Chelsea’s dismal form worsened on Wednesday when it slipped to a 1-0 defeat at last-place Wolverhampton Wanderers for one of its most embarrassing defeats in the Premier League.
While Manchester City fell two points behind Premier League leader Manchester United with a 0-0 draw at third-place Arsenal, a fifth-minute own-goal by Jose Bosingwa left defending champion Chelsea outside the Champions League qualifying places after two wins in its past nine matches.
Early season leader Chelsea has now taken just 10 points from the last 11 games.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Chelsea’s defeat meant that Tottenham kept fourth place despite a 2-1 loss at Everton, which completed a good night for United, which beat Stoke 2-1 on Tuesday to maintain the league’s only unbeaten record. United has 44 points from 20 games as it pursues a record 19th English championship.
Liverpool’s poor form also continued with a 3-1 loss at Blackburn, which only led to more chants from fans for manager Roy Hodgson to be fired.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti had said he was in danger of being fired following a 3-3 draw with Aston Villa at the weekend, but Wednesday’s result was even worse for a coach who won the league and FA Cup in his debut season.
PHOTO: AFP
Bosingwa put lowly Wolves ahead when he bundled a corner over his own line. Salomon Kalou missed a chance to equalize in the second half and Didier Drogba hit the bar as Wolves moved off the bottom of the standings to be replaced by West Ham.
The Hammers’ mini revival ended with a 5-0 defeat at Newcastle, while Wigan is 19th after a 1-1 draw at Bolton. Aston Villa slipped into the relegation zone after losing 1-0 to visiting Sunderland.
Arsenal utterly dominated an unadventurous City side at Emirates Stadium and hit the frame of the goal three times in the first half.
Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott constantly created paths through City’s static midfield for Arsenal, while the home side’s defense limited an attack led by the ineffective Jo to just a handful of harmless counterattacks.
City’s best chances were a shot over the bar from Carlos Tevez and a low blocked shot from Yaya Toure.
Wilshere went close in the second minute with a shot that rolled wide. Walcott retrieved the ball on the goal line and crossed to Fabregas, whose close-range effort was blocked and hacked clear.
Robin van Persie hit the left post in the eighth with goalkeeper Joe Hart beaten and Arsenal maintained almost constant pressure, creating a 27th-minute opening for Fabregas — which he side-footed from just outside the area against the same post. Walcott then struck the other post from the rebound, but he had been waved offside.
Walcott thought he had earned a penalty shortly before halftime when defender Vincent Kompany appeared to handle his cross, but referee Mike Jones awarded only a corner. Hart then tipped over a swerving 25m shot by Van Persie 15 minutes into the second half as the Gunners stayed third in the standings, two points behind second-place City.
In Blackburn, Benjani Mwaruwari scored twice in his first start since Nov. 6 last year after Martin Olsson had given the host the lead.
Hodgson has been under severe pressure after a lackluster first half of the season, and chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” ran out from the Liverpool fans during the second half.
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