LONDON, Aug 27: Champions Chelsea maintained their grip on the Premiership with a commanding 2-0 victory over 10-man Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday. Manchester City moved into second after stretching their unbeaten run to 12 games, coming from behind to defeat Portsmouth 2-1 while Milan Baros proved the match-winner on his Aston Villa debut as they beat Blackburn 1-0.

But it was in north London where the main fireworks took place as goals from Asier Del Horno and Damien Duff sealed victory for Chelsea and stretched their unbeaten run in the English Premiership to 33 matches.

The eagerly anticipated top-of-the-table clash erupted on 20 minutes as Michael Essien brought down Edgar Davids as he ran through on goal.

Essien escaped with a yellow card and Spurs wasted the ensuing free-kick but they were dealt a hammer blow five minutes later.

Egyptian striker Mido was harshly sent off by referee Rob Styles after leading with his elbow in an aerial challenge with Spanish full-back Del Horno.

He then rubbed salt into Tottenham wounds as he headed home a Frank Lampard corner on 39 minutes to put the Blues in front and score his first goal in English football.

It was also the first goal Spurs had conceeded this season as manager Martin Jol’s rotation policy backfired.

Jol rested three key players for Wednesday’s trip to Blackburn and paid the price by dropping two points.

But having been reduced to 10 men and fallen behind, hopes of a victory for the north London outfit all but evaporated.

And it was the recalled Duff who clinched the three points, bundling the ball home after latching on to a cross from substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips.

New signing Baros was paired in attack with Kevin Phillips as Aston Villa manager David O’Leary dropped Juan Pablo Angel to the bench.

The move quickly paid off as Phillips set up Baros to tuck away his first goal of the season on 11 minutes.

The Czech striker should have scored again five minutes later but his drilled shot from the edge of the box was saved by Brad Freidel.

Jason Roberts made history by scoring Wigan’s first ever Premiership goal, picking himself up after he was felled in the box by Gary Breen to score from the spot after just two minutes against Sunderland.

Fulham completed a miserable week for Everton, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Villarreal in midweek, beating the Merseysiders 1-0.

McBride, a former Everton player, scored the game’s only goal on 57 minutes.

Stelios Giannakopoulos kept his place in the Bolton line-up after pledging his allegiance to the club by signing a new three-year contract on Friday and his side celebrated with a 2-1 win at West Ham.

Bolton took the lead as Kevin Nolan prodded the ball home after a typical Trotters bombardment from a corner caused mayhem in the box.

JayJay Okocha’s stinging volley was cleared off the line and Kevin Davies missed his attempt before Nolan kept his cool to send the visitors into the lead.

Ivan Campo doubled Bolton’s advantage five minutes from time before a last minute Sheringham penalty salvaged some pride for the hosts.

Manchester City goalkeeper David James did his England hopes no favours as he flapped at a left wing cross from Portsmouth’s Laurent Robert leaving John Viafara with a simple header to score.

The lead did not last long, though, as Claudio Reina levelled matters on 66 minutes and then Andrew Cole scored a trademark poachers’ goal to turn the game on its head.

The victory sent City up to second in the table with only the champions sitting above them.

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