Centurion Drogba fires Chelsea revival
LONDON, March 10, 2012 (AFP) – Didier Drogba's 100th Premier League goal was enough to beat ten-man Stoke City at Stamford Bridge and maintain Chelsea's challenge for a top four finish. The win moved the Blues level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal who were due to face Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Monday.
And Drogba's 68th-minute goal ensured caretaker-manager Roberto Di Matteo savoured victory in his first Premier League game since taking charge of the side following the dismissal of Andre Villas-boas last weekend.
But Di Matteo – who also oversaw a midweek FA Cup victory at Birmingham – knows his side will have to perform better if they are to overcome a 3-1 first leg deficit when they face Napoli in the Champions League next week.
Drogba's 68th-minute goal ensured caretakermanager Roberto Di Matteo savoured victory in his first Premier League game since taking charge of the side following the dismissal of Andre Villas-boas last weekend
Stoke were forced to play with ten men for over an hour following the 25th minute dismissal of Ricardo Fuller for a stamp on Branislav Ivanovic.
Meanwhile, problems mounted for struggling Queens Park Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers, who both suffered defeats that left the two clubs in the relegation zone.
Bolton snatched a dramatic late 2-1 win over QPR as the debate over goal-line technology was reignited by a blunder from match officials. An 86th-minute winner from substitute Ivan Klasnic bagged a vital three points for Bolton after Djibril Cisse's equaliser looked to have earned a draw for Rangers following Darren Pratley's opener.
But the main talking point from an entertaining game was a disallowed goal from QPR centre-back Clint Hill after 20 minutes.
Replays showed Hill's powerful header had clearly crossed the goalline yet despite QPR protests, neither the linesman nor referee Martin Atkinson were inclined to give the goal and Bolton escaped.
Wolves were sent spinning to a 2-0 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers after two goals from Canadian youngster David Hoilett. Hoilett opened the scoring on 43 minutes, lashing in from near the penalty spot after Wolves failed to clear Morten Gamst Pedersen's long throw.
Hoilett doubled Rovers' lead in the 69th minute, gathering the ball in midfield before unleashing a long-range shot to beat Wayne Hennessey.
The win – Rovers' first clean sheet of the season – saw the Lancashire club go three points clear of the relegation zone.