in the closing stages for two bookings.

That was the signal for a late Hull barrage of pressure and Vennegoor of Hesselink was on hand to turn in the winner from Jimmy Bullard’s shot and lift the Tigers out of the relegation zone.

West Ham meanwhile dropped back into the drop zone after goals from Louis Saha and Dan Gosling secured a 2-1 victory for Everton at Upton Park.

Toffees defender Tony Hibbert helped a Junior Stanislas effort into his own net immediately after Gosling had put Everton two up in the 64th minute but the Hammers were unable to find an equaliser despite late pressure.

It was Everton’s first win in four league games and brought an abrupt end to West Ham’s hopes of extending their recent run of three league games without defeat.

Clint Dempsey kept his nerve to score the penalty that helped Fulham to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Wigan at the DW Stadium.

Roy Hodgson’s team fell behind to Emmerson Boyce’s early goal, but American midfielder Dempsey won and converted a spot-kick before half-time to ensure Fulham remain one point ahead of the Latics in mid-table. — Agencies