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Chelsea one point away from Premiership title

Chelsea moved within a point of retaining their Premiership title on Monday with an easy 3-0 victory against Everton, although Manchester United managed to at least delay the party by beating Tottenham.

Frank Lampard's first-half shot, a header from Didier Drogba and a thunderous Michael Essien effort put Chelsea nine points ahead of United with just three games left, meaning a single point will guarantee the title.

Nonetheless, the champagne must stay on ice for almost a fortnight after two first-half strikes from England superstar Wayne Rooney gave United a 2-1 away win at Spurs in the day's early kick-off.

Chelsea, who play an FA Cup semi-final this weekend, cannot seal the title before April 29 at the earliest -- when they host Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho admitted that his side were very nearly home and dry.

"It is not easy for us to lose the three matches, it is not easy for Man United to win the three matches," the Chelea boss said.

"But you never know, so we have to be sure that we have a minimum of one point," he said.

Chelsea were clearly in a party mood, Drogba celebrating his goal by running to the crowd and planting a kiss on the cheek of a female fan in a blue shirt.

Spurs could have helped hand the title to their fellow Londoners but missed a series of chances to equalise against Manchester United after Jermaine Jenas pulled a goal back early in the second half.

"We had to battle after that," United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted. "But it was a great, open game."

It proved a grimmer result for Spurs, who are desperately trying to hang on to fourth place and the Champions League qualifying spot it brings.

Their defeat keeps them just four points ahead of Arsenal, who have a game in hand and host Spurs on Saturday.

At the opposite end of the table there was yet more drama for Harry Rednapp's recently resurgent Portsmouth, who threw away a lead to lose 2-1 away to Charlton.

Elsewhere in the Premiership, Middlesbrough won 2-0 at home to West Ham in a rehearsal for the teams' FA Cup semi-final clash this coming weekend. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's 41st-minute strike and a penalty in the 57th minute by Massimo Maccarone secured the points.
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