EPL round-up: Chelsea preserve lead, Rooney sent off in United win

Sport360 staff 21:08 27/09/2014
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  • Silly challenge: Wayne Rooney was red-carded for a high challenge on Stewart Downing.

    Premier League 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.

    Oscar gave Chelsea the lead in the seventh minute when he steered home a cut-back from Brazilian countryman Willian, who had seen his initial shot parried by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

    Diego Costa added a second goal just before the hour, glancing a header past Guzan from Cesar Azpilicueta's cross to take his tally to eight goals in his first six Premier League games.

    The Brazil-born Spain striker also played a role in Chelsea's third goal with a shot that 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.

    "When we weren't dangerous, we kept the ball. 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 for violent conduct.

    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 to become the joint-third highest scorer in Premier League history with 175 goals, the same number as Thierry Henry.

    Radamel Falcao set up Robin van Persie to rattle in United's second goal mid-way through the first half, but Diafra Sakho reduced the arrears for West Ham by nodding in after Enner Valencia's header hit the bar.

    Rooney was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute for kicking out at the fleeing Stewart Downing — his first club dismissal since March 2009- but United's 10 men held on to secure victory.
         
    "I think the referee did it too unfriendly," said Van Gaal. "You can do it in a more friendly way.

    "I call it a professional foul. I've seen them a lot of times, but the referee makes another decision. But you can't change it."

    Lampard on target again    

    Meanwhile, Manchester City withstood a fightback by Hull City to record a 4-2 win at the KC Stadium that saw them climb to third place.

    With Willy Caballero preferred to Joe Hart in goal by City manager Manuel Pellegrini, the visitors went 2-0 up through a hooked finish from Sergio Aguero and a fine 22-yard strike by Edin Dzeko.

    However, a pair of blunders by City's new centre-back Eliaquim Mangala allowed Hull back into the game.

    The France international headed Liam Rosenior's cross into his own net in the 21st minute and then conceded a penalty with a high boot on Abel Hernandez, who converted from 12 yards to level the scores.

    But after Yaya Toure had hit the post, David Silva released Dzeko to restore City's lead in the the 68th minute before substitute Frank Lampard side-footed in his fourth goal in three games late on.

    Quick-fire second-half goals from Fraizer Campbell and Mile Jedinak gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 win at home to Leicester City, while Angel Rangel was sent off for two yellow cards as Swansea City drew 0-0 at Sunderland.
        

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