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No stopping Chelsea as Birmingham hold Man Utd
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-29 11:10
LONDON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Chelsea extended their Premier League lead to 11
points after Joe Cole earned the champions a 1-0 win over Manchester City and
rivals Manchester United were held 2-2 by Birmingham City on Wednesday.
Chelsea's Joe Cole
blasts a shot past Manchester City's Jihai Sun (L) during a Premiereship
match at The City Of Manchester Stadium, in Manchester. Chelsea won 1-0.
[AFP] |
European champions Liverpool ran out
3-1 winners over Everton, who finished with nine men, in the Merseyside derby at
Goodison Park to close within four points of United.
There were plenty of goals in London where Arsenal crushed Portsmouth 4-0,
Fulham drew 3-3 with Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic beat West Ham 2-0. West
Bromwich Albion were surprise 2-0 winners over Tottenham Hotspur at the
Hawthorns.
Chelsea, whose only league defeat last season came at the City of Manchester
Stadium, had to wait until the 79th minute for the matchwinning tap-in from Cole
after an Eidur Gudjohnsen shot was parried.
"It's probably the toughest game we've had all season," Cole told Sky Sports.
"But we passed the ball well and in the end we deserved to win... and it was
a great win tonight, especially with Manchester United dropping points."
Cole's fellow England midfielder Frank Lampard missed the match due to
illness, meaning his record for consecutive Premier League games has ended at
164.
It was a frustrating night for Alex Ferguson's United, who led twice against
Birmingham through Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy and England strike partner Wayne
Rooney.
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