Wolves clear at top
WOLVES moved two points clear at the top of the Championship as goals from Diogo Jota and Leo Bonatini fired them to a 2-0 win against Aston Villa yesterday.
Jota’s seventh goal of the season in the 55th minute set Wolves on their way to a local derby success at Molineux and Bonatini wrapped up the points after 71 minutes.
Elsewhere, Sheffield United drew level on points with second placed Cardiff as Chris Basham struck early in the second half in a 1-0 win against Ipswich.
At the opposite end of the table, Bolton, promoted alongside Sheffield United from League One last season – beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 to end a painful goal drought.
Denis Odoi struck six minutes into stoppage time as Fulham came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Preston.
Sunderland’s miserable home form continued as they were held 1-1 by QPR.
The hosts – without a win at the Stadium of Light since December 2016 – needed a secondhalf equaliser from Aiden McGeady to earn a point after Idrissa Sylla’s 37th-minute opener.
An explosive start at Barnsley soon fizzled out as the Tykes drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough.
A stoppage-time equaliser from Nelson Oliveira denied 10-man Hull a win at Norwich.
Nouha Dicko put the Tigers ahead before David Meyler was sent off for two bookable offences, and Norwich eventually made them pay six minutes into added time.
Elsewhere, Leeds and Millwall both missed late penalties as they suffered 1-0 defeats to Reading and Brentford. – AFP
Tiemoue Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas started in midfield for the champions but the Blues struggled to create against a Palace side set up to pick them apart on the counter.
And with Chelsea’s balance not quite right, all three points were left with the hosts at Selhurst Park.
“To lose a player like Kante is not simple because he’s able to cover a lot of the pitch,” said Conte. “But, for sure, I have to think also to take into consideration a solution.
“You know very well that the balance is very important if you want to win. The balance is very important. For sure, today, our balance was poor.”
With Michy Batshuayi labouring up front, a performance so poor that Conte preferred to end proceedings without a recognised centreforward, Chelsea can at least hope to revert to their first-choice man up top for the clash with Roma.
“Moses is out because he’s injured. Kante is still out, and I hope to have Morata back for this game.” – The Independent