Manchester City remained five points clear at the top of the Premier League after the leaders thrashed Norwich 5-1, while Manchester United kept in touch with their title rivals thanks to a 1-0 win at Aston Villa yesterday.
Roberto Mancini’s side took the lead in the 32nd minute at Eastlands when Argentina forward Sergio Aguero wriggled free of several Norwich defenders before flicking a clever finish into the far corner for his 13th goal of the season.
Samir Nasri got the second when his floated free-kick caught Norwich goalkeeeper John Ruddy flat-footed and crept into the net in the 51st minute.
Yaya Toure scored in the 68th minute and, although Wales striker Steve Morison got one back for Norwich in the 81st minute, substitutes Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson struck late on to secure a 12th successive home league win.
“It was not easy in the first half because Norwich defended with all their players behind the ball but Aguero scored a fantastic goal,” Mancini said.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s United kicked off the late game at Villa Park eight points behind City and suffered an early blow when Mexico striker Javier Hernandez was stretchered off after twisting awkwardly.
However, the champions were well on top after that and sealed the points in the 20th minute when England international Phil Jones scored the first senior goal of his career, volleying Nani’s cross past Shay Given.
At St James’ Park, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was able to silence the critics as goals from Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge secured a 3-0 win over Newcastle.
Villas-Boas got an early break as Chelsea were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men in the fourth minute when David Luiz hauled down Demba Ba.
Referee Mike Dean ruled in Chelsea’s favour again in the 14th minute when the official gave a penalty for Yohan Cabaye’s trip on Sturridge.
However, Frank Lampard’s low spot-kick was weakly struck and Tim Krul pushed it onto a post.
Bullet header
Chelsea took the lead when Drogba struck with a bullet header in the 38th minute.
Kalou’s 88th minute strike and a Sturridge goal in stoppage time secured Chelsea’s second win in their last five matches in all competitions and ended Newcastle’s unbeaten home run.
“The referee made a decision that he thought was right not to send off David Luiz, maybe the decision fell our way,” Villas-Boas said.
“But it doesn’t overshadow the performance of the Chelsea players. It was a win that nobody was expecting.”
Tottenham are third, seven points off the lead, after an emphatic 3-0 victory over 10-man Bolton at White Hart Lane.
Gareth Bale prodded Spurs into a seventh minute lead and moments later referee Stuart Attwell sent off Gary Cahill, harshly ruling the Bolton defender was the last man when he fouled Scott Parker.
Aaron Lennon got Tottenham’s second goal in the 50th minute and Jermain Defoe sealed their sixth successive league victory on the hour.
“We played some great football although I think the sending off was harsh. I couldn’t believe it when the red card came out,” said Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.
Resurgent Arsenal moved into fifth place with a 4-0 rout of Wigan that pushed the Latics to the bottom of the table.
Mikel Arteta opened the floodgates at the DW Stadium in the 28th minute when his long range effort squeezed past Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
Thomas Vermaelen headed the second a minute later, Gervinho netted the third goal in the 61st minute and Robin van Persie made it four in the 78th minute with his 18th goal of the season.
“It was a great team performance, we controlled the game and could have scored more. There is a difference between the team at the start of the season and now,” Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said.
Blackburn striker Ayegbeni Yakubu gave much-criticised boss Steve Kean some breathing space as his four-goal haul inspired a 4-2 win over Swansea at Ewood Park that lifted Rovers off the bottom.
Leroy Lita and Luke Moore netted for Swansea, who had Joe Allen sent off for a foul on Yakubu just before Rovers’ fourth goal.
Heidar Helguson headed QPR into the lead in the 20th minute against West Bromwich Albion, but Shane Long rescued a 1-1 draw with an 81st minute equaliser at Loftus Road.
Results and standings
Premier League
Aston Villa 0
Man. United 1
Jones 20;
HT: 0-1. Att: 40,053.
Blackburn 4
Yakubu 20, 45, 57; Yakubu 82 pen;
Swansea 2
Lita 35; Moore 66;
HT: 2-1. Att: 23,080.
Red card: Allen (S) 81.
