Chelsea resume winning ways, champions held

Chelsea FC finished a disappointing week on a high with a 3-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers FC on a day when Demba Ba pegged back second-placed Manchester United FC.

Beaten 2-1 by Liverpool FC and Bayern 04 Leverkusen in the last six days, Chelsea responded with three first-half goals at Stamford Bridge, captain John Terry setting the Blues on their way when he headed in an early corner.

Further strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata embellished a victory which leaves Chelsea, in fifth, a point behind Newcastle. The Magpies fell behind to a fortuitous Javier Hernández opener (49) but equalised at Old Trafford through Ba's penalty (64).

Alan Pardew's side had Jonás Gutiérrez sent off shortly after and survived late pressure from their hosts, who had a goal disallowed for offside in the closing stages. Manchester City FC will establish a seven-point lead over their neighbours if they defeat Liverpool on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur FC consolidated third place by winning 3-1 at West Bromwich Albion FC, Jermain Defoe and Emanuel Adebayor on target in the last nine minutes. Elsewhere, there was success for Everton FC, Norwich City FC, Stoke City FC and Wigan Athletic FC, who are off the bottom as a result. In the late fixture Arsenal FC drew 1-1 at home against Fulham FC.