Chelsea FC go 11 clear points at top, Crystal Palace struggle out of relegation zone

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 11 points with a 3-1 win against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

Cesc Fabregas, on the occasion of his 300th Premier League appearance, gave Chelsea the lead on 19 minutes, volleying home from a Pedro pass after good work from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.



Fernando Llorente, who played under Antonio Conte at Juventus, headed Swansea level in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.

But second-half goals from Pedro and Costa ensured Chelsea's title charge continued apace.
Everton's unbeaten run in the Premier League now stands at nine games following a 2-0 win against relegation-threatened Sunderland.

Idrissa Gueye converted Seamus Coleman's cross from close range on 40 minutes for his first goal for the club.



Tom Davies came close to extending Everton's lead in the final minute of the first-half, striking the woodwork.

A similar effort from Jermain Defoe on 79 minutes could have brought Sunderland back into it but a minute later Romelu Lukaku put the game beyond their reach with his 60th Everton goal.

Crystal Palace moved out of the relegation zone at the expense of Leicester City as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Selhurst Park.

Patrick van Aanholt scored with a low effort from the edge of the box into the bottom corner in the 34th minute.



Gaston Ramirez and Cristhian Stuani forced Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey into second-half saves but otherwise Boro, who have scored three goals in nine league games, rarely threatened.
West Bromwich Albion came from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 thanks to goals from defenders Craig Dawson and Gareth McAuley.

Bournemouth took the lead from the penalty spot in the fifth-minute after Ryan Fraser was fouled by Allan Nyom. Josh King stepped up and sent Ben Foster the wrong way, dispatching into the bottom right hand corner.

But the Cherries' lead was short lived. Dawson had West Brom back on level terms in the 10th minute with a deflected effort.

And McAuley completed the turnaround on 21 minutes with his sixth goal of the season after Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc failed to clear a corner.

In the late game, Andre Ayew's 73rd-minute goal earned a point for West Ham in a 1-1 draw with Watford.



The hosts took the lead in only the third minute at Vicarage Road, Troy Deeney netting a penalty after Cheikhou Kouyate had been penalised for pushing over Mauro Zarate.

West Ham pushed for an equaliser and finally got their reward 17 minutes from time when Michail Antonio, who was later sent off, hit both posts with a shot and Ayew tapped in the rebound.

Hull City played out a 1-1 draw with Burnley, a result that leaves them 19th but only one point from safety.

A Tom Huddlestone penalty in the 72nd minute had Hull on course to climb out of the bottom three after Michael Keane handled in the area.

But four minutes later the former Manchester United defender scored from Robbie Brady's corner to level the score and earn his side an important away point.

Burnley finished the game with 10 men as Ashley Barnes was red-carded for a second bookable offence.



SOURCE: SOCCERNET.COM
www.ossceolofofo.com