Chelsea beat Fulham to maintain five-point lead

Chelsea beat Fulham to maintain five-point lead

Chelsea's team players celebrate after scoring their second goal against Fulham during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London December 28, 2009.

LONDON, Dec. 28 -- Chelsea scored two late goals to beat city rivals Fulham 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, maintaining their five-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League on Monday.

Zoltan Gera put Fulham ahead after four minutes but a 73rd minute header from Didier Drogba and an own goal from Chris Smalling rendered the League leaders the lucky victory.

Chelsea top the table with 45 points from 20 matches, with Manchester United second on 40 from 19 and Arsenal third with 38 from 18.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba (L) celebrates after scoring against Fulham during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London December 28, 2009.

Tottenham Hotspur, who beat West Ham United 2-0, are fourth with 37 points from 20 matches.

In other matches, Birmingham City climbed to seventh with a 1-0win at Stoke City, while Everton beat Burnley 2-0 and Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland drew 2-2 in the other afternoon matches.

Wolverhampton Wanderers were playing Manchester City at home ina 1945 GMT kickoff.

Chelsea's John Terry (L) challenges Fulham's Bobby Zamora during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London December 28, 2009.
(Reuters)