Chelsea move clear as United held

Premier League round-up: A Manchester derby that promised so much delivered precious little as City and United ground out a …

Premier League round-up:A Manchester derby that promised so much delivered precious little as City and United ground out a goalless stalemate at Eastlands. At least for Roberto Mancini's men there was no injury-time heartache after suffering three such defeats last term.

For United, who controlled long periods, their unbeaten run in all competitions now stretches to 25 games. In truth, the result only suited Chelsea, giving credence to Mancini’s belief that these warring factions are actually scrapping for second spot at best.

United old-boy Carlos Tevez came closest to scoring with a first-half free-kick that was clawed out by Edwin van der Sar, the visitors left to lament those wasteful days at Fulham and Everton earlier in the season which mean they are now four points adrift of the leaders.

As the virus that has swept through the United camp had eased sufficiently for all bar Ryan Giggs to report for duty, Ferguson must have been quite pleased with his selection.

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Giggs’ loss was significant in the sense it robbed this edition of an old-fashioned blood and thunder Mancunian set-to of a constant presence since his debut, 33 games ago in 1991. As it turned out, this was a good one to miss.

One decent chance did come their way in the first half, when one of a number of neat passing moves ended with Park Ji-sung feeding a ball into the City box for Patrice Evra to chase.

Had Evra been able to step round Kolo Toure and shoot with his left foot, the hosts would have been in trouble. As it was, the Frenchman had to let fly with his right and Joe Hart made a comfortable save.

For their part, City were equally bereft, which was frustrating for supporters, who clearly expected more of Yaya Toure in particular given the frustration they expressed every time their big-money summer signing from Barcelona wasted possession, as he seemed to do quite frequently.

It was United old-boy Carlos Tevez who came closest to breaking the deadlock though, after Paul Scholes had bundled Milner over on the edge of the area. Tevez quickly made it clear the free-kick would be his responsibility and only its relative lack of pace allowed Edwin van der Sar to claw the ball out as it headed for the far corner.

The pattern continued after the restart, with Berbatov getting his clearest sight of goal, albeit with his back to it as he hooked Wes Brown’s cross goalwards without being able to test Hart.

Tevez threatened twice at the other end, the first time with a shot that Van der Sar gathered easily, the second a burst that ended with a dismal miscontrol and the ball bobbling out for a goal kick.

It was that type of match really, with Tevez too isolated and David Silva too far below his potential for City to become the sum of their expensively-assembled parts.

Michael Essien's first-half header was enough to give 10-man Chelseaa 1-0 victory over west London rivals Fulhamand keep them top of the table. Florent Malouda's pinpoint cross into the six-yard box was met firmly by the Ghanaian midfielder, who planted the ball into the bottom corner.

However, Essien was shown a red card in the final moment of injury-time for a two-footed lunge on Clint Dempsey. Salomon Kalou wasted three gilt-edged chances to increase Chelsea’s lead and the leaders had goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank late on when he tipped Dempsey’s 25-yard shot over the bar.

Chelsea were quickly on top in the opening exchanges as Fulham struggled to get the ball off their hosts. The Blues earned a succession of corners but failed to take advantage of their early superiority.

Didier Drogba tested Schwarzer in the 28th minute with an angled 30-yard free-kick before Chelsea broke the deadlock on the half-hour when Kalou’s cross was headed down and into the net by Essien. Chelsea continued to threaten but the final ball was often poor, much to the consternation of coach Carlo Ancelotti on the touchline.

Chelsea should have added a second in the 55th minute Kalou when waltzed through the Fulham defence only to see his shot half-saved by Schwarzer. That did enough to take the pace off the ball and, as it rolled towards the net, Aaron Hughes ran back to clear off the line.

Chelsea continued to pile forward and Essien put Drogba clear but the Ivory Coast striker hesitated enough for Fulham to clear the danger. Chelsea then had three successive chances to score. First Malouda’s shot was saved by Schwarzer and then Mikel’s shot on the rebound was again punched clear by the Fulham goalkeeper.

And Chelsea’s evening was marred by a straight red for Essien for a two-footed lunge on Dempsey in the final minute of injury time.

Two-goal Marouane Chamakh got Arsenalback on the winning trail against gallant Wolvesat Molineux. Chamakh struck after only 39 seconds when he headed in a cross from Alex Song and wrapped up the 2-0 victory in injury-time.

It was the perfect riposte after their shock home reversal against Newcastle and kept Mick McCarthy’s side in the bottom three.

