English Premiership
Chelsea slip-up
2012-01-21 16:54
London - Fernando Torres' three-month
goal-drought continued as Chelsea missed the chance to close the gap on
the Premier League leaders with a 0-0 draw at Premier League newboys
Norwich on Saturday.
Chelsea enjoyed the better chances of a
scrappy game at Carrow Road but were left frustrated as 50 million
striker Torres drew a blank yet again.
The draw left Chelsea in
fourth place, five points adrift of third-placed Tottenham, who face
leaders Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday.
Spanish star
Torres, who has not scored for Chelsea since October, went close with an
improvised first-half shot only to be denied by a brilliant diving save
from Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy.
The 27-year-old also spurned a
glorious chance midway through the second-half, shooting agonisingly
wide from seven yards after taking one touch too many from Jose
Bosingwa's cross.
Elsewhere Saturday, Clint Dempsey struck a
hat-trick as Fulham came from behind to defeat sixth-placed Newcastle
5-2 at Craven Cottage.
Danny Guthrie gave Newcastle the lead with a
25-yard thunderbolt just before half-time before Fulham came roaring
back in the second half.
Danny Murphy levelled from the penalty
spot after Davide Santon brought down Damien Duff and then two goals in
six minutes from USA international Dempsey made it 3-1.
Bobby Zamora then made it 4-1 from the penalty spot on 68 minutes as Newcastle's challenge unravelled.
Hatem Ben Arfa scored a consolation goal for Newcastle before Dempsey completed his hat-trick.
Queens
Park Rangers moved out of the relegation zone after goals from Heidar
Helguson, Akos Buzsaky and Tommy Smith gave new manager Mark Hughes the
first victory of his reign with a 3-1 win over bottom club Wigan.
Wigan
had raised hopes of a fightback in the second half when Hugo Rodallega
pulled one back to make it 2-1, before goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi pulled
off a stunning penalty save for the Latics.
But QPR's third,
scored by Smith nine minutes from time, killed the game off and means
that Roberto Martinez's side are now four points adrift of safety.
Meanwhile,
Blackburn grabbed a 1-1 draw against Everton at Goodison Park, David
Goodwillie equalising for Rovers after Tim Cahill's first goal for 13
months gave Everton the lead on 24 minutes.
A dramatic finale at the Britannia Stadium saw West Bromwich Albion snatch a 2-1 win over Stoke.
Graham
Dorrans' injury-time free-kick clinched the three points for the
Baggies after Stoke had looked to have secured a share of the points
with Cameron Jerome's 86th-minute equaliser.
West Brom had taken the lead through James Morrison on 35 minutes after Thomas Sorensen's blunder.
Sunderland's
resurgence under Martin O'Neill gathered pace with a 2-0 win over
Swansea, Stephane Sessegnon scoring the opener after working a clever
one-two with James McClean on 14 minutes.
Substitute Craig Gardner wrapped up the points seven minutes after coming on as the Black Cats good form continued.
Elsewhere,
Robbie Keane made a triumphant return for Aston Villa, scoring twice in
a 3-2 win over Wolves in his first match back since completing a loan
move from MLS team Los Angeles Galaxy.
Darren Bent put Villa ahead
with a penalty on 11 minutes but Wolves fought back to go 2-1 up
through Michael Kightly and David Edwards.
But Keane completed a fairytale return for Villa with a 51st minute equaliser before snatching the winner six minutes from time.