Lampard gives Chelsea lead at the break

A characteristic Frank Lampard strike gave champions Chelsea a 1-0 lead at the break against struggling Charlton at The Valley.

Amady Faye was badly caught in possession and Lampard produced a trademark strike from range in the 18th minute.

West Ham debutant Matthew Upson was forced off during a horrid first half against Aston Villa in the West Midlands.

The former Birmingham defender, who moved to the Hammers for an initial £6million last week, appeared to fall awkwardly and was replaced by Christian Dailly.

And before the break Norway striker John Carew scored his first goal for the club to earn a 1-0 lead.

An eventful first half at Ewood Park saw Blackburn drawing 1-1 with Sheffield United.

Rovers suffered an early blow with the loss of in-form striker Matt Derbyshire through injury in the 17th minute.

But passive United defending allowed Brett Emerton time to cross perfectly for Morten Gamst Pedersen to head in at the far post.

However Jon Stead’s composure and awareness saw him take hold of Rob Hulse’s flick-on to control the ball and divert it past Brad Friedel for the leveller.

Recent Wigan recruits Julius Aghahowa and Caleb Folan made a positive but goalless start as the Latics took the game to the Portsmouth without piercing the visitors’ defence.

Oguchi Onyewu made his Newcastle debut at Fulham and helped keep a clean sheet in his first 45 minutes of English football in an uneventful half at Craven Cottage.

Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was injured against Reading and had to be replaced by Andreas Isaksson in the game against Reading, which was goalless at the interval.

Meanwhile a turgid affair at Vicarage Road saw Watford and Bolton share an unappetising first half without a breakthrough.

Earlier, Liverpool huffed and puffed but could not blow Everton’s defensive wall down as the Merseyside derby finished goalless at Anfield.

The Toffees defended brilliantly as Rafael Benitez’s side ran out of ideas despite spending most of the second half camped in the visitors’ half.

Andrew Johnson had the best chance of the match on the counter-attack but the early Barclays Premiership game ended goalless as Everton became only the second side to keep a clean sheet at Anfield this season.