Chelsea maintain lead as Toure rescues Man City

By The Citizen
Click for Full Image Size

Diego Costa scored again as Chelsea established a seven-point lead at the Premier League summit by comfortably beating ten-man West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Costa opened the scoring in the 11th minute, leaping into the air to control Oscar's left-wing cross on his chest and then slamming a side-foot volley past Ben Foster for his 11th goal of the campaign. Eden Hazard added a second in the 25th minute, smuggling a deflected shot beneath Foster from Cesc Fabregas's corner, before West Brom's Claudio Yacob was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Costa.

Victory saw Chelsea set a new club record of 12 unbeaten games from the start of the season. Jose Mourinho's side are now seven points clear of second-place Southampton, who vis­it Aston Villa on Monday, and remain eight points above defending cham­pions Manchester City, who won 2-1 at home to Swansea City.

Despite having captain Vincent Kompany back from injury, Man­chester City fell behind in the ninth minute at the Etihad Stadium when Wilfried Bony finished calmly from Nathan Dyer's lofted through-ball. But Stefan Jovetic swept home Jesus Navas's low cross to equalise ten minutes later and Yaya Toure gave the hosts victory early in the second half after a characteristic burst into the area.

It was only City's second win in seven games. Manuel Pellegrini's side host Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Tues­day, when even victory may not spare them from a third group-stage exit in four seasons. In Saturday's late night game, Arsenal fell at home by 1-2 to Manchester United. Agency report