Boro upsets Chelsea, Man U cuts lead

LONDON – Chelsea was stunned 3-0 by struggling Middlesbrough in the English Premier League on Saturday to record Jose Mourinho’s heaviest loss as Blues manager.

Second-placed Manchester United trimmed the Blues’ lead to 12 points by winning 3-1 at Portsmouth. Goals by Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback, England winger Stewart Downing and Nigerian striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu gave ‘Boro beaten 4-0 at home by Aston Villa last week – the upset of the season.”When you lose, it is always a bad day, especially when you don’t lose a lot of times,” Mourinho said.”In my time at Chelsea, this is the third defeat in the Premiership and you can say it was the worst.”We lost last season to Manchester City 1-0 and we didn’t deserve it; we lost this season at Manchester United 1-0 and we didn’t deserve it; we lost today 3-0 we deserved it.”Steve McClaren’s ‘Boro has also beaten Manchester United and Arsenal at home and, after its latest victory, climbed one place to 16th, a healthy eight points clear of the relegation zone.”We got the goal early and it settled us down and give us something to fight for,” McClaren said.”We defended very well and hit them on the break.We always looked dangerous.”Chelsea is still a runaway league leader, but Manchester United closed the gap with victory over next-to-last Portsmouth.Ruud van Nistelrooy put the Red Devils ahead in the 18th minute at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park and Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice before halftime.United sent on Tim Howard for injured goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar for the second half and the American had a shaky time, Matt Taylor replying for Pompey with three minutes to go.Sami Hyypia scored the only goal as Liverpool ended a run of three losses and a draw by winning 1-0 at Wigan.Gilberto Silva equalised in the third minute of injury time for Arsenal to draw 1-1 at home to Bolton.Everton edged Blackburn 1-0 despite playing for 81 minutes with 10 men after goalkeeper Iain Turner was ejected for handling a back pass outside his area.James Beattie scored the only goal, in the 33rd minute.Fulham hammered West Bromwich Albion 6-1 with two goals each from Heidar Helguson and Collins John, and Newcastle won 2-1 at Aston Villa for its second victory in a row after manager Graeme Souness was fired.Shola Ameobi’s goal in the second minute put Newcastle on the road to victory at Villa Park and, after Luke Moore had made it five goals in three games for the home side, French forward Charles N’Zogbia struck again for the Magpies, who are being led temporarily by Glenn Roeder.”It’s great to score early,” Roeder said.”You can never score too early and I think we needed that away from home because we haven’t scored too many.”Finland centre-back Hyypia struck in the 30th minute at the JJB Stadium as Liverpool held on to third place.”I go up to set-pieces and I’ve waited to score a goal,” said Hyypia, who hadn’t scored for 10 months.”Of course my job is to keep clean sheets rather than score goals, but goals are a bonus, and today it was with my left foot as well.”It was yet another black day for Liverpool’s strike force, however, despite Rafa Benitez’ decision to start Robbie Fowler for the first time since his return from Manchester City.None of the current strikers at Anfield have scored during 2006.Manager Paul Jewell said he was frustrated that Senegal striker Henri Camara had not returned from the African Nations Cup in Egypt, even though his team’s last game was on Thursday.”I don’t know what the situation is,” Jewell said.”He was booked on a flight yesterday.I don’t want to say too much at the moment.”- Nampa-APGoals by Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback, England winger Stewart Downing and Nigerian striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu gave ‘Boro beaten 4-0 at home by Aston Villa last week – the upset of the season.”When you lose, it is always a bad day, especially when you don’t lose a lot of times,” Mourinho said.”In my time at Chelsea, this is the third defeat in the Premiership and you can say it was the worst.”We lost last season to Manchester City 1-0 and we didn’t deserve it; we lost this season at Manchester United 1-0 and we didn’t deserve it; we lost today 3-0 we deserved it.”Steve McClaren’s ‘Boro has also beaten Manchester United and Arsenal at home and, after its latest victory, climbed one place to 16th, a healthy eight points clear of the relegation zone.”We got the goal early and it settled us down and give us something to fight for,” McClaren said.”We defended very well and hit them on the break.We always looked dangerous.”Chelsea is still a runaway league leader, but Manchester United closed the gap with victory over next-to-last Portsmouth.Ruud van Nistelrooy put the Red Devils ahead in the 18th minute at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park and Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice before halftime.United sent on Tim Howard for injured goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar for the second half and the American had a shaky time, Matt Taylor replying for Pompey with three minutes to go.Sami Hyypia scored the only goal as Liverpool ended a run of three losses and a draw by winning 1-0 at Wigan.Gilberto Silva equalised in the third minute of injury time for Arsenal to draw 1-1 at home to Bolton.Everton edged Blackburn 1-0 despite playing for 81 minutes with 10 men after goalkeeper Iain Turner was ejected for handling a back pass outside his area.James Beattie scored the only goal, in the 33rd minute.Fulham hammered West Bromwich Albion 6-1 with two goals each from Heidar Helguson and Collins John, and Newcastle won 2-1 at Aston Villa for its second victory in a row after manager Graeme Souness was fired.Shola Ameobi’s goal in the second minute put Newcastle on the road to victory at Villa Park and, after Luke Moore had made it five goals in three games for the home side, French forward Charles N’Zogbia struck again for the Magpies, who are being led temporarily by Glenn Roeder.”It’s great to score early,” Roeder said.”You can never score too early and I think we needed that away from home because we haven’t scored too many.”Finland centre-back Hyypia struck in the 30th minute at the JJB Stadium as Liverpool held on to third place.”I go up to set-pieces and I’ve waited to score a goal,” said Hyypia, who hadn’t scored for 10 months.”Of course my job is to keep clean sheets rather than score goals, but goals are a bonus, and today it was with my left foot as well.”It was yet another black day for Liverpool’s strike force, however, despite Rafa Benitez’ decision to start Robbie Fowler for the first time since his return from Manchester City.None of the current strikers at Anfield have scored during 2006.Manager Paul Jewell said he was frustrated that Senegal striker Henri Camara had not returned from the African Nations Cup in Egypt, even though his team’s last game was on Thursday.”I don’t know what the situation is,” Jewell said.”He was booked on a flight yesterday.I don’t want to say too much at the moment.”- Nampa-AP