Press Association
CHELSEA 2 WEST BROM 0
Chelsea’s title charge shows no signs of abating, with West Brom the latest side swatted away by Jose Mourinho’s men.
It may only be November but few look capable of preventing the west Londoners from lifting the Premier League trophy aloft at the end of the season.
West Brom were the Blues’ latest victims, with first-half goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard securing Chelsea a victory that was far more dominant than the 2-0 scoreline suggests.
It was their sixth straight league win this season at Stamford Bridge - which was far more atmospheric than the last outing against QPR - and a result saw Chelsea start a top-flight campaign unbeaten in 12 for the first time.
MAN CITY 2 SWANSEA 1
Yaya Toure responded to Manuel Pellegrini’s rallying call as he fired champions Manchester City to a 2-1 Premier League win over Swansea.
The City midfielder, below par for much of the season but continually backed by boss Pellegrini, powered forward to strike the winner just after the hour at the Etihad Stadium.
City had needed to respond after Wilfried Bony struck early for the visitors with a sublime piece of skill inside the area. Stevan Jovetic grabbed the equaliser before City upped the tempo and Toure, in typical style, charged forward to settle the contest.
The result eased some of the anxiety at Eastlands after just one win in the previous six games in all competitions.
EVERTON 2 WEST HAM 1
Everton midfielder Leon Osman picked the perfect way to mark his 400th appearance for the club as his first league goal since March ended high-flying West Ham’s five-match unbeaten run.
The 33-year-old, who in reaching the landmark joined an elite group of a dozen others led by the great Neville Southall, capped a controlled and creative performance with the winner 17 minutes from time.
His intervention prevented his side from squandering another lead this season after substitute Mauro Zarate cancelled out Romelu Lukaku’s controversial goal.
West Ham, who began the day in fourth place, loudly and correctly complained the first-half opener was offside and although it was allowed to stand Everton would have dropped another two points had it not been for Osman’s late contribution.
LEICESTER 0 SUNDERLAND 0
Leicester’s goalless streak continued after they held Sunderland to a 0-0 draw at the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes extended their goal drought to 500 minutes - and have now not netted in their last five games.
A tight match had few clear chances but Kasper Schmeichel produced two fine first-half saves to thwart Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson while Costel Pantilimon saved well from Matty James.
Riyad Mahrez went close for the hosts but they have now failed to score since drawing with Burnley last month.
The point did lift Leicester out of the relegation zone, though, while Sunderland remained 14th.
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0
Moussa Sissoko fired Newcastle to a sixth successive victory to extend QPR’s dismal run on the road.
The Frenchman, captaining the side in the absence of the injured Fabricio Coloccini, won it 12 minutes from time with the only goal as Newcastle finally made the pressure tell and left the visitors still without a single Premier League point away from home.
Alan Pardew’s men, who have not conceded a goal in 432 minutes of football, enjoyed the better of the game in front of a crowd of 51,915 but had been frustrated up until that point by poor finishing and the efforts of keeper Rob Green, who made a series of important saves.
STOKE 1 BURNLEY 2
Burnley’s resurgence continued as a quickfire brace early on from Danny Ings secured a 2-1 win at Stoke that took the Clarets off the bottom of the Premier League table.
Sean Dyche’s men had claimed their first victory of the season in their last outing by defeating Hull 1-0 at home, and they looked determined from the off to add three more points at the Britannia Stadium, with striker Ings taking advantage of sloppy play to tuck in from close range in the 12th and 13th minutes.
Jonathan Walters pulled a goal back for the home side in the 32nd minute and Burnley had to withstand plenty of pressure as the game continued.
But they held out for a triumph that sees them rise to 18th in the table, below 17th-placed Leicester on goal difference alone. Meanwhile, Stoke - also beaten at home by Leicester and Aston Villa this term - drop a place to 10th.
