Gallas wins London derby for Chelsea

France defender William Gallas smashed home a superb stoppage-time winner to give champions Chelsea a 2-1 victory over Tottenham in yesterday's London derby.

Chelsea, knocked out of the Champions League's last 16 in midweek, took a deserved lead through Ghana midfielder Michael Essien after 14 minutes.

Midfielder Jermaine Jenas equalised just before half-time but Gallas blasted in a curling shot from 25 metres in the second minute of stoppage time to secure the points for the Premier League leaders.

Victory moved Jose Mourinho's side ever closer to retaining their title. They have 75 points and an 18-point lead over Manchester United, who have two games in hand.

There were comfortable wins for Bolton, who trounced West Ham 4-1, and Everton who beat Fulham 3-1, while Blackburn rode their luck in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

Blackburn's win hoisted Mark Hughes's side into fifth place in an increasingly tight race for the final Champions League qualifying slot, currently held by Spurs.

Bottom club Sunderland's first game under caretaker manager Kevin Ball ended in a 1-0 home defeat by Wigan Athletic.

Sunderland look all but doomed, Birmingham City remain in the drop zone after drawing 1-1 with West Brom but second from bottom Portsmouth kept their survival hopes alive with a stoppage-time winner to beat Manchester City 2-1.

Chelsea are still bidding for a domestic double with an FA Cup quarter-final against Newcastle to come on March 22.

Looking back to their European exit at the Nou Camp, Chelsea captain John Terry said: "Everyone was disappointed but we've all picked ourselves up in training in the week.

"After a bad week, we're buzzing and everyone's happy. We've still got a great chance of the double."

Yesterday's game was preceded by a minute of respect for former striker Peter Osgood, who died on March 1, with Chelsea players of the 1960s and 1970s gathered on the centre circle.

Spurs have not beaten Chelsea in the league since 1990 and the defeat risks loosening Tottenham's hold on a place in the Champions League qualifiers.

Down in the relegation zone, an equaliser by substitute Nathan Ellington kept West Brom in 17th place on 27 points - three clear of Birmingham.

Though his side remain in the drop zone, City manager Steve Bruce was relieved to have taken a point.

"Analysing it for us defensively - it was a shocking afternoon for us," he said. "We just couldn't defend properly at all... we've probably had more luck this afternoon than we've had all season."

Portsmouth's luck looked to have run out after Richard Dunne's 83rd minute equaliser for City but Pedro Mendes struck a glorious goal, his second of the day, to move Harry Redknapp's men on to 21 points.

Playing Today

Arsenal-Liverpool 5 p.m.
Charlton-Middlesbrough 4 p.m.
Manchester Utd-Newcastle 2.30 p.m.

Premier Scorers

19 goals van Nistelrooy (Man. Utd)
17 goals Henry (Arsenal)
14 goals Lampard (Chelsea)
13 goals Yakubu (M'boro), D. Bent (Charlton), Harewood (West Ham)

Upcoming fixtures...

Tuesday: FA Cup fifth round replay 8.45 p.m. Man. City vs Aston Villa.

Wednesday: FA Cup fifth round replay 9.05 p.m. West Ham vs Bolton. Premier League 9 p.m. Liverpool vs Fulham.

Saturday: Premier League 1.45 p.m. Everton vs Aston Villa. 4 p.m. Arsenal vs Charlton; Blackburn vs Middlesbrough; Bolton vs Sunderland; Manchester City vs Wigan Athletic; West Brom vs Manchester United; West Ham vs Portsmouth. 6.15 p.m. Birmingham vs Tottenham.

Sunday: Premier League 2.30 p.m. Newcastle vs Liverpool. 5 p.m. Fulham vs Chelsea.