SOCCER PREMIER LEAGUE Chelsea turn on the style and reclaim pole position Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Malouda, J Cole (Zhrikov 81), Anelka (Sturridge 88). Birmingham: Hart, Carr, R Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Bowyer, Ferguson, McFadden, Jerome (Fahey 56), Benitez (Madera 72). Referee: Steve Bennett. Attendance: 41,293. CHELSEA 3 BIRMINGHAM 0 By Danny Griffiths FRANK LAMPARD struck twice last night to fire Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League. The England international was the star of the show at Stamford Bridge as Carlo Ancelottis men sent Birmingham to their first defeat in 16 matches. Lampard found the bottom corner of Joe Harts net just after the half-hour for his fourth goal in as many games after being teed up by Michael Ballack. And he rounded off a one-sided affair when he hammered in a left-foot drive following Florent Maloudas pass. Chelsea were held to a goalless draw when they faced Blues at St Andrews on St Stephens Day the only time this term they have failed to score. But they roared into an early lead thanks to a surging run from Joe Cole. He charged past Lee Bowyer and into the penalty area before picking out Malouda with a centre which left the Frenchman with a simple header from six yards. And centre-half Ricardo Carvalho nearly added to the advantage when he leapt to meet Maloudas corner only for his effort to hit a post. Hart made decent saves to foil Cole and Ballack as the Londoners dominated and when the visitors created a decent chance, James McFadden dragged it well wide. Substitute Keith Fahey then saw his drive tipped over the top by Petr Cech but this was a comfortable victory for Chelsea, who are now unbeaten in their last ten games in all competitions.Stronghold: Lampard, left, celebrates hitting Chelseas second with Deco u AC MILAN striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar has no preference for which country he ends at playing at, as long as he is guaranteed playing time. The 26-year-old has been linked with Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Ajax and his agent Arnold Oosterveer said: Klaas priority now is to fight for trophies, either staying in Italy or playing in Germany or England. u MIDDLESBROUGH hoping to secure the services of a fourth Celtic player as Stephen McManus closes in on a move to Teesside. The 27- year-old defender is keen to join Barry Robson, Willo Flood and Chris Killen at the Riverside following their arrivals earlier this month. u BLACKBURN have signed Turkey midfielder Yildiray Basturk, 31, on loan from Stuttgart until the end of the season. He reached the Champions League final with Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 and also played for Hertha Berlin before moving to Stuttgart in 2007. Gunners draw a blank as Villa defence holds firm Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Luke Young, Ashley Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Agbonlahor, Heskey (Delph 78). Booked: Heskey, Dunne Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen (Campbell 35), Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas, Ramsey, Rosicky (Nasri 79), Eduardo (Bendtner 62), Arshavin. Booked: Vermaelen, Clichy. Att: 39,601 Referee: Lee Probert AStoN vILLA 0 ARSENAL 0 ARSENAL lost ground at the top of the Premier League table following a goalless encounter at Villa Park. The result leaves the Gunners, who briefly held top spot before Manchester Uniteds victory over Hull at the weekend, in third place two points behind leaders Chelsea, who have a game in hand. Captain Cesc Fabregas had the best chance for the visitors, clipping the post with a low shot, while Stewart Downing could have sealed it for the hosts shortly after half-time but headed wide from just two yards out. To cap a less than perfect night for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen limped off on 35 minutes to be replaced by Sol Campbell. Villa, seemingly intent on gaining revenge for their 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium at Christmas, were fast out of the blocks with strikers Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey bringing fine saves from Gunners goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. However, the hosts were not having it all their own way as Denilsons fierce drive forced a superb stop from Villa No.1 Brad Friedel. Arsenal looked most likely to score after the break, with Friedel doing well to deny Andrey Arshavin before seeing Tomas Rosickys shot crash off the underside of the bar. But it was not to be for Wengers side as Villa ensured honours were shared. Called into action: Campbell u MANCHESTER United have allowed winger Zoran Tosic join German outfit FC Cologne on loan until the summer. Tosic, who arrived at United 12 months go, said: Hopefully my performances with Cologne will be my ticket back to Old Trafford. Transfer talk Reds reject Yossi exit LIVERpOOL deny they are preparing to sell Yossi Benayoun to Dynamo Moscow. The Russian club have claimed an deal has been doen for the Israel midfielder to leave Anfield. With Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres absent for much of the season through injury, Benayoun has become increasingly influential for Liverpool this term and the Reds insist the 29-year-old is going nowhere. The player is not for sale, its as simple as that, said a club spokesman. GOLF: European No.1 Lee Westwood insists he is back in the groove and ready to resume normal service at this weeks Commercialbank Qatar Masters. The world No.4 missed the cut on his first appearance of the season last week in Abu Dhabi after citing problems with his new set of irons and concerns over new rules governing their grooves. The 36-year-old said: Missing the cut in Abu Dhabi did not look good for me especially the way I finished last year. But after the problems in Abu Dhabi, for which there are no excuses, I got UPS to rush them out to me the grooves have passed the test and now I am hoping to get back into the old routine. u RUGBY: Lee Byrne and his Ospreys team have been hit with misconduct complaints following last Saturdays 16th-player saga. The Wales and Lions full-back was briefly the extra Ospreys player during his teams 17- 12 Heineken Cup victory over Leicester that secured a quarter-final place. Byrne returned from a blood substitution without any team-mate leaving the field for almost a minute. Leicester lodged a complaint and Byrne and the Ospreys will attend a disciplinary hearing in Dublin tomorrow. There is now the possibility Byrne could be banned, while Ospreys face a fine, or worse, a points deduction by the ERC. u WINTER OLYMPICS: The womens bobsleigh team of Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin were among the athletes named yesterday by the Olympic Council of Ireland to represent Ireland at next months Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Hoey and Bergin will make Irish sporting history by becoming the first Irish women to compete in bobsleigh at a Winter Olympics. Pat Shannon will compete in the mens skeleton bobsleigh, Kirsty McGarry u in the womens alpine slalom, Shane OConnor in the mens alpine slalom and PJ Barron in the mens 15km cross country skiing. Leona Byrne was named as an alternate brakewoman for the womens bobsleigh. Siobhn Hoey is the teams chef de mission for the Games which run from February 12-28 and Olympic Council of Ireland chief executive officer Stephen Martin said he was looking forward to many strong performances.sportdigest Ground breakers: Bergin and Hoey Bobsleigh duo lead Irish team for Winter Olympics 26 sport Thursday, January 28, 2010 D Picture: Getty index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html