Premier League on Betfair: Lampard scores landmark goal in Blues win

18Mar 2013

Betfair

Chelsea strengthen their grip in the top four thanks to a landmark goal at Stamford Bridge, Fulham and Wigan record wins, and Sunderland and Norwich play out a draw. Mike Norman details today's In-Play odds...

Chelsea's quest to claim Champions League football next season received a double boost this afternoon thanks to a 2-0 victory over West Ham, while Tottenham lost 0-1 at home to Fulham.

It will be Frank Lampard who makes the headlines this evening however as the veteran midfielder scored his 200th career goal for the Blues against the club where he started his career. Lampard was matched at 8.4 to open the scoring.

Chelsea were impressive throughout the game and deservedly doubled their lead thanks to a beautiful Eden Hazard goal, the Belgian exchanging passes with Juan Mata on the edge of the box, jinking past a few Hammers defenders, and coolly slotting the ball home.

Chelsea never touched higher than 1.44 for the win, while the 2-0 Correct Score was matched at 9.4.

The shock result of the day came at White Hart Lane where Tottenham were expected to get back to winning ways against mid-table Fulham (matched at 8.8 to win). But after a run of 12 games unbeaten it's now three defeats on the spin for Andre Villas-Boas' men following defeats to Liverpool and Inter Milan, and now this set-back.

Former Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov got the only goal of the game on 52 minutes, sliding in to slot home Sascha Riether's low cross. Berbatov was matched at 13.0 in the First Goalscorer market, while the 0-1 Correct Score hit a high of 28.0 In-Play.

Tottenham remain four points ahead of Arsenal in the final Champions League qualifying position and one point behind Chelsea, however they have played a game more than both of those London rivals.

Spurs can be backed at 2.0 to record a Top Four Finish this term, which for the first time in months is a bigger price than Arsenal (1.89). Layers are fully expecting Chelsea to stay in the top four, offering odds of just 1.16 about Rafa Benitez's men.

Wigan grabbed a priceless win over Newcastle at the DW Stadium in a game that will perhaps be over-shadowed for a horrific challenge by Callum McManaman on Massadio Haidara.

Roberto Martinez's perennial survivors took an early lead through Jean Beausejour (matched at 50.0 in FGS market), but a second half Davide Santon goal (matched at 44.0 To Score anytime) looked to have stole a point for Alan Pardew's men.

But on the stroke of full-time Arouna Kone prodded home from a yard out despite what looked like a handball in the build-up.

Wigan were matched at 12.0 to win and the 2-1 score at 15.0, with the result leaving Wigan three points adrift of safety. They can be backed at just 1.92 in the Relegation market.

In today's early kick-off Sunderland could manage just a draw at the Stadium of Light despite playing against 10-man Norwich for the best part of 60 minutes.

Wes Hoolahan - matched at 18.5 to open the scoring - put the visitors in front, heading home from close range in the 26th minute. But just a few minutes later Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn was dismissed for handling the ball outside the box in his attempt to deny Danny Graham going clean through on goal.

And just five minutes before half time, another handball incident - Sebastien Bassong getting his chest control all wrong - gave the Black Cats the chance to level from the spot; Craig Gardner finishing superbly.

In a relatively incident-free second half Norwich were perhaps unlucky not to be awarded a penalty themselves, the game finishing 1-1 - matched at 7.8 in the Correct Score market.