The Gunners threatened to run away with the game in the early stages with their one touch football. Wolves were indebted to keeper Marcus Hahnemann for keeping them in the hunt during that period.

But they hauled themselves back into contention via the creativity of Nenad Milijas and the endeavour of Stephen Hunt. Arsenal got off to the perfect start through Chamakh’s seventh goal of the campaign.

Song made a break down the right before delivering a probing cross — and Chamakh was first to react in sending his header past Marcus Hahnemann into the corner of the net.

Wolves started to get a foothold in the game and Kevin Doyle, without a league goal this season, came close to putting them on level terms after 28 minutes. Hunt floated in an inswinging free-kick from the right flank and Doyle’s back header was only inches too high with Fabianski scrambling across his goal.

Wolves came close to emulating Arsenal’s quickfire start to the first half in the opening minute of the second period. Jarvis’ low ball across the six yard box was met by Milijas but Sagna made a crucial block to deny him the equaliser.

Doyle almost rescued a point for Wolves late on when his low shot flew inches wide but in the dying seconds Chamakh wrapped up the points with a clinical piece of finishing.

Liverpool'sfour-match winning run was halted by a lively Wiganwho earned a 1-1 draw at the DW Stadium as Roy Hodgson's side faded badly after taking an early lead. Despite being given an early advantage by Fernando Torres' third goal in four days, the visitors lost their grip on the game midway through the first half and never regained it.

Wigan equalised through Hugo Rodallega in the 52nd minute and finished the better side as the Merseysiders appeared to feel the exertions of beating Chelsea on Sunday. That will be a concern to manager Hodgson, who has complained about the depth of quality in his squad, with a trip to Stoke next up on Saturday.

The draw meant Liverpool missed the chance to move into the top five — a scenario which seemed a distant prospect just a few weeks ago with the Reds mired in the relegation zone until they put together three league wins to add to a victory in Europe.

Substitute Jason Roberts brought Newcastle'swinning run to a shuddering halt to hand Blackburnboss Sam Allardyce a 2-1 victory on his return to St James' Park. Roberts scored for the second time in as many games to condemn the Magpies to a third home defeat of the season following wins for Blackpool and Stoke on Tyneside, and their sixth in as many attempts by Rovers.

Andy Carroll looked to have snatched at least a point for the home side with a towering 47th-minute to further enhance his England credentials, after Morten Gamst Pedersen had given Rovers a third-minute lead.

But on a night when midfielder Joey Barton once again found himself at the centre of controversy when he seemed to catch Pedersen with a hand as he ran past him, it was Allardyce who had the last laugh.

James Collins grabbed an 89th-minute winner to finally see off gutsy Blackpool3-2 and end Aston Villa'sfive-match winless league run in the Barclays Premier League. Tangerines boss Ian Holloway made 10 changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Everton at the weekend but they were arguably the better team before Stewart Downing put the hosts ahead with a deflected shot in the 28th minute.

Villa old boy Marlon Harewood levelled just before half-time and, after Nathan Delfouneso had netted his first of the season on the hour mark, DJ Campbell stunned Villa Park with Blackpool’s second three minutes from time. But Villa went straight down the other end and secured the three points through Collins’ header.

Jermaine Beckford hit a brilliant late equaliser as 10-man Evertonsnatched a point with at 1-1 draw against Bolton.The Toffees were destined for their first defeat in seven games when the former Leeds striker fired over Jussi Jaaskelainen deep into injury time at Goodison Park.

Ivan Klasnic had come off the bench to give Bolton the lead 11 minutes from time and worse followed as Marouane Fellaini was sent off for kicking Paul Robinson. The Belgian, returning to the side after four games out, could have few complaints as frustration appeared to be getting the better of Everton.

The hosts had squandered a number of chances to take the lead, many of them through the returning Louis Saha, as manager David Moyes’ complaints about a lack of goals again rang true. But Bolton, who also hit bar through Matt Taylor moments before Klasnic’s effort, could not hang on for a win that could have taken them fifth.

West Hamwere once again left frustrated and remain bottom of the league as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Bromat Upton Park. Peter Odemwingie had put the Baggies in front from the penalty spot in the 38th minute.

However, Scott Parker smashed in a 25-yard effort to level before the break and Frederic Piquionne put the Hammers ahead from the spot at the start of the second half — only for Pablo Ibanez to deny Avram Grant’s men a much-needed first league win since September 25th.