Chelsea set a new record

Published on Saturday 21 November 2009 19:39

BARCLAYS Premier League leaders Chelsea set a new record of 12 straight home wins as they beat Wolves 4-0 at Stamford Bridge to stay five points clear of champions Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

United kept pace with the leaders by beating Everton 3-0 at home to move up to second after Arsenal's 14-match unbeaten run ended with a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland.

Florent Malouda smashed in Chelsea's opening goal from 25 yards in the fifth minute, seven minutes before his corner was headed in by Michael Essien, with the Ghana midfielder adding a third after 22 minutes.

Petr Cech kept out Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's point-blank header just before the break, but the Blues were always in control, with fit-again Joe Cole making it four.

Chelsea sent on Gael Kakuta – the 18-year-old whose controversial move from Lens resulted in a transfer ban for the English club, which is being appealed – for his debut, as Carlo Ancelotti's men tightened their grip on the title race.

Manchester United went ahead in the 34th minute at Old Trafford when Darren Fletcher smacked a swerving half-volley into the top left corner and doubled their tally in the 67th through Michael Carrick. Antonio Valencia made it 3-0 with a deflected shot in the 76th after the ball was laid on by Paul Scholes.

Darren Bent's ninth goal of the season brought Arsenal's 13-match unbeaten run to an end in a 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light.

There was also plenty of action at the other end of the table, with Hull City scoring three first-half goals to come back from 2-0 down against West Ham at the KC Stadium. Hull were then reduced to 10 men in the 54th and the match ended 3-3.

Emile Heskey's late header rescued a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa at Burnley, who led with a ninth-minute goal from Steven Caldwell. Lee Bowyer's fine finish from a James McFadden pass gave Birmingham City a 1-0 win over Fulham.