Chelsea edges tough-to-beat Everton 1-0

LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea learned what the rest of the Premier League already knows -- Everton is tough to beat.

After being held for much of the game by the Toffies, Chelsea broke through for a 1-0 victory Saturday at Stamford Bridge on a 72nd-minute goal by Dutchman Arjen Robben.

The victory moved Chelsea three points clear of defending champion Arsenal at the top of the league. The Gunners played later Saturday at Crystal Palace and would retake the lead on goal difference with a win.

Everton was tough defensively until Robben broke through, racing into the area on a lofted pass from Eidur Gudjohnsen and then flicking the ball over 'keeper Nigel Martyn.

The Toffies entered the match as the only Premier League team without an away loss.

Chelsea under new manager Jose Mourinho has given up only four goals in all matches this season -- and only one at home at Stamford Bridge.

"I think it was a special win against a special opponent," Mourinho said. "They are definitely the tallest and strongest I have seen in England. Very physical with a great attitude.

"It was really difficult to beat them."

Chelsea had a half dozen other chances to score, but failed to convert.

"In this kind of match you can't miss so many chances," Mourinho said. "But to be fair, they had one in the first half and a set play in the second half."

Chelsea improved to 29 points followed by Arsenal (26), Everton (23) and Bolton (21) with Middlesbrough and Aston Villa on 18.

In a battle between teams in the middle of the standings, Aston Villa defeated Portsmouth 3-0 on goals by Peter Whittingham, Juan Pablo Angel and Nolberto Solano.

The three first-half goals swamped Portsmouth, which looked nothing like the side that upset Manchester United 2-0 a week ago.

In other results Saturday: Liverpool 0, Birmingham City 1; Norwich 1, Blackburn 1; Southampton 2, West Brom 2; Tottenham 2, Charlton 3.

Despite dominating much of the play at Anfield, Liverpool slipped to a 1-0 loss against Birmingham City on Darren Anderton's 77th-minute goal.

In a battle of teams at the bottom, Paul Dickov's goal in the 86th gave Rovers a 1-1 draw and kept Norwich from recording its first Premier League win of the season. Blackburn played a man short after Jay Bothroyd was sent off in the 44th for violent conduct. Mathias Svensson gave Norwich a 1-0 lead in the 56th, with Dickov equalizing.

Southampton rallied for a 2-2 draw against West Brom on an 87th-minute goal by Anders Svensson. Southampton stayed among the bottom three with only eight points. West Brom has nine, one point above the relegation zone.

Charlton took a 3-0 lead against Tottenham on two early goals by Shaun Bartlett, and then held on for victory. Bartlett was sent off in the 68th for a handball, with Robbie Keane scoring on a subsequent penalty. Jermain Defoe scored again in the 79th.

The match came just a day after Spurs' coach Jacques Santini turned in his surprise resignation, citing "personal and private reasons." Tottenham had only three victories in 11 Premier League games under the former France national team coach.

Frank Arnesen, the club's sporting director, said he talked often with Santini over the last several months and had an inkling the move was coming.

"It was not a big surprise for me. I knew already the last couple months he had given me information about it."

Santini's assistant Martin Jol, a former Dutch international, handled the club Saturday and is a leading candidate for the job. Former West Brom coach Gary Megson and Alan Curbishley at Charlton have been mentioned as possible replacements.

In the League Championship, leader Wigan lost its first game of the season, falling 2-0 to Plymouth. Wigan still leads with 39 points followed by Ipswich (36).

In other results: Brighton 1, Crewe 3; Burnley 0, Ipswich 2; Preston 2, Leeds 4; Reading 1, Stoke 0; Rotherham 2, Cardiff 2; Sheffield United 0, Gillingham 0; Watford 2, Derby 2; West Ham 2, Queens Park Rangers 1; Wolves 2, Nottingham Forest 1.