Hasselbaink hat-trick comforts Chelsea

Chelsea FC kept their English Premiership title hopes alive with a 5-2 home win against bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers FC a day ahead of leaders Arsenal FC's meeting with Manchester United FC.

Six-point gap
Trailing UEFA Champions League quarter-final opponents Arsenal by nine points at the start of play, Chelsea reduced that to six with eight games left. They made the perfect start on four minutes when Mario Melchiot shot them ahead.

Hasselbaink treble
However, Henri Camara levelled in the 23rd minute and a shock win was on the cards after Jody Craddock headed in Paul Ince's cross 12 minutes into the second half. But Frank Lampard equalised 20 minutes from time, and then substitute Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink struck a hat-trick in the final 13 minutes to transform the game.

Leeds slump
Leeds United AFC are still only a point ahead of Wolves after their 4-1 defeat at Birmingham City FC. Mark Viduka gave Leeds a fourth-minute lead, but a miss by the same player shortly afterward proved costly as Bryan Hughes scored on 12 and 67 minutes to put Birmingham ahead.

Forssell double
Mikael Forssell confirmed victory with goals in the 69th and 80th minute, the latter a penalty, to take his side up to sixth, only behind Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC on goal difference. Liverpool visit Leicester City FC tomorrow, when Newcastle go to Bolton Wanderers FC.

Portsmouth delight
Portsmouth FC took full advantage of Leicester's inactivity to move out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win on their first top-flight visit to Blackburn Rovers FC in 45 years. Teddy Sheringham's 17th-minute goal for Portsmouth was cancelled out before the break by Tugay Kerimoglu but Yakubu Ayegbeni's strong shot won the game eight minutes from time.

Everton held
Their first away victory in the Premiership takes Portsmouth to within a point of Blackburn and Manchester City FC, who drew 0-0 at home to Fulham. Everton FC are three points further ahead after drawing 1-1 with Middlesbrough FC. Tomasz Radzinski put Everton ahead with 12 minutes left only for Joseph-Desiré Job to equalise within five minutes.

Villa joy
Higher up the table, Aston Villa FC are seventh having overtaken Charlton Athletic FC following a 2-1 away win in which Charlton missed a last-minute penalty. Rory Delap's first goal in two years gave Southampton FC a 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur FC.