England round-up: Chelsea climb to the summit

Slender advantage
The win moved Claudio Ranieri's side above Arsenal FC on goal difference, with the previous leaders taking on champions Manchester United FC on Sunday afternoon. The day's other game sees Middlesbrough FC face Everton FC.

Early lead
The away side began in ominous fashion, and John Terry had already had a goal disallowed before Chelsea took the lead in the 17th minute, when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink created the space for Frank Lampard to score with a well-struck shot.

Well-worked second
The same two players were also involved in Chelsea's second nine minutes before half-time, Lampard linking with Eidur Gudjohnsen, who in turn found Damien Duff, and his perfect ball gave Hasselbaink a straightforward finish.

Second-half strikes
The match was effectively over seven minutes after half-time, as Gudjohnsen set up Duff for his first Chelsea goal. Substitute Hernán Crespo then scored his first for the club seven minutes past the hour, touching in Duff's low cross, and the Argentinian striker's second in added time lifted Chelsea one goal above Arsenal at the head of the standings.

Last-gasp equaliser
Later on Saturday, Manchester City FC missed the chance to join Chelsea on 13 points as they were held 2-2 at Fulham FC. Nicolas Anelka's deflected effort 20 seconds into the second half put the visitors in front, but two goals in quick succession, from Steed Malbranque and Louis Saha, turned the match around, only for Paulo Wanchope to score a last-minute equaliser.

Blackburn boost
Two goals in nine minutes shortly before half-time, from Lucas Neill and Andy Cole, put Blackburn Rovers FC in control away to Portsmouth FC and, although Arjan De Zeeuw pulled a goal back for the home side early in the second half, Blackburn held on for all three points.

Southampton success
Southampton FC were 3-1 winners at Tottenham Hotspur FC, with goals at the start and end of the first half from James Beattie putting the visitors in complete control. Kevin Phillips added a third on the hour, although Frédéric Kanouté pulled one back two minutes later.

Home win
Michael Owen's penalty, after Gerry Taggart had brought down Vladimír Šmicer, and Emile Heskey's 75th-minute goal proved enough for Liverpool FC to edge past Leicester City FC 2-1 at Anfield, with Marcus Bent scoring a last-minute consolation.

Decisive goals
Birmingham City FC won 2-0 at Leeds United AFC, with Robbie Savage opening the scoring in the 79th minute from the penalty spot after Roque Junior had been dismissed for a professional foul on Mikael Forssell. Forssell himself added the second five minutes later.

Villa victory
Elsewhere, Aston Villa FC won 2-1 against Charlton Athletic FC thanks to goals from Alpay Özalan and Jloyd Samuel, with Kevin Lisbie scoring a late consolation, while Newcastle United FC drew 0-0 at home to Bolton Wanderers FC.