Champions Chelsea eased into a five-point lead at the top of the table after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wolves. Florent Malouda put Chelsea in control with the opening goal at Stamford Bridge, firing home after good work from Yuri Zhirkov to join Manchester City's Carlos Tevez as the league's joint leading scorer on seven goals. Salomon Kalou made it 2-0 late on, side-footing home after a neat move also involving Didier Drogba. West Brom found themselves in the dizzy heights of the top four courtesy of a 2-1 win at home to Fulham. Things started badly for the Baggies when goalkeeper Scott Carson was credited with a freak own goal after he tipped Zoltan Gera's strike onto the post only for the ball to then rebound into the net off his back. West Brom clawed themselves back into the match when Youssuf Mulumbu slotted the ball in from close range after good work by Chris Brunt, and he was involved again as Marc-Antoine Fortune slid home a cut-back from Jerome Thomas to make it 2-1 before the break. Fulham could not get back on level terms and Roberto di Matteo's side saw their tremendous start to the season continue and they ended the afternoon above both Manchester United and Arsenal in the table, for 24 hours at least. Earlier, the lunchtime kick-off between Tottenham and Everton ended 1-1 after Rafael van der Vaart scored from close range to get the home side back on level terms at White Hart Lane. Leighton Baines' stunning free-kick had put Everton in front against a Spurs side who looked be suffering a mild hangover after their midweek exertions against Inter Milan but the point was enough to send Tottenham into third spot. Aston Villa were left cursing their luck at Sunderland after losing 1-0 despite having the best of the match and having two decent-looking penalty claims turned down. Richard Dunne sliced into his own net trying to clear Steed Malbranque's cross for the eighth own goal of his top-flight career. Earlier Stewart Downing had shot against the post for Gerard Houllier's side. Birmingham were relatively untroubled at home to Blackpool, winning 2-0. Liam Ridgewell opened the scoring, reacting first to finish after Nikola Zigic headed against the bar. The giant Serbian himself guaranteed the points, seizing onto a mistake by Charlie Adam to make it 2-0 from inside the six-yard box. It ended honours even in the Lancashire derby at the DW Stadium, in a match which saw Wigan's James McCarthy stretchered off with a serious-looking injury following Fabrice Muamba's tackle, though there was no yellow card for the Bolton midfielder. Hugo Rodallega put Wigan in front in the second half but the lead did not last long as Johan Elmander seized onto Kevin Davies' knockdown to score his fifth goal in five away games and the match ended 1-1.
