Anelka double takes Chelsea top
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Article summary
Two Nicolas Anelka goals took Chelsea FC back to the Premier League summit with a 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers FC, while Tottenham Hotspur FC climbed off the bottom by triumphing 2-1 at nine-man Manchester City FC.
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Deflected opener
Excellent composure
Tuncay double
Aston Villa FC suffered a second consecutive defeat, meanwhile, succumbing on home soil to Middlesbrough FC and missing the chance to jump ahead of Manchester United FC in fourth spot. Tuncay Şanlı set Boro on their way by turning in a Stewart Downing cross after 34 minutes and although Steve Sidwell restored parity three minutes later, Turkish international Tuncay pounced on a poor back pass from the former Chelsea midfielder to seal an impressive win with two minutes left.
Three dismissals
There was plenty of excitement at the City of Manchester Stadium too, where Mark Hughes's men took a 16th-minute lead through Robinho before losing Gelson Fernandes to two yellow cards in the next ten minutes. That bolstered Tottenham's cause and, after levelling through Darren Bent just three minutes later, the same man gave them a 64th-minute lead. City defender Richard Dunne then saw red for a professional foul, with Benoît Assou-Ekotto dismissed for the visitors just before the end, as Spurs celebrated their third win under new boss Harry Redknapp. In the day's last game, Fulham FC beat Newcastle United FC 2-1 to rise from 19th to tenth in a very tight bottom half of the Premier League table. Andy Johnson's early effort was cancelled out by Shola Ameobi in the 57th minute but Johnson then won a penalty which Danny Murphy converted.