Chelsea seek to consolidate lead at West Ham

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard won't take any pleasure from plunging West Ham deeper into relegation trouble even though the former Hammers star faces another hostile reception at Upton Park on Sunday.Lampard has been public enemy number one in east London since quitting West Ham to join bitter rivals Chelsea for 11 million pounds (12.3 million euros) in 2001.The 31-year-old, who spent nine years at West Ham, has suffered vicious abuse from the Hammers fans every time he has faced his old club and he knows it will be no different this weekend.

Frank Lampard believes Chelsea are ready to wrestle the Premier League title away from Manchester United after warming up for next weekend's showdown at Old Trafford with a 7-1 rout of Aston Villa.Lampard scored four times in Saturday's impressive victory at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea look back to their best after a series of lacklustre displays.Carlo Ancelotti's side crashed out of the Champions League against Inter Milan and dropped league points against Manchester City and Blackburn.

Chelsea closed to within just a point of Premier League leaders Manchester United with a 5-0 victory away to bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth on Wednesday.Didier Drogba scored twice to take his tally to 24 goals in 27 league matches as Chelsea bounced back from the disappointment of dropping points in a draw with Blackburn last weekend.Florent Malouda also scored twice at Fratton Park with England midfielder Frank Lampard adding a fifth goal late on.

Chelsea reclaimed their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after a hard-earned 2-1 win over bottom side Portsmouth on Wednesday.Nicolas Anelka's first-half strike and a second-half penalty from Frank Lampard secured the first win in five matches for Carlo Ancelotti's side and ensured it was an unhappy return to Stamford Bridge for former Chelsea boss Avram Grant, now the manager of Portsmouth.

Chelsea were left four points clear at the top of the English Premier League table after a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to London rivals West Ham on Sunday.Former Hammers midfielder Frank Lampard kept his nerve to draw Chelsea level from the penalty spot in the 61st minute, three-times having to strike the spot-kick after referee Mike Dean twice ordered a re-take for encroachment.The penalty award was controversial in itself, with Hammers captain Matthew Upson adamant he had played the ball before bringing down Chelsea substitute Daniel Sturridge.

West Ham have sacked manager Gianfranco Zola, the Premier League club confirmed on Tuesday.Zola was widely expected to leave Upton Park following a turbulent campaign which saw the club's co-owner David Sullivan strongly criticise the Italian and his players following a series of disappointing results.Former Chelsea star Zola just managed to keep his side in the top-flight, but they finished only one place above the relegation zone and he has paid the price for his faltering relationship with the club's owners.

Chelsea marched back to the top of the Premier League table with an emphatic 3-0 defeat of on-form Birmingham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.A Frank Lampard double helped Carlo Ancelotti's side end Birmingham's 15-match unbeaten run on a night when Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at Aston Villa.Chelsea were in control from the start, with Florent Malouda heading in a Joe Cole cross to secure a fifth minute lead.Ricardo Carvalho then headed against the woodwork before Frank Lampard doubled the lead with a drive from 20 yards just after the half hour mark.

Chelsea moved three points clear of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League as Frank Lampard's late penalty clinched a 2-1 win over Portsmouth on Wednesday.Carlo Ancelotti's side were in danger of failing to win for the fifth successive match in all competitions when Portsmouth's Frederic Piquionne cancelled out Nicolas Anelka's first half opener.