LONDON, March 19: Chelsea took another confident stride towards the Premier League title on Saturday when they preserved their 11-point lead with a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace. Goals from Frank Lampard and Joe Cole and a double for substitute Mateja Kezman sealed the points for Jose Mourinho’s side who were briefly pegged back by Aki Riihilahti’s equaliser at Stamford Bridge .
Chelsea have 77 points from 30 games with Manchester United in second place on 66 after Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal gave them a 1-0 win at home to Fulham. Champions Arsenal are a further two points adrift after Robin van Persie earned them a 1-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers.
Charlton Athletic wasted the chance to go fifth with a shock 4-1 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion, Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester City 2-1 and Portsmouth and Newcastle United shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park. #
Earlier, a patched-up Arsenal cruised to a 1-0 victory in a dress rehearsal of next month’s FA Cup semifinal.
Three minutes before the end of a low-key first half Van Persie received an incisive pass from Ashley Cole, spun smoothly and then glided round goalkeeper Brad Friedel to slide the Gunners ahead.
Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes should have increased Arsenal’s lead in the opening minutes of the second half, shooting tamely at Friedel after a storming run by compatriot Francesc Fabregas.
