London, Nov 11: Chelsea move back to second in Premiership with 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle.
Chelsea moved back to second place in the English Premiership after their 5-0 demolition of Newcastle. First half goals from Glen Johnson, Hernan Crespo and Frank Lampard and the sending-off of Newcastle's Andy O'Brien reduced the second half to a procession for the star-studded Londoners. The visitors, already weakened by bed-ridden striker Alan Shearer, looked equal to the challenge until Chelsea their defenders further forward. The home side, unchanged from Tuesday's 4-0 Champions League win away to Lazio, took the lead with 19-year-old Glen Johnson's first ever Premiership goal on 25 minutes. Crespo failed to make contact with a Wayne Bridge cross, but Johnson controlled the ball and rifled it into the net in one move.


Chelsea made it two with Hernan Crespo's first goal at Stamford Bridge. Johnson turned provider as Damien Duff latched onto his cross, and his shot was deflected into the net by the Argentine striker.


The game was all over by half-time when Andy O'Brien was sent off for a foul on Adrian Mutu. The penalty was a controversial decision by referee Paul Durkin, but Frank Lampard make no mistake from the spot.


With Newcastle down to 10 men the second half was a procession from Chelsea. Irish international Damien Duff made it four with an outstanding individual goal, then substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen headed in the fifth from Bridge's ball for Chelsea's sixth consecutive win.


English premier league standings after Sunday (November 9): P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 12 9 3 0 25 10 30 2. Chelsea 12 9 2 1 26 9 29 3. Manchester United 12 9 1 2 23 7 28 4. Charlton Athletic 12 6 3 3 19 15 21 5. Birmingham City 12 5 5 2 11 8 20 6. Manchester City 12 5 3 4 22 15 18 7. Fulham 12 5 3 4 22 18 18 8. Liverpool 12 5 2 5 18 14 17 9. Southampton 12 4 5 3 10 7 17 10. Newcastle United 12 4 4 4 16 18 16 11. Portsmouth 12 4 3 5 17 16 15 12. Middlesbrough 12 4 2 6 11 15 14 13. Tottenham Hotspur 12 3 3 6 11 16 12 14. Bolton Wanderers 12 2 6 4 9 19 12 15. Leicester City 12 3 2 7 19 21 11 16. Aston Villa 12 2 5 5 9 15 11 17. Everton 11 2 4 5 12 15 10 18. Wolverhampton Wanderers 12 2 4 6 8 24 10 19. Blackburn Rovers 11 2 2 7 15 21 8 20. Leeds United 12 2 2 8 11 31 8


Bureau Report