Drogba sends Chelsea back to top

Didier Drogba struck twice as Chelsea returned to the top of the Premier League with an impressive 4-1 win over relegation-threatened West Ham on Saturday.

The victory lifted Carlo Ancelotti’s side a point clear of Manchester United with both teams having played 29 matches. United can reclaim top spot by beating Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Tottenham consolidated their hold on the final Champions League qualifying spot with a 3-1 win over Blackburn while Wolves won the day’s big relegation battle, 2-1 at Burnley.

Third-placed Arsenal were in action at Hull in a late kick-off.

West Ham had gone in level at the break at Stamford Bridge, thanks to a stunning 25-yard strike from Chelsea old boy Scott Parker which cancelled out Alex’s early header for the home side.

But Drogba’s second-half brace, either side of a Florent Malouda strike, took his goal tally for the season to 27 and enabled Chelsea to preserve a little energy ahead of next week’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Inter Milan.

Tottenham tightened their grip on fourth place after Roman Pavlyuchenko made it eight goals in his last six matches with a double in a 3-1 win over Blackburn.

Jermain Defoe put Tottenham ahead in the first half. Russian striker Pavlyuchenko struck soon after the interval and then netted again in the closing stages to ease the hosts’ nerves following Christopher Samba’s goal for Blackburn.

Tottenham are three points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester City, who travel to Sunderland on Sunday, and manager Harry Redknapp is growing increasingly confident about his side’s prospects of joining the European elite.

“People have always got doubts about everything, all I’ve said is we have got a chance,” Redknapp said. “It’s not impossible, we have had a great year.”

Aston Villa remain in the hunt for fourth spot but their cause was not helped by a goalless draw at Stoke.

Everton’s strong recent form was reflected in a powerful start at Birmingham, Victor Anichebe and Ayegbeni Yakubu giving them a two-goal lead inside 22 minutes.

But they were forced to settle for a point after an entertaining encounter at St Andrew’s. Cameron Jerome got Birmingham back into the match and Craig Gardner claimed the equaliser with his first goal since his January move from Aston Villa.

Bolton continued their resurgence under Owen Coyle with a convincing 4-0 win over Wigan.

Johan Elmander gave the Trotters a tenth-minute lead, before Bolton went on the rampage in the second-half.

Emnader’s strike partner Kevin Davies converted a penalty after Tamir Cohen was brought down, Fabrice Muamba made sure of the points in the 53rd minute and Matthew Taylor turned the game into a rout with a fourth 17 minutes from time.

Wolves claimed what may prove to be an extremely important victory when they overcame relegation rivals Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor to pull three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of Hull’s late match against Arsenal.

Matt Jarvis gave the visitors a first-half lead after a misjudged back header by Tyrone Mears and a Clarke Carlisle own goal early in the second half made it a doubly miserable afternoon for Burnley’s defenders.

Steven Thompson pulled a goal back with 18 minutes left but Burnley were unable to salvage a point.

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