Chelsea moved a step closer to the Premier League title as Eden Hazard’s winner gave them a 1-0 win over Manchester United . The Belgian fi...
Chelsea moved a step closer to the Premier League title as Eden Hazard’s winner gave them a 1-0 win over Manchester United.
The Belgian fired the hosts in front shortly before the break in a half largely dominated by Louis van Gaal’s side, who nearly took an early lead through Wayne Rooney.
It could have been 2-0 after the break as Hazard hit the crossbar from close range, while Rooney saw another effort go wide and Radamel Falcao hit the post as the visitors saw far more of the ball.
Ander Herrera thought he had won a penalty in stoppage time only to be booked for diving. And a resilient Chelsea dug in to take victory, the result moving them 10 points clear of Arsenal and 11 above United, putting the Blues within touching distance of their first league title in five seasons. They can become champions with wins in their next two games.
Leicester climbed off the bottom of the Premier League as a 2-0 home win over Swansea gave them a third successive victory, while Burnley lost at Everton. The Foxes only remain in the relegation zone by virtue of goals difference after moving above Burnley and QPR and drawing level on points with Hull.
Leonardo Ulloa gave Leicester a 15th-minute lead with his first league goal since Boxing Day after he was promoted to the starting line-up by David Nugent's injury in the warm-up.
Andy King settled matters in the final minute when Lukasz Fabianski fumbled Esteban Cambiasso's free-kick as Swansea failed to collect the point needed to better their best-ever Premier League points total of 47.
Burnley's survival hopes suffered a blow in a controversial 1-0 defeat at Everton, Roberto Martinez's Toffees now unbeaten in five league games. Referee Mike Jones awarded a contentious 10th-minute penalty to Everton after Aaron Lennon had appeared to be fouled outside the area by David Jones, but Tom Heaton saved Ross Barkley's spot-kick.
Kevin Mirallas gave Everton a 29th-minute lead from James McCarthy's cross before Burnley were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time when Ashley Barnes was sent off for two bookable offences.
Burnley's mood was not helped in the second half when Mirallas escaped a red card for his dangerous challenge on George Boyd.
Tony Pulis enjoyed a happy return to Crystal Palace as his West Brom side eased their relegation worries by winning 2-0 at Selhurst Park.
Pulis left Palace on the eve of this campaign after saving the Eagles from relegation last season and he did not have to wait long for Albion to take the lead on his old stamping ground.
James Morrison nodded in Chris Brunt's second-minute corner and Craig Gardner's brilliant 30-yard strike after 53 minutes ensured Albion would end a run of three successive defeats with a precious victory.
Stoke beat Southampton 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium as the Potters claimed their first top-flight victory over Saints in 15 matches.
Morgan Schneiderlin put Southampton ahead from close range after 22 minutes when he profited from Jose Fonte's flick-on. Mame Biram Diouf equalised two minutes after the re-start when Steven Nzonzi's deflected shot came back off the crossbar and substitute Charlie Adam lashed home the 84th-minute winner.
