English Premier League: Cole defends Chelsea's honour

Tony Pulis, the Stoke City manager, is unhappy with "simulation" by Chelsea's Oscar and Branislav Ivanovic

Chelsea's Ashley Cole, in blue, scored five minutes from time.

Tony Pulis branded Branislav Ivanovic and Oscar "laughable" after accusing the Chelsea pair of diving in Stoke City's defeat at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

Pulis, the Stoke manager, was critical of the duo, despite neither incident ending with a penalty being given, and the fact Oscar was booked by referee Michael Oliver.

Ivanovic, though, escaped a caution after appearing to throw himself down in the box in the first half when he appeared not to be touched.

Pulis also insisted Chelsea should have ended their 1-0 victory with 10 men after David Luiz was shown a yellow - and not a red - card for a crude lunge on Jonathan Walters.

Highlighting what he dubbed "the simulation", Pulis said: "Ivanovic's one in the first half is laughable and the lad Oscar, who's a fabulous player.

"This is England. We're playing in England, we're not playing in Europe. And we can't watch people just fall over and not talk about it. That's the disappointing thing.

Pulis said of the Luiz lunge: "It's a dreadful challenge and I think David would be the first one to say he's very, very lucky to stay on the pitch - very."

Asked if it would have been a red card had Luiz been a Stoke player, Pulis said: "Now you said that, not me. Make sure the FA know it was you."

Pulis also claimed Stoke striker Peter Crouch felt he should have had a first-half penalty himself.

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo denied Oscar had dived and insisted Oliver was wrong to book him.

He said: "There was contact. Maybe the referee didn't feel there was enough contact. He shouldn't have booked him from my point of view.

"After the game, he can watch a replay and it's easy to make that decision."

The European champions have been denied several penalty claims in recent weeksbut Di Matteo ruled out making a formal complaint to referees' chief Mike Riley.

Chelsea looked set for a fourth straight match without a win before Ashley Cole spared the blushes of their £130 million (Dh774.9m) attack with his first goal since May 2010.

But Di Matteo said he had not been worried about the possibility of his side drawing a blank for a second successive Saturday after they had drawn 0-0 at Queens Park Rangers seven days ago.

"I thought it was just a question of time before we scored," he said.

"Obviously, when it comes towards the last 20 minutes, time is running out.

"But when you play against Stoke, it's always so hard to break them down and they defend with so many men and they're very well-drilled as well."

Meanwhile, Chelsea announced last night that Luiz had signed a new five-year deal with the club.

The defender had been linked with a move to Primera Liga side Barcelona in the summer, but Chelsea have secured the player's services until 2017.

The Brazilian said: "I am very happy to sign a new contract with Chelsea.

"It is a great club and I look forward to winning more trophies here.

"I want to play for a long time at the top level - which is what playing for Chelsea means.

"I love everything about the club and especially the fans, who have made me very welcome and given me great support."

Swansea City 0 Everton 3

Everton

Anichebe 21’, Mirallas 43’ Fellaini 82’

Red cards Dyer (Swansea)

Everton’s fine start to the season continued as they eased to a comfortable victory over Swansea. Victor Anichebe fired home from close range after 21 minutes before Kevin Mirallas finished off a superb flowing move just before half-time. Any Swansea hopes of a comeback were dashed early when substitute Nathan Dyer was sent off, and Marouane Fellaini hit the final blow.

Southampton 4 Aston Villa 1

Southampton

Lambert 58’, (pen) 90+5’ Clyne 63’ Clark (og) 72’,

Aston Villa Bent 38'

Rickie Lambert-inspired Southampton produced a superb comeback to collect their first victory back in the top flight against Aston Villa. When Darren Bent put Villa ahead in the first half it was the 15th goal conceded by Nigel Adkins’ side in just five top-flight matches. But Lambert scored twice and set up another as Saints responded well to triumph.

West Brom 1 Reading 0

West Brom

Lukaku 71’

Steve Clarke, the West Brom coach, left out leading scorer Shane Long against his former club and saw his replacement Romelu Lukaku net a second-half winner against Reading at the Hawthorns. But it needed the second half introduction of Long to tee up the winner for on-loan Chelsea striker Lukaku in his first league start. Victory enabled West Brom to complete a trio of wins in their opening three home fixtures of a top flight campaign for the first time in 58 years.

West Ham United 1 Sunderland 1

West Ham Nolan 90+3'
Sunderland Fletcher 9'

Kevin Nolan’s injury-time strike secured West Ham a hard-earned point and condemned Sunderland to their fourth consecutive Premier League draw. Steven Fletcher’s fourth goal in three matches had put Sunderland ahead. West Ham had huffed and puffed without reward until Matt Jarvis hooked the ball back to fellow substitute Modibo Maiga and Nolan beat goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with a shot on the turn.

Wigan Athletic 1 Fulham 2

Wigan

Kone 90+1’

Fulham Rodallega 31', Duff 68'

Hugo Rodallega opened his Fulham goals account against the club he left in the summer to set Martin Jol’s side on their way to a first away win of the season. The result lifted Fulham into the top four. Rodallega broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a goal created by Dimitar Berbatov, and Damien Duff added a second midway through the second half before Arouna Kone scored an injury-time consolation for the hosts.

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