Blues charge on towards title

Chelsea’s relentless push for the Barclays Premiership title gained added momentum as they opened up a 3-0 lead against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge.

Two goals from Didier Drogba and one for Arjen Robben left Pompey facing an unenviable challenge in the second half.

With Jose Mourinho’s side conceding just eight goals in their opening 23 league games, there seemed to be little chance of the visitors claiming any capital gains.

Drogba repaid another slice of his hefty transfer fee by firing Chelsea ahead in the 15th minute, the Ivory Coast striker turning in a Robben cross from close range.

Robben stretched their lead to 2-0 after 21 minutes when he latched on to a Frank Lampard pass and coolly sidestepped goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown before slotting home.

With Lomana LuaLua and Amdy Faye suspended, Portsmouth began well before fading fast, although Aiyegbeni Yakubu ought to have grabbed one back, only to miss from close range.

It became 3-0 after 39 minutes when Drogba struck again, this time from long range with a terrific free-kick.

Manchester United also began well at Old Trafford against Aston Villa, and unlike Portsmouth they had an early goal for their endeavour – and a 1-0 half-time lead.

The in-form Cristiano Ronaldo fired home after eight minutes, his second goal in four days after calming nerves with the opener in the FA Cup win at Exeter.

Louis Saha took Roy Keane’s pass from midfield, beat two Villa defenders, and then slipped a superb ball inside Olof Mellberg to Ronaldo, who beat Thomas Sorensen with a low finish from 15 yards.

Southampton’s prospects of survival grew after their 2-0 victory over Liverpool in the early kick-off, with Harry Redknapp finally able to celebrate his first league win since taking charge.

Liverpool’s defence was exposed as David Prutton and Peter Crouch struck to decisive effect in the opening 22 minutes at St Mary’s.

Prutton profited from a mistake by newcomer Mauricio Pellegrino to put Saints in front after just five minutes.

Terrible marking allowed Crouch to add a second, his third in consecutive games, with a sharp header from Prutton’s cross.

For Liverpool, who had Steven Gerrard unusually muted in midfield and Fernando Morientes scarcely involved in attack, it was a third defeat in eight days, after painful losses to Manchester United and FA Cup opponents Burnley.

Saints remained in the bottom three, but Crystal Palace headed them on goal difference alone, with the possibility remaining that the two sides might switch places by full-time.

Everton, with James Beattie making his home debut, conceded just before the break against in-form Charlton to fall 1-0 behind, with Matt Holland firing the Addicks ahead with an explosive shot just before the whistle.

Birmingham thrust new loan signing Salif Diao straight into action at St Andrews, but the Liverpool man could not make the difference in a goalless first half against Fulham.

Crystal Palace fielded Tottenham target Wayne Routledge as Spurs visited Selhurst Park, yet the first half lacked a goal.

And struggling Norwich’s propensity for throwing away a lead was again demonstrated at Carrow Road where Damien Francis gave them an 18th-minute lead, only for Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink to bring Middlesbrough back onto level terms.