Chelsea charge onwards

Clear leaders
José Mourinho's side, the only Premiership club yet to concede a goal, moved three points clear at the top of the table thanks to strikes from Didier Drogba and Tiago. The 2-0 London derby defeat left newly-promoted Palace bottom.

Tiago tremendous
Drogba, a summer signing from Olympique de Marseille, opened his Chelsea account with a thumping 27th-minute header and although he was substituted with an ankle injury during the second half, his team-mates had doubled their lead by the time he left the pitch. With 17 minutes remaining, Palace defenders stood off Tiago and allowed him to drill in an angled right-foot shot from distance.

Early goal
In the evening's other game, an early goal from Emile Heskey gave Birmingham City FC all three points from their home match against Manchester City FC. Heskey, who joined Steve Bruce's side from Liverpool FC during the close season, took just eight minutes to break the deadlock, smashing the ball past David James in the visitors' goal.

First win
Neither club had recorded a victory in their opening two games and the result left Kevin Keegan's men in the bottom half but carried Birmingham temporarily into seventh position. There are six more Premiership matches on Wednesday night.