Chelsea thrash Wigan to win the title

Chelsea clinch the English Premier League in style as Didier Drogba struck a second-half hat-trick in their 8-0 thrashing of 10-man Wigan.

Chelsea clinched the English Premier League title in style as Didier Drogba struck a second-half hat-trick in their 8-0 thrashing of 10-man Wigan. The Blues went ahead in the sixth minute when Nicolas Anelka finished after Florent Malouda showed good strength in the area, and they were all but home and hosed after 32 minutes when Gary Caldwell hauled down Frank Lampard in the area. The Wigan man saw red and Lampard converted from the spot to make it 2-0.

The second half was effectively a lap of honour for Chelsea as Salomon Kalou scored nine minutes after the restart, Anelka grabbed his second two minutes later, then Didier Drogba struck three times, including a penalty after Mario Melchiot fouled Ashley Cole. It was the fourth time this season they had scored seven in a Premier League game, and Cole got on the scoresheet himself in the dying seconds to make it eight and better.

Second-placed Manchester United had needed Chelsea to slip up, but they did all they could, beating Stoke 4-0 at Old Trafford to at least close out the season on a winning note. Darren Fletcher's effort in the 31st minute put United ahead and Ryan Giggs struck seven minutes before the break to make it 2-0. Danny Higginbotham scored an own goal nine minutes after the break to make it 3-0 and Park Ji-sung rounded off the scoring six minutes from time. * PA