Man. City 5
Aguero 32; Nasri 51; Yaya 68; Balotelli 88; Johnson 90;
Norwich 1
Morison 81;
HT: 1-0. Att: 47,201.
Newcastle 0
Chelsea 3
Drogba 38; Kalou 89; Sturridge 90;
HT: 0-1. Att: 52,305.
Missed penalty: Lampard (C) 14.
QPR 1
Helguson 20;
West Brom 1
Long 81;
HT: 1-0. Att: 17,290.
Tottenham 3
Bale 7; Lennon 50; Defoe 60;
Bolton 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 35,896.
Red card: Cahill (B) 18.
Wigan 0
Arsenal 4
Arteta 28; Vermaelen 29; Gervinho 61; Van Persie 78;
HT: 0-2. Att: 19,280.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Man. City | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 13 | 38 |
| Man. United | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 13 | 33 |
| Tottenham | 13 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 16 | 31 |
| Chelsea | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 17 | 28 |
| Arsenal | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 23 | 26 |
| Newcastle | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 15 | 26 |
| Liverpool | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 23 |
| Everton | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
| Aston Villa | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
| Norwich | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 16 |
| QPR | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 25 | 16 |
| WBA | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 15 |
| Stoke City | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 15 |
| Swansea City | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 14 |
| Fulham | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
| Sunderland | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 11 |
| Wolves | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 11 |
| Blackburn | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 32 | 10 |
| Bolton | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 19 | 34 | 9 |
| Wigan Athletic | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 28 | 9 |
Today
16:00 Everton vs Stoke; 17.00 Wolves vs Sunderland.
Tomorrow
21.00 Fulham vs Liverpool.
Top scorers
13 goals: Van Persie (Arsenal).
10 goals: Dzeko (Man. City), Aguero (Man. City).
9 goals: Ba (Newcastle); Rooney (Man. United).
6 goals: Van der Vaart (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea).
Next fixtures
Saturday: Premier League 16.00 Arsenal vs Everton; Bolton vs Aston Villa; Liveprool vs QPR; Man. United vs Wolves; Norwich vs Newcastle; Swansea vs Fulham; West Brom vs Wigan.
Sunday: Premier League 14.30 Sunderland vs Blackburn. 17.00 Stoke vs Tottenham.
Monday, Dec. 12: Premier League: 21.00 Chelsea vs Manchester City.
FA Cup (second round)
Barnet 1 - MK Dons 3
Bradford 3 - Wimbledon 1
Brentford 0 - Wrexham 1
Charlton 2 - Carlisle 0
Chelmsford 1 - Macclesfield 1
Colchester 0 - Swindon 1
Crawley 5 - Redbridge 0
Dagenham 1 - Walsall 1
Gateshead 1 - Tamworth 2
Leyton Orient 0 - Gillingham 1
Luton 2 - Cheltenham 4
Salisbury 0 - Grimsby 0
Sheffield Utd 3 - Torquay 2
Sheffield Wed. 1 - Aldershot 0
Shrewsbury 2 - Rotherham1
Southend 1 - Oldham 1
Stourbridge 0 - Stevenage 3
Today
AFC Totton-Bristol Rovers (13:30)
Sutton United-Notts County (18:00)
The Championship
Blackpool 1 - Reading 0
Brighton 1 - Nott. Forest 0
Bristol City 0 - M’Boro 1
Doncaster 1 - Southampton 0
Hull 2 - Leicester 1
Ipswich 1 - Watford 2
Leeds 2 - Millwall 0
Peterborough 3 - Barnsley 4
Portsmouth 2 - Coventry 1
West Ham 1 - Burnley 2
Today
Cardiff vs Birmingham (13:30)
Standings: Southampton 42; West Ham 40; M’Boro 35; Cardiff, Leeds 34; Brighton 32; Blackpool, Hull 30; Leicester 29; Burnley, Reading, C. Palace, Barnsley 27; Birmingham 26; Derby 25; Peterborough, Watford 24; Portsmouth 23; Millwall 22; Bristol City, Ipswich, Nottm Forest 20; Doncaster 16; Coventry 13.