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Terry steers Chelsea five point clear

— Photo: AFP

Chelsea captain John Terry heads in the winner past Manchester United defenders on Sunday.

LONDON: Captain John Terry headed Chelsea five points clear at the top of the Premier League on Sunday as his 76th-minute goal secured a 1-0 home victory over champion Manchester United.

The eagerly-awaited showdown had been meandering towards an error-strewn goalless draw short on action and atmosphere until Terry was left unmarked to glance in a Frank Lampard free kick.

Chelsea then survived United’s late pressure to move to 30 points, five clear of Arsenal and United.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side has now equalled a club record of 11 successive home wins. United, beaten for the third time this season, had a first half penalty appeal turned down when Terry tugged Antonio Valencia’s shirt.

Wayne Rooney went close after the break but Chelsea won it in the 76th minute when referee Martin Atkinson ruled that Darren Fletcher’s challenge on Ashley Cole was worthy of a foul.

Frank Lampard curled in the set-piece and Terry timed his run perfectly to glance a header past Edwin van der Sar into the far corner.

Earlier Hull City beat visitor Stoke City 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal, Everton won 2-1 at West Ham United while Wigan Athletic and Fulham drew 1-1.

Back in relegation zone

West Ham dropped back into the Premier League relegation zone after goals from Louis Saha and Dan Gosling secured a 2-1 victory for Everton at Upton Park.

Toffees defender Tony Hibbert helped a Junior Stanislas effort into his own net immediately after Gosling had put Everton two up in the 64th minute but the Hammers were unable to find an equaliser despite late pressure.

It was Everton’s first win in four league games and brought an abrupt end to West Ham’s hopes of extending its recent run of three league games without defeat.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has maintained throughout his side’s dismal campaign that its performances were not getting the rewards it deserved.

Back-to-back draws against Arsenal and Sunderland suggested that the Hammers may be about to pull themselves out of their slump before the midweek victory over Aston Villa hauled Zola’s men out of the bottom three.

That win came courtesy of a last minute goal from Zavon Hines and had contributed to a more upbeat mood at Upton Park going into this clash.

The results: Chelsea 1 (Terry 76) bt Manchester United 0; Hull 2 (Olofinjana 62, Vennegoor of Hesselink 90) bt Stoke 1 (Etherington 29); West Ham 1 (Hibbert 65-og) lost to Everton 2 (Saha 27, Gosling 64); Wigan 1 (Boyce 13) drew with Fulham 1 (Dempsey 39-pen).

On Saturday: Wolverhampton 1 (Craddock 90) lost to Arsenal 4 (Zubar 28-og, Craddock 35-og, Fabregas 45, Arshavin 66). — Agencies

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