Drogba strikes as Chelsea close on Man Utd

Didier Drogba scored for Chelsea as they won their fourth straight match under temporary manager Guus Hiddink with a 1-0 victory away to Premier League strugglers Portsmouth last night.

Didier Drogba scored for Chelsea as they won their fourth straight match under temporary manager Guus Hiddink with a 1-0 victory away to Premier League strugglers Portsmouth last night.

Drogba's goal 11 minutes from time at a wet and windy Fratton Park saw Chelsea close the gap on leaders Manchester United to four points.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Portsmouth during their EPL match at the Fratton Park in Portsmouth yesterday. pic/AP

But the reigning champions, who are in action away to Newcastle tonight, have two games in hand.

Liverpool joined Chelsea on 58 points after they bounced back from the shock of their 2-0 loss to Middlesbrough with a 2-0 victory at home to Sunderland.

And in yesterday's other Premier League match, Nicklas Bendtner scored twice as Arsenal ended a run of four consecutive goalless league draws with a 3-1 win away to bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion.

That victory saw the Gunners move to within three points of fourth-placed Aston Villa in the race for a Champions League place.

"I had prepared my third substitution but at a good moment the goal came," Hiddink told Sky Sports.

Pressure on
But the Dutchman was cautious regarding talk of Chelsea challenging United. "If they can give us this one game also but it (this result) is good.

"The team is mentally strong. They showed in difficult circumstances a lot of character. It's good to keep the pressure on."

After a goalless first-half at Anfield, Liverpool eventually took the lead when Steven Gerrard's header across goal was turned in by David Ngog in the 52nd minute.

And it was 2-0 to the Reds when Israel international Yossi Benayoun pounced on a mistake by keeper Martin Fulop, who fumbled Ngog's cross, to score from close range.

"He showed he is quality," said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez of Ngog.

"He is a young player who has just arrived, and I think he has a great future here."

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, insisted his faith in the team had never wavered.

"We kept going and there is a very strong, healthy spirit in this team."