Hernan Crespo scored in the 28th minute against Sunderland yesterday - FILE
LONDON (Reuters):
CHELSEA SURVIVED an early scare and the dismissal of winger Arjen Robben to beat bottom side Sunderland 2-1 and stretch their Premier League lead to 16 points yesterday.
Sunderland took a shock lead through Liam Lawrence after 12 minutes, with Hernan Crespo replying for the misfiring champions in the 28th.
Dutchman Robben scored a deflected winner for Chelsea in the 69th minute, but was immediately shown a second yellow card for celebrating in the crowd.
It was a far-from-vintage Chelsea performance but their club record 10th successive league win was enough to make their retention of the title even more likely.
Chelsea have 61 points from 22 games with United second on 45 from 22. Then come Liverpool, on 44 points from 20 games, Tottenham (40 from 22) and Arsenal (37 from 21).
Wigan remain sixth on 34 points after they lost 1-0 at home to 10-man West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
MAMMOTH 52 POINTS
The teams took to the pitch at the Stadium of Light with a mammoth 52 points between them.
Chelsea had lost once in 21 games to stay nicely on course for the title while Sunderland had won once in 20 to set up an immediate return to the second division.
However, Sunderland stunned the champions after 12 minutes when Lawrence seized on a weak John Terry header to drive home a powerful left-footed shot from the edge of the box.
Chelsea replied with a controversial goal. William Gallas sent over a deep cross that Joe Cole headed back across goal for Crespo to turn in. Sunderland players claimed the ball was over the byline before Cole reached it.
Chelsea only began to find their feet in the second half when Sunderland keeper Kelvin Davis was called upon to make a series of saves.
LEFT HELPLESS
The keeper was left helpless for the winner, though. Robben cut in from the right and saw his shot deflected off a defender's head.
The Dutchman was sent off immediately afterwards when he received a second caution for going into the crowd to celebrate.
The goal, and the red card, took the steam out of the match and Chelsea survived without any real scares.
West Brom moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a spirited win at Wigan.
The visitors had defender Darren Moore sent off in the 43rd minute for a second booking but took the lead in the 56th with a neat low finish by substitute defender Martin Albrechtsen, who had been introduced as part of coach Bryan Robson's reshuffle after the red card.
Lee McCulloch headed against the bar for Wigan but West Brom had Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak to thank for their win after he pulled off an incredible save to block a Jason Roberts shot from point-blank range in injury time.
