LONDON (AP) – Chelsea produced an instant response to its first setback of the Premier League football season today by beating Hull 2-0 to maintain a three-point lead over Manchester City after the champions won at Leicester.
Eden Hazard headed in his eighth goal of the season in the seventh minute and played a one-two with Branislav Ivanovic before releasing Diego Costa to score in the 68th minute.
Between the goals, Chelsea gained a man advantage when Hull midfielder Tom Huddlestone was sent off on the hour, receiving a second booking for a studs-up challenge on Filipe Luis.
City coped again without injured top scorer Sergio Aguero, with Frank Lampard securing the 1-0 victory at bottom-place Leicester by slotting in a low cross from Samir Nasri in the 40th minute. The former Chelsea midfielder’s 175th Premier League goal put him level with ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry in fourth on the all-time scorers’ list.
While West Ham stayed fourth after drawing 1-1 with Sunderland and Southampton slumped to a fourth successive loss. A 1-0 loss at Burnley, after Ashley Barnes’ goal, left the south-coast side in fifth, having been second last month.
Burnley provisionally climbed out of the relegation zone, which is now made up of Queens Park Rangers, Hull and Leicester.
Crystal Palace are only a point above the danger zone after drawing 1-1 with Stoke. James McArthur’s header was cancelled out by Stoke striker Peter Crouch.
West Bromwich Albion are two points further in front of Palace after beating ten-man Aston Villa 1-0 through Craig Gardner’s goal.
