• Premier League

Terry stars for Chelsea, Reds win, Spurs held

Soccernet staff
January 30, 2010
John Terry powered home Chelsea's winner at Burnley © Getty Images
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Saturday's football gallery

John Terry shrugged off the controversy surrounding his private life by heading Chelsea to a 2-1 win at Burnley.

The England captain was front-page news on Saturday morning, but Chelsea backed their man and he responded in style. After Steven Fletcher had cancelled out Nicolas Anelka's first-half opener, the defender climbed high to head home a winner from a corner with seven minutes remaining.

Liverpool eased the pressure on Rafael Benitez with a 2-0 win over Bolton, as their rivals for fourth place Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw at Birmingham.

The Reds have had a season of toil but Dirk Kuyt has been one of the shining lights and he edged them ahead with a close-range finish on 37 minutes. Bolton offered little going forward and Liverpool could afford the luxury of seeing David Ngog throw his hat into the ring for the Miss of the Season award, as Kevin Davies turned Emiliano Insua's shot into his own net to seal the points.

Tottenham occupy fourth spot at present but their advantage has been cut to a single point. Jermain Defoe bagged his 15th goal of the season to fire Spurs ahead but Liam Ridgewell popped up with an injury-time leveller for Birmingham.

Aston Villa powered back into contention for fourth place in the Premier League after Gabriel Agbonlahor routed Fulham 2-0 at Craven Cottage.

Ray Wilkins launched a staunch defence of John Terry

Agbonlahor struck both goals in four first-half minutes, taking advantage of poor defending from Chris Smalling and Brede Hangeland to inflict a fifth successive league defeat on Roy Hodgson's side.

Goal-shy Wolves twice came from behind to claim a 2-2 in their vital relegation clash at Hull. Scoring for the first time in five games, Mick McCarthy's side snatched a draw against their fellow strugglers at the KC Stadium with a bizarre Anthony Gardner own goal and a Matt Jarvis strike.

Hull, who missed a chance to move out of the bottom three, twice led, firstly through an early Jan vennegoor of Hesselink effort and then a penalty from Wolves target Stephen Hunt.

In-form Everton kept up their charge up the table with a 1-0 win at Wigan which came courtesty of Tim Cahill's late goal.

West Ham began a new era of hope at Upton Park with the same old problems after a goalless draw against Blackburn.

The Hammers - playing in front of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold for the first time at the Boleyn Ground since their successful takeover - had plenty of possession but lacked a cutting edge in attack even after the second-half introduction of fit-again England striker Carlton Cole and had to settle for a point.

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