Chelsea wins to extend Premier League lead
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-29 10:14

Chelsea beat Portsmouth 2-0 Tuesday on late goals by Arjen Robben and Joe Cole to extend its Premier League lead to eight points.

Robben scored in the 79th minute on the road and Cole added the second goal during injury time for Chelsea, which increased its lead over idle Arsenal. The defending champion stayed in second place after Everton lost 2-0 to Charlton, ending its unbeaten run of eight games.

Chelsea's captain John Terry (R) challenges Portsmouth's Diomansy Kamara(L) during their Premiership clash in Portsmouth. [AFP]

"It is a really big victory for us," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said.

Chelsea has 49 points and Arsenal 41 while Everton, Manchester United and Middlesbrough all have 40.

In other results on a holiday in Britain, it was: Blackburn 1, Bolton 0; Birmingham 3, Fulham 2; Manchester City 1, West Bromwich Albion 1; Middlesbrough 2, Norwich 0; and Tottenham 1, Crystal Palace 1; Liverpool 1, Southampton 0; and Manchester United 1, Aston Villa 0.

Portsmouth had limited Chelsea to only one real shot at goal in the first half, with Didier Drogba's attempt saved by goalkeeper Shaka Hislop. Chelsea needed a strong save by Petr Cech to deny Nigel Quashie in the 20th minute.

"At the end of the game I think we deserved to win," Mourinho said. "But when I look to the first half, I give Portsmouth a lot of credit."

Robben's seventh goal of the season was an angled drive that confused Hislop. However, the Dutchman's goal celebration — taking his shirt off and waving it — drew a yellow card and led to his substitution.

Charlton ended Everton's unbeaten streak with late goals from Talal El Karkouri and Hermann Hreidarsson within three minutes. It was Everton's fourth loss in 20 games this season.

"The boys have done well," Everton manager David Moyes said. "They've had two hard games and taken three points, so we're not too downhearted by that."

Everton goalkeeper Nigel Martyn injured his thigh near the end of the first half and was replaced by Richard Wright.

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