Chelsea captain John Terry put the
controversy over his private life to one side by scoring the
winner in a 2-1 victory at Burnley as his side went four
points clear at the top of the Premier League.
|Last Updated: Jan 31, 2010, 11:39 AM IST|Source: Bureau
London: Chelsea captain John Terry put the
controversy over his private life to one side by scoring the
winner in a 2-1 victory at Burnley as his side went four
points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Terry, whose position as England captain was called into
question after newspapers published details of his alleged
affair with the ex-girlfriend of former Blues team-mate Wayne
Bridge, scored eight minutes from time yesterday when he
headed in a corner for only his second goal this season.
"He`s a fantastic player. Every game he plays very well,"
said Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.
"He`s an important player for us. All of Chelsea support
him."
Nicolas Anelka had given Chelsea a 27th-minute lead at
Turf Moor when the France striker turned in Florent Malouda`s
cross while, seven minutes later, Terry was booked for a
clumsy challenge on Robbie Blake.
Relegation candidates Burnley levelled in the 50th minute
when a ball over the top of Alex found Steven Fletcher who
beat the defender before shooting past Petr Cech.
Chelsea`s victory means they will still be top of the
table regardless of the result of Sunday`s clash between title
rivals Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Earlier, Tottenham stayed fourth with a 1-1 draw at
Birmingham.
But Spurs` rivals for a place in next season`s Champions
League, Liverpool and Aston Villa, both won to keep up the
pressure. Liverpool beat Bolton 2-0 to stay a point adrift of
Spurs with Villa, who have a game in hand, two points behind
after defeating Fulham by the same scoreline in a match where
Gabriel Agbonlahor scored both goals.
At the other end of the table, second from bottom Hull
failed to climb out of the relegation zone after a 2-2 draw
with Wolves.
Everton made it four league wins from five with a 1-0
victory away to Wigan while Blackburn Rovers and West Ham
shared the points in a goalless draw.
Spurs` Jermain Defoe broke the deadlock at St Andrews
when he blasted the ball past Joe Hart with 21 minutes left.
But Birmingham rescued a point through Liam Ridgewell`s
90th minute equaliser.
At Anfield, Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool ahead eight minutes
before half-time.
Liverpool went 2-0 up when Emiliano Insua`s 25-yard shot
took a huge deflection off Bolton`s Kevin Davies for a 70th
minute own-goal.
Agbonlahor put Villa in front five minutes before
half-time at Craven Cottage when he headed past Fulham`s
Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
And there was still time for Agbonlahor to make it 2-0
ahead of the interval when, in the 44th minute, he curled a
shot past Schwarzer from 15 yards.
Villa manager Martin O`Neill said Agbonlahor deserved his
double after a frustrating match during the midweek goalless
draw with Arsenal.
"Gabriel taking those two goals today were as much about
his performance against Arsenal on Wednesday night. He got his
deserts today and he was fantastic," said the Villa manager.
At the KC Stadium, former Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of
Hesselink fired Hull into an 11th minute lead with a 20-yard
shot.
But Wolves were level four minutes after half-time after
a comical own-goal where Hull`s Anthony Gardner sliced an
unthreatening Ronald Zubar cross over the head of goalkeepeer
Boaz Myhill.
However, minutes later Hull were back in front when
Stephen Hunt scored from the penalty spot after Zubar jumped
into Jozy Altidore only for Matthew Jarvis to draw Wolves
level in the 67th minute.
Tim Cahill was once again Everton`s star as the Australia
midfielder headed in his sixth goal of the season six minutes
from time away to Wigan.
Sunday`s other top-flight match sees Manchester City
looking to bounce back from their League Cup semi-final loss
to Manchester United at home to bottom-of-the-table
Portsmouth.
Bureau Report
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