adminLONDON. — English Premier League soccer leaders Chelsea conserved their three-point advantage by beating Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday, while Wayne Rooney was sent off as Manchester United edged West Ham United. Having drawn 1-1 at champions Manchester City last weekend, Chelsea continued their unbeaten start to the season with a straightforward win over Villa at Stamford Bridge. Willian set up Brazilian countryman Oscar to steer home Chelsea’s opener in the seventh minute before Diego Costa scored his eighth goal in six English Premier League games with a glancing header.
Costa also played a role in Chelsea’s third goal with a right-foot drive that Brad Guzan could only push straight at Villa defender Aly Cissokho, enabling Willian to stab home from close range.
“Even during the period the game was 1-0, when it could be open, it was always closed because we controlled the game,” said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
“The result was a consequence of our dominance.”
Southampton remain Chelsea’s closest rivals after winning 2-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers, with Ryan Bertrand and Graziano Pelle finding the net either side of a Charlie Austin effort.
United climbed six places to seventh, eight points below Chelsea, after seeing off West Ham 2-1 at Old Trafford, but their victory was overshadowed by the red card shown to captain Rooney.
Injury problems forced United manager Louis van Gaal to give a debut to 19-year-old centre-back Paddy McNair.
But they took a fifth-minute lead when Rooney swept home Rafael da Silva’s cross — AFP.
Online Reporter