Emphatic Chelsea Closes in on Arsenal, Man U

• Associated Press, Thursday, March 13, 2008 3:30 PM

Frank Lampard fired in a four-goal reminder Wednesday that Chelsea is still very much in the race for the English Premiership, as the Blues routed Derby County, 6-1, at Stamford Bridge. The emphatic win reduced the gap between Chelsea and second-place Manchester United to three points. Leader Arsenal is just four points ahead, but Chelsea still has a game in hand.

After strangely being left out of Saturday's FA Cup loss to Barnsley, Lampard dominated the match against Derby, converting a first-half penalty and then scoring three goals within 15 minutes of the second half. Chelsea winger Joe Cole, who has also been omitted from some key games this season, was equally influential, scoring one and creating two of Lampard's goals.

"I think we have a good chance to win the Premier League," said Blues manager Avram Grant, who's been widely criticized since surrendering the Carling Cup to Tottenham three weeks ago. "If we win our game in hand, we are two points behind Arsenal and they have to play here. There are 10 games to go. Anything can happen."

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