PREMIER LEAGUE WRAP: Order restored at the top as Man City maintain brilliant start

The Premier League top-five is now back to a more standard look after Week 14 of the 2011/12 season.

All top five sides recorded victories on the weekend with league leaders Manchester City again the most impressive with a 5-1 hammering of Norwich City as Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal all continued on their merry way.

The weekend’s round of matches kicked off with the Blues taking on Newcastle United at Sports Direct Arena and coming away with a flattering 3-0 result to inflict the Magpies second loss of the campaign and dumping them out of the top five. Didier Drogba nodded Chelsea ahead late in the first half before Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge added two late goals to give the Londoners a comfortable win in the end.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni was the star of the show at Ewood Park with four goals as Blackburn Rovers got back to winning ways with a 4-2 home victory over Swansea City who were served by goals from Leroy Lita and Luke Moore but had to do without Joe Allan for the final nine minutes after he received two yellow cards.

City were at their attacking best with three goals prior to the 70-minute mark through Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure before Steve Morison got a consolation goal for the Canaries but it wasn’t over there as the home side made it five thanks to Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson in the final few minutes.

QPR were denied another home win when Shane Long grabbed an 81st minute leveler for West Bromwich Albion following Heidar Helguson’s opener whilst Tottenham were clinical in seeing off Bolton 3-0 with Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe on the scoresheet as Trotters defender Gary Cahill was shown a straight red in the 18th minute.

Spurs’ fellow North Londoners Arsenal hammered Wigan Athletic 4-0 at the DW Stadium courtesy of goals from Mikel Arteta, Thomas Vermaelen, Gervinho and of course Robin van Persie as Phil Jones netted his first club goal of his career to help reigning champions Man Utd to a 1-0 win at Aston Villa.

Sunday saw Stoke City edge Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park through an early Robert Huth goal as Wolves came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1. Kieran Richardson got the Steve Bruce-less Black Cats in front early in the second half with a wonderful finish before Wolves responded 25 seconds after Seb Larsson had his tame 73rd-minute penalty saved by Wayne Hennessey through Steven Fletcher. The Scotland international then put his side ahead with nine minutes remaining to ensure a gritty come-from-behind victory.

And finally, Fulham saw off Liverpool 1-0 at Craven Cottage with Clint Dempsey supplying the winner with five minutes of regular time remaining after Reds midfielder Jay Spearing was sent off in the 72nd minute.

 
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