Benitez releases the pressure with win against Wigan

Published on 10/02/2013 02:56

FRANK Lampard issued another timely contract reminder to Roman Abramovich as Chelsea eased the pressure on boss Rafael Benitez with a 4-1 win over Wigan at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard lashed his 198th career goal for the Blues in the 86th minute to settle his side’s nerves after the visitors had briefly threatened. Ramires put Chelsea in front in the 23rd minute and Eden Hazard increased the home side’s lead after 56 minutes.

But Wigan reduced the deficit through Shaun Maloney, before Lampard intervened to seal the points. Late substitute Marko Marin headed his first goal for the home club in injury time.

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny produced some late heroics as the ten-man visitors were forced to cling on for a 1-0 win over Sunderland.

Arsene Wenger’s men played the last half-hour with ten men following Carl Jenkinson’s sending-off for a second yellow.

Santi Cazorla made the breakthrough in the 35th minute. Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson were denied late on by superb saves from Szczesny.

Rock-bottom QPR suffered a dismal 4-1 defeat at Swansea. Michu set the Swans on their way with his eighth-minute opener and Angel Rangel increased the home side’s lead in the 18th minute.

Despite substitute Bobby Zamora reducing the deficit, Pablo Hernandez restored Swansea’s two-goal cushion on 50 minutes before Michu slid home his 15th league goal of the season.

Robert Huth headed his first goal since April to send Stoke on their way to a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Reading at the Britannia Stadium.

Huth nodded the opener in off the bar in the 67th minute and Cameron Jerome smashed home the Potters’ second on 81 minutes. Adrian Mariappa grabbed a late consolation for the Royals. Norwich stretched their winless streak to nine games after a low-key goalless draw with Fulham. The result also means Martin Jol’s Cottagers have won just two from their last ten.

More heroics from Gareth Bale boosted Tottenham’s Champions League ambitions with a 2-1 win over Newcastle.

Bale’s free-kick put Spurs in front before Yoan Gouffran, pictured, equalised for the Magpies on 24 minutes, only to later go off with a suspected broken leg. Newcastle’s misery was complete ten minutes from time when Bale converted at the end of a swift counter-attack.