Wigan moved off the bottom of the English Premier League table and out of the relegation zone with a superb 3-1 win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.The result moves Blackpool in the opposite direction and into the relegation zone on 33 points for the first time this season.
Columbian international Hugo Rodallega gave Wigan the perfect start after just three minutes when he finished smartly from a difficult angle.
Charles Nzogbia doubled the lead before half-time after Mohamed Diame dispossed Charlie Adam in midfield. Diame himself then made it 3-0 midway through the second period with a fortuitous strike that deflected off Neal Eardley.
DJ Campbell claimed a late consolation for the home side but there was little question that Wigan deserved the three points.
A 90th minute goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Aston Villa a crucial 2-1 win at West Ham. The result lifted under pressure manager Gerard Houllier's side to ninth place in the league to ease Villa's relegation fears.
West Ham, who remain in the relegation zone on 32 points, had started well and took the lead through Robbie Keane in only the third minute. But they gifted Villa an equaliser later in the first half through a Mark Noble error that allowed Darren Bent to score.
Villa had the better of the second half but could not find the breakthrough until the final minute when Agbonlahor's simple header from Ashley Young's cross sealed the win.
Chelsea shook off the disappointment of their Champions League exit with a 3-1 Premier League win at West Bromwich Albion.
Despite falling behind early on at the Hawthorns, goals from Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard gave Chelsea the win that takes them to 61 points, just one point behind second-placed Arsenal.
West Brom, in superb form since the arrival as manager of Roy Hodgson, took the lead after 18 minutes through an excellent finish by Peter Odemwimgie.
With Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka dropped to the bench however, Didier Drogba had a chance to stake his claim for a regular place in the side, and it was the Ivory Coast international who equalised just three minutes later, taking advantage of a deflection to score with a simple finish.
Once level, Chelsea never looked back and quickly took the lead. A mistake by West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson gifted Kalou a tap in after Drogba's shot and Lampard made it 3-1 before half-time after good work by Florent Malouda.
Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was pleased with his side's performance, particularly after going behind to Odemwimgie's opener.
"It was a very good performance. We were solid, we played a good game and we won. I think we started the game well and we reacted immediately after the first goal", he said.
Elsewhere, Sunderland fell to their fourth straight defeat as Birmingham boosted their hopes of survival with a 2-0 home win. The result lifted Birmingham above their opponents on goal difference, with both sides on 38 points.
Seventh-placed Everton continued their good recent form to move to within just one point of rivals Liverpool with a 2-0 win over Blackburn at Goodison Park, with goals from Leon Osman and Leighton Baines.
Arsenal will have the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Manchester United to four points when they take on Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday.
Columbian international Hugo Rodallega gave Wigan the perfect start after just three minutes when he finished smartly from a difficult angle.
Charles Nzogbia doubled the lead before half-time after Mohamed Diame dispossed Charlie Adam in midfield. Diame himself then made it 3-0 midway through the second period with a fortuitous strike that deflected off Neal Eardley.
DJ Campbell claimed a late consolation for the home side but there was little question that Wigan deserved the three points.
A 90th minute goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Aston Villa a crucial 2-1 win at West Ham. The result lifted under pressure manager Gerard Houllier's side to ninth place in the league to ease Villa's relegation fears.
West Ham, who remain in the relegation zone on 32 points, had started well and took the lead through Robbie Keane in only the third minute. But they gifted Villa an equaliser later in the first half through a Mark Noble error that allowed Darren Bent to score.
Villa had the better of the second half but could not find the breakthrough until the final minute when Agbonlahor's simple header from Ashley Young's cross sealed the win.
Chelsea shook off the disappointment of their Champions League exit with a 3-1 Premier League win at West Bromwich Albion.
Despite falling behind early on at the Hawthorns, goals from Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Frank Lampard gave Chelsea the win that takes them to 61 points, just one point behind second-placed Arsenal.
West Brom, in superb form since the arrival as manager of Roy Hodgson, took the lead after 18 minutes through an excellent finish by Peter Odemwimgie.
With Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka dropped to the bench however, Didier Drogba had a chance to stake his claim for a regular place in the side, and it was the Ivory Coast international who equalised just three minutes later, taking advantage of a deflection to score with a simple finish.
Once level, Chelsea never looked back and quickly took the lead. A mistake by West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson gifted Kalou a tap in after Drogba's shot and Lampard made it 3-1 before half-time after good work by Florent Malouda.
Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was pleased with his side's performance, particularly after going behind to Odemwimgie's opener.
"It was a very good performance. We were solid, we played a good game and we won. I think we started the game well and we reacted immediately after the first goal", he said.
Elsewhere, Sunderland fell to their fourth straight defeat as Birmingham boosted their hopes of survival with a 2-0 home win. The result lifted Birmingham above their opponents on goal difference, with both sides on 38 points.
Seventh-placed Everton continued their good recent form to move to within just one point of rivals Liverpool with a 2-0 win over Blackburn at Goodison Park, with goals from Leon Osman and Leighton Baines.
Arsenal will have the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Manchester United to four points when they take on Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday.
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