Late strikes from Arjen Robben and Joe Cole gave Chelsea a hard fought 2-0 win over Portsmouth and an eight point lead at the top of the English Premier League yesterday.

Robben scored in the 79th minute at Fratton Park, with Cole adding the second in injury time.

“I think we have to say it was difficult for us because the opponent was good,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. “They made it very difficult. It is a really big victory for us.”

Chelsea increased their buffer over the idle Arsenal. The defending champions stayed second after Everton were beaten 2-0 by Charlton, ending their unbeaten run of eight matches.

Nine matches were scheduled yesterday, a public holiday in Britain, two days after the traditional full schedule on Boxing Day.

In the late match at Villa Park, Man United won a precious three points to remain in contention thanks to a solitary first half strike from Ryan Giggs.

The Welsh striