Fergie admits Chelsea lead looks 'unassailable'

Alex Ferguson has admitted Chelsea's march towards a first league title for Chelsea in 50 years looks "unassailable".

Arsene Wenger has already conceded as much, and over the weekend there was a similarly frank assessment from Alex Ferguson, even though he is reluctant to throw in the towel just yet.

As well as Manchester United are playing, they and Wenger’s Arsenal seem unable to eat into Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premiership, which now stands at 11 points.

“It looks like an unassailable lead,” confirmed Ferguson, after his side had survived a late onslaught to beat Fulham thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half strike.

After missing out on the second automatic Champions League spot last term, United are anxious not to suffer the same fate again, although third-placed Arsenal remain just two points adrift following their 1-0 win at Blackburn.

Robin van Persie netted the Gunners’ winner, an extreme irony as the young Dutchman, sent off at Southampton last month, was only drafted into Arsene Wenger’s starting line-up when Freddie Ljungberg aggravated an ankle injury in the warm-up.

“What happened at Southampton was a real low point for me,” he admitted. “But the only way is up and now I am much happier.”

Meanwhile, Joe Cole is listening to the advice of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho - and the reward is likely to be his first Premiership winners’ medal.

The pair have not always seen eye-to-eye this season, with Mourinho taking his time to be convinced about Cole’s potential as a team player.

But in the absence of Arjen Robben, the Stamford Bridge chief had put his trust in Cole’s abilities.

That faith has been justified by a string of impressive performances, culminating in a man-of-the-match display in the 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

“I have learned a lot from the boss and the coaching staff this season,” said Cole. “I have taken a lot on board and become more tactically aware and disciplined.

“I have always worked hard but especially in this manager’s team, you have to apply yourself and do what he says 100% of the time.”

Cole proved to be Chelsea’s match-winner, saving them from an unwanted stumble in the London derby after Aki Riihilahti had levelled Frank Lampard’s opener. Mateja Kezman netted twice following Cole’s strike.

The defeat for Blackburn against Arsenal left Rovers on the fringes of the relegation battle which took a twist with Southampton and West Brom both recording unexpected away wins.

A Peter Crouch double and an Andreas Jakobsson strike gave Saints a 3-1 win at Middlesbrough, whose season is tailing off dramatically.

West Brom did even better, putting four past Charlton at the Valley, including a Robert Earnshaw hat-trick.

Crystal Palace now find themselves back in the bottom three, with Southampton out of the drop zone, just below Fulham and Blackburn.

Portsmouth remain in trouble too, despite drawing with in-form Newcastle at Fratton Park, where Steve Stone cancelled out Kieron Dyer’s opener.

It looks increasingly likely the only way the Magpies will qualify for Europe is through the cup competitions.

Bolton maintained their unlikely push for a Champions League slot with a 1-0 home win over basement boys Norwich, sending Sam Allardyce’s men into the international break five points behind fourth-placed Everton.

The Toffeemen lost the Merseyside derby at Anfield but Liverpool were left counting the cost too, picking up a clutch of injuries, plus a red card for Milan Baros which will leave Rafael Benitez with a selection nightmare for the clash with Bolton on April 2.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen gifted Emile Heskey an opener in Birmingham’s 2-0 victory.

Birmingham remain anchored in mid-table, just behind Manchester City, who slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham in Stuart Pearce’s first game in charge.

The postscript to the White Hart Lane clash is likely to see the FA launch action against Timothee Atouba for elbowing Joey Barton in the build-up to Robbie Keane’s winner.