Chelsea edge derby, Everton win (AAA)

Chelsea edge derby, Everton win
(PA) Monday 28 December 2009
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A freak winner gave Chelsea a 2-1 victory over local rivals Fulham that sent them five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Cottagers made a dream start by surging ahead through Zoltan Gera with just three minutes on the clock, after Bobby Zamora picked out the Hungarian international, who turned and planted his shot beyond Petr Cech at point-blank range.

However, Didier Drogba headed his side level in the 73rd minute before Chelsea took the lead in somewhat bizarre circumstances two minutes later. Daniel Sturridge's tight-angled shot was well saved by Mark Schwarzer, but his parry bounced off Fulham defender Chris Smalling and into the back of the net.

Tottenham, Birmingham on the climb
Birmingham City leapfrogged Liverpool into seventh place in the standings thanks to a 1-0 win at Stoke City. Cameron Jerome grabbed the only goal of the game five minutes after the break, bundling the ball home from three yards out.

Everton also triumphed 2-0, with James Vaughan scoring seven minutes from time against ten-man Burnley to send the hosts to their first win in two months. Steven Pienaar then grabbed a late second.

Stephen Jordan was sent off shortly after the hour mark when he picked up a second yellow card for pulling back Pienaar.

Elsewhere, Blackburn and Sunderland played out a 2-2 draw at Ewood Park. The game erupted into life in the 52nd minute when Darren Bent stubbed home the opener, but Rovers responded by drawing level inside a minute, Morten Gamst Pedersen cutting in and drilling a low shot in off the post past Marton Fulop.

The visitors regained the lead against the run of play in the 65th minute when Jordan Henderson's punt forward sent Bent clear to slide a cool finish across Paul Robinson and into the net for his 13th goal of the season. However, El-Hadji Diouf salvaged a point for Blackburn with a header 13 minutes from time, just three minutes after coming off the bench.

Earlier in the day, Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric scored on his return to the starting XI to help defeat West Ham United 2-0 at White Hart Lane. The Croatian, with only two substitute appearances under his belt since fracturing a fibula in August, struck in the 11th minute as he turned home Aaron Lennon's cross.

To make matters worse, former Hammers striker Jermain Defoe added a second before the end to see Spurs move into fourth place in the standings.