Birmingham 0 Chelsea 0
Chelsea edged past London rivals Arsenal to go top of the Premiership tonight despite being held 0-0 at Birmingham City.
Claudio Ranieri's unbeaten side had arrived at St Andrews with a game in hand and needing just a draw to lead the table on goal difference.
They achieved that in a dour encounter to take them to 20 points from eight games, with a goal difference of 11 compared to Arsenal's 10.
Manchester United are one point back, also from eight games, with Birmingham moving past Fulham into fourth on 15.
Neither goalkeeper was really tested in the first half although Maik Taylor was the busier as Chelsea, starting with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Hernan Crespo up front, dominated possession.
Birmingham, however, unbeaten at home this season, remained solid at the back while leaving Christophe Dugarry as a lone threat up front.
Taylor saved them in 64th minute when he tipped a Hasselbaink shot around the post following a through ball from Frank Lampard. The keeper then denied the England midfielder with 11 minutes remaining by tipping his shot over the bar.