LONDON - Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink enjoyed a winning start to life in the Premier League as Nicolas Anelka's goal clinched a crucial 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Hiddink, appointed as replacement for sacked Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari last week, has made an immediate impact at the west London club and success at Villa Park provided a massive boost in the race for the Champions League places.
Anelka's 19th minute finish from Frank Lampard's pass lifted Chelsea above Villa into third place and within seven points of leaders Manchester United, who play Blackburn in Saturday's late game.
Hiddink, who is combining his work at Chelsea with his pre-existing job as Russia manager, downplayed suggestions he'd inherited a divided dressing room.
"If you see the record of Aston Villa at home it is good that we can break that. We had a good spirit. Everyone was doing a job for himself but also helping out the other players, which I respected," Hiddink said.
"Let's not exaggerate. I did not see what sometimes is suggested about this big division. I have analysed it rather well," added the Dutchman, who has made it clear he will only be at Chelsea until the end of the season.
Arsenal's goalless draw at home to Sunderland left the Gunners six points off the top four and struggling to qualify for the Champions League.
James Beattie was Stoke City's hero as they moved two points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Portsmouth.
Beattie scored twice as Stoke came from behind in a match where all four goals arrived in the final 15 minutes.
Portsmouth went ahead in the 75th minute when Niko Kranjcar finished off a well-worked move.
However, three minutes later Stoke were level when a controversial penalty, awarded by referee Mike Jones for a supposed handball by Glen Johnson, was converted by striker Beattie.
Then, in the 80th minute the striker was on target again. Danny Pugh volleyed into the turf and to the back post where Beattie, who appeared to be in an offside position, headed in with Jones letting the goal stand.
But the visitors salvaged a point when Stoke's Ryan Shawcross deflected Pompey defender Hermann Hreidarsson's shot into his own net in the 90th minute. That left the south coast side five points above the drop zone.
Bolton scored twice in two minutes as they beat a West Ham side that had suffered just one defeat in their previous 10 matches in all competitions 2-1.
Long-range specialist Matt Taylor curled in a free-kick from 22 yards before Kevin Davies turned in Johan Elmander's cross to make it 2-0.
But West Ham pulled a goal back through Scott Parker in the 66th minute.
Middlesbrough remained in the bottom three after a goalless draw at home to Wigan. The hosts saw midfielder Didier Digard given oxygen and taken off on a stretcher after a crunching tackle by former Boro midfielder Lee Cattermole.
Second-placed Liverpool, who could be eight points behind United if the champions beat Blackburn, are at home to Manchester City on Sunday when Everton travel to Newcastle and Fulham face bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion
Hiddink, appointed as replacement for sacked Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari last week, has made an immediate impact at the west London club and success at Villa Park provided a massive boost in the race for the Champions League places.
Anelka's 19th minute finish from Frank Lampard's pass lifted Chelsea above Villa into third place and within seven points of leaders Manchester United, who play Blackburn in Saturday's late game.
Hiddink, who is combining his work at Chelsea with his pre-existing job as Russia manager, downplayed suggestions he'd inherited a divided dressing room.
"If you see the record of Aston Villa at home it is good that we can break that. We had a good spirit. Everyone was doing a job for himself but also helping out the other players, which I respected," Hiddink said.
"Let's not exaggerate. I did not see what sometimes is suggested about this big division. I have analysed it rather well," added the Dutchman, who has made it clear he will only be at Chelsea until the end of the season.
Arsenal's goalless draw at home to Sunderland left the Gunners six points off the top four and struggling to qualify for the Champions League.
James Beattie was Stoke City's hero as they moved two points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Portsmouth.
Beattie scored twice as Stoke came from behind in a match where all four goals arrived in the final 15 minutes.
Portsmouth went ahead in the 75th minute when Niko Kranjcar finished off a well-worked move.
However, three minutes later Stoke were level when a controversial penalty, awarded by referee Mike Jones for a supposed handball by Glen Johnson, was converted by striker Beattie.
Then, in the 80th minute the striker was on target again. Danny Pugh volleyed into the turf and to the back post where Beattie, who appeared to be in an offside position, headed in with Jones letting the goal stand.
But the visitors salvaged a point when Stoke's Ryan Shawcross deflected Pompey defender Hermann Hreidarsson's shot into his own net in the 90th minute. That left the south coast side five points above the drop zone.
Bolton scored twice in two minutes as they beat a West Ham side that had suffered just one defeat in their previous 10 matches in all competitions 2-1.
Long-range specialist Matt Taylor curled in a free-kick from 22 yards before Kevin Davies turned in Johan Elmander's cross to make it 2-0.
But West Ham pulled a goal back through Scott Parker in the 66th minute.
Middlesbrough remained in the bottom three after a goalless draw at home to Wigan. The hosts saw midfielder Didier Digard given oxygen and taken off on a stretcher after a crunching tackle by former Boro midfielder Lee Cattermole.
Second-placed Liverpool, who could be eight points behind United if the champions beat Blackburn, are at home to Manchester City on Sunday when Everton travel to Newcastle and Fulham face bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion
