Arsenal wins but Villa stuns Chelsea
Source: Agencies |
January 2, 2012, Monday
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CHELSEA slipped out of the Premier League's top four with a 1-3 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday, while third-place Tottenham slipped up as well, drawing 1-1 at Swansea to sit six points behind United.
Arsenal went fourth with a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers.
Earlier, Manchester United wasted the chance to start the New Year at the top of the Premier League when it suffered a shock 2-3 home defeat to struggling Blackburn Rovers.
At Stamford Bridge, Didier Drogba gave Chelsea the lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after he was fouled by Richard Dunne, but the lead lasted only five minutes.
Villa's Stephen Ireland's first effort from Charles N'Zogbia's cross was blocked by John Terry but the midfielder tapped in the rebound to equalize.
Stiliyan Petrov put Villa ahead in the 83rd and three minutes later substitute Darren Bent sealed his side's first win at Stamford Bridge since 2002. It was also Chelsea's fifth loss of the season.
"Hopefully 2012 brings us better results," Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said.
"We need to improve on a couple of aspects and we know what they are. Villa punished us well in the final stages of the game."
It leaves Chelsea out of the Champions League spots after Robin van Persie clinched the Arsenal win over QPR on the hour after squandering several chances in the first half.
Arsenal is still three points behind north London rival Tottenham, which has a game in hand.
Rafael van der Vaart had given third-place Tottenham the lead at Swansea just before half time after capitalizing on a defensive error from Joe Allen to sweep home with the help of a deflection from Ashley Williams.
But Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel hesitated late on when dealing with a late deflected Angel Rangel cross, allowing Scott Sinclair to nip in and equalize.
Another promoted side produced a late equalizer, with substitute Simeon Jackson rescuing a 1-1 draw for Norwich against Fulham, canceling out Orlando Sa's sixth-minute opener.
The bottom three is made up of Wigan, Blackburn and Bolton.
Sam Ricketts marked his return from a 10-month injury layoff by scoring for Bolton in a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, which leveled through Steven Fletcher's header.
Ben Watson came off the bench to salvage a 2-2 draw with a late penalty for 10-man Wigan in a dramatic finish against Stoke.
Victor Moses put the struggling Latics ahead on the stroke of halftime, but Gary Caldwell was then sent off for deliberate handball in the 76th minute and Jonathan Walters converted the resulting penalty to draw eighth-placed Stoke level.
Arsenal went fourth with a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers.
Earlier, Manchester United wasted the chance to start the New Year at the top of the Premier League when it suffered a shock 2-3 home defeat to struggling Blackburn Rovers.
At Stamford Bridge, Didier Drogba gave Chelsea the lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute after he was fouled by Richard Dunne, but the lead lasted only five minutes.
Villa's Stephen Ireland's first effort from Charles N'Zogbia's cross was blocked by John Terry but the midfielder tapped in the rebound to equalize.
Stiliyan Petrov put Villa ahead in the 83rd and three minutes later substitute Darren Bent sealed his side's first win at Stamford Bridge since 2002. It was also Chelsea's fifth loss of the season.
"Hopefully 2012 brings us better results," Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said.
"We need to improve on a couple of aspects and we know what they are. Villa punished us well in the final stages of the game."
It leaves Chelsea out of the Champions League spots after Robin van Persie clinched the Arsenal win over QPR on the hour after squandering several chances in the first half.
Arsenal is still three points behind north London rival Tottenham, which has a game in hand.
Rafael van der Vaart had given third-place Tottenham the lead at Swansea just before half time after capitalizing on a defensive error from Joe Allen to sweep home with the help of a deflection from Ashley Williams.
But Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel hesitated late on when dealing with a late deflected Angel Rangel cross, allowing Scott Sinclair to nip in and equalize.
Another promoted side produced a late equalizer, with substitute Simeon Jackson rescuing a 1-1 draw for Norwich against Fulham, canceling out Orlando Sa's sixth-minute opener.
The bottom three is made up of Wigan, Blackburn and Bolton.
Sam Ricketts marked his return from a 10-month injury layoff by scoring for Bolton in a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, which leveled through Steven Fletcher's header.
Ben Watson came off the bench to salvage a 2-2 draw with a late penalty for 10-man Wigan in a dramatic finish against Stoke.
Victor Moses put the struggling Latics ahead on the stroke of halftime, but Gary Caldwell was then sent off for deliberate handball in the 76th minute and Jonathan Walters converted the resulting penalty to draw eighth-placed Stoke level.
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