Saturday, September 27, 2014 | 1:38 PM
LONDON, England (AFP) – Premier League leaders Chelsea conserved their three-point advantage by beating Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday, while Wayne Rooney was sent off as Manchester United edged West Ham United.
Having drawn 1-1 at champions Manchester City last weekend, Chelsea continued their unbeaten start to the season with a straightforward win over Villa at Stamford Bridge.
Oscar gave Chelsea the lead in the seventh minute when he steered home a cut-back from Brazilian countryman Willian, who had seen his initial shot parried by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Diego Costa added a second goal just before the hour, glancing a header past Guzan from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross to take his tally to eight goals in his first six Premier League games.
The Brazil-born Spain striker also played a role in Chelsea’s third goal with a shot that Guzan could only push straight at Villa defender Aly Cissokho, enabling Willian to stab home from close range.
“Even during the period the game was 1-0, when it could be open, it was always closed because we controlled the game,” said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
“When we weren’t dangerous, we kept the ball. The result was a consequence of our dominance.”
Southampton remain Chelsea’s closest rivals after winning 2-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers, with Ryan Bertrand and Graziano Pelle finding the net either side of a Charlie Austin effort.
United climbed six places to seventh, eight points below Chelsea, after seeing off West Ham 2-1 at Old Trafford, but their victory was overshadowed by the red card shown to captain Rooney for violent conduct.
Injury problems forced United manager Louis van Gaal to give a debut to 19-year-old centre-back Paddy McNair.
But they took a fifth-minute lead when Rooney swept home Rafael da Silva’s cross to become the outright third-highest scorer in Premier League history with 176 goals; one more than Thierry Henry.
Radamel Falcao set up Robin van Persie to rattle in United’s second goal mid-way through the first half, but Diafra Sakho reduced the arrears for West Ham by nodding in after Enner Valencia’s header hit the bar.
Rooney was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute for kicking out at the fleeing Stewart Downing — his first club dismissal since March 2009 — but United’s 10 men held on to secure victory.
“I call it a professional foul,” said Van Gaal. “I’ve seen them a lot of times, but the referee makes another decision. But you can’t change it.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City withstood a fightback by Hull City to record a 4-2 win at the KC Stadium that saw them climb to third place.
With Willy Caballero preferred to Joe Hart in goal by City manager Manuel Pellegrini, the visitors went 2-0 up through a hooked finish from Sergio Aguero and a fine 22-yard strike by Edin Dzeko.
However, a pair of blunders by City’s new centre-back Eliaquim Mangala allowed Hull back into the game.
The France international headed Liam Rosenior’s cross into his own net in the 21st minute and then conceded a penalty with a high boot on Abel Hernandez, who converted from 12 yards to level the scores.
But after Yaya Toure had hit the post, David Silva released Dzeko to restore City’s lead in the the 68th minute before substitute Frank Lampard side-footed in his fourth goal in three games late on.
Earlier, Everton captain Phil Jagielka scored a sensational 92nd-minute equaliser to earn his team a 1-1 draw against derby rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
Steven Gerrard had put Liverpool ahead with a second-half free-kick, but he was upstaged in injury time when his former England colleague Jagielka drove an exquisite half-volley into the top-right corner from 25 yards.
“It has been a frustrating season so far, so to go 1-0 down and keep knocking at the door showed tremendous character. We need to keep showing character,” Jagielka told BT Sport.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, whose side are without a win in three league games, said: “We were clearly the dominant side in the game, but sometimes you don’t get what you deserve in football.”
Quick-fire second-half goals from Fraizer Campbell and Mile Jedinak gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 win at home to Leicester City, while Angel Rangel was sent off for two yellow cards as Swansea City drew 0-0 at Sunderland.
Saturday’s action concluded with Arsenal again dropping pionts following a 1-1 draw in another local derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
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ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE WRAP - Chelsea preserve lead, Rooney off in United win
