Frank Lampard on target for Manchester City, and leaders Chelsea stroll past Hull City

Diego Costa on the scoresheet again for Chelsea.

Manchester City's Frank Lampard celebrates his goal during the win over Leicester City. EPA

LEICESTER 0 MANCHESTER CITY 1

Veteran Frank Lampard delivered again for Manchester City as the champions overcame the absence of any senior strikers to beat Leicester 1-0.

The former England midfielder - whose loan from New York City FC expires at the end of the month - struck the only goal late in the first half of a dull Premier League encounter at the King Power Stadium.

It was the 36-year-old Englishman’s sixth goal of an increasingly important spell and his 175th in the Premier League, making him joint-fourth highest scorer in the competition’s history alongside Thierry Henry.

His vital goal for a team far from their free-flowing best after Wednesday’s momentous Uefa Champions League win at Roma also covered for the team’s missing strikers.

An injury to Edin Dzeko in the warm-up highlighted their lack of options up front at present, with top scorer Sergio Aguero and Stevan Jovetic also absent.

Further concern for City came as captain Vincent Kompany lasted just 77 minutes of his comeback from a hamstring injury before appearing to suffer a recurrence.

CHELSEA 2 HULL CITY 0

Premier League leaders Chelsea returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Hull at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard put the Blues ahead with his eighth goal of the season before Tom Huddlestone was dismissed for a reckless studs-up challenge on Filipe Luis.

Diego Costa scored his first goal in five games to seal the win, which comes a week after Chelsea lost their unbeaten record at Newcastle.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 ASTON VILLA 0

Craig Gardner eased the pressure on West Brom coach Alan Irvine as the Baggies clinched a crucial 1-0 derby win over 10-man Aston Villa.

The former Villa trainee - who took a swipe at his former club before the game - smashed in with 18 minutes left to settle a feisty derby after Kieran Richardson was sent off.

The visitors had to play 68 minutes with 10 men following Richardson’s reckless challenge on Stephane Sessegnon.

Christian Benteke poked wide late on but Villa’s second-half surrender should concern manager Paul Lambert.

SUNDERLAND 1 WEST HAM UNITED 1

Jozy Altidore’s Sunderland nightmare continued as his first-half horror miss consigned the side to their fifth draw in their last six matches at the Stadium of Light, 1-1 against West Ham.

Altidore’s dismal goalscoring record now stands at one in 41 appearances for the club after he somehow contrived to fluff an effort from three yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Jordi Gomez put the home side in front with a 22nd-minute penalty but Stewart Downing dragged West Ham level five minutes later with a deflected effort from the right flank.

Connor Wickham saw an 85th-minute drive tipped over by Hammers keeper Adrian but the best chance of a winner - Altidore apart - fell to former Newcastle star Andy Carroll.

Fresh from his resurgent performances against Swansea last week, Carroll hit a low drive from the edge of the box which passed Costel Pantilimon’s left-hand post by inches with 89 minutes on the clock.

CRYSTAL PALACE 1 STOKE 1

One toothless attacking force cancelled out another as Crystal Palace and Stoke played out an uninspiring 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

James McArthur headed his first goal in 15 games to hand Palace the lead before Peter Crouch equalised in a dire Premier League clash.

Palace’s patchy run of one win in 10 games has edged the Eagles closer to the relegation zone, while Stoke slipped markedly from the pace of last week’s Arsenal triumph.

BURNLEY 1 SOUTHAMPTON 0

Tom Heaton and Ashley Barnes were the heroes as Burnley picked up their third win of the season against stuttering Southampton to climb out of the relegation zone.

Heaton saved Dusan Tadic’s penalty on the hour mark and with 73 minutes gone Barnes scored his second goal of the campaign to earn his side a 1-0 victory.

After defeats by three of the biggest teams in the league, this looked an ideal chance for Southampton to get their top-four bid back on track, but they slipped to a fourth successive loss.