LONDON, 27 December 2005 — Hernan Crespo struck in the 74th minute to give Chelsea a 3-2 win over Fulham yesterday that maintained their 100 percent home record in the Premier League.

The champions stay nine points clear of Manchester United, who crushed West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at home, and 15 in front of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur who both notched up 2-0 home victories.

William Gallas and midfielder Frank Lampard put Chelsea ahead but Fulham came back into the game with a strike from Brian McBride before the half hour and a 56th-minute penalty converted by Heidar Helguson.

Chelsea manager Jose Morinho, referring to his team’s reaction to Fulham’s fight-back, told reporters: “When you are in a comfortable position and you make mistakes, it is hard to come back but I trust my players’ mentality.” Fulham manager Chris Coleman told Sky Sports: “I though we showed tremendous spirit, and courage, and we got back. Then the game could have gone either way.” Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, who headed his second goal for United, and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored at Old Trafford.

At Anfield, Michael Owen had an unhappy return to his former club with Newcastle United, who went down to two first half goals and had midfielder Lee Bowyer sent off for an ugly tackle on Xabi Alonso.

Steven Gerrard struck after a quarter of an hour and two minutes before the interval Peter Crouch’s shot came back off the post but went in after hitting prostrate keeper Shay Given on the back of the head.

Arsenal ended a run of three league defeats in which they had not scored by winning 1-0 at Charlton Athletic to climb to seventh, 20 points adrift of Chelsea and two behind Bolton Wanderers, held 0-0 by bottom team Sunderland, and Wigan Athletic, who edged a thriller with Manchester City 4-3.

Rangers Held by Basement

Club Dunfermline

In Glasgow, champions Rangers had to settle for a 3-3 draw after Darren Young slotted home a penalty in the final minute for basement club Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Premier League yesterday. Leaders Celtic did not allow a power cut, which delayed their kick off by 45 minutes, to distract them and secured a 2-1 win over Livingston. Second-placed Hearts stayed within touching distance of Celtic after romping to a 5-0 win over 10-man Falkirk.

Celtic hold a four-point lead over Hearts with 48 points, while Rangers have 31 from 20 games and are languishing in fifth place.

Dunfermline went ahead with a header from Andy Tod in the 16th minute before Danish forward Peter Lovenkrands drew Rangers level five minutes later. Ex-Celtic player Mark Burchill put Dunfermline 2-1 ahead but Rangers stormed back after the break.

Lovenkrands hammered home a penalty in the 65th minute after Lee Makel handled a Marvin Andrews header and was sent off.

Rangers appeared to have tied up the points two minutes later when Chris Burke found the back of the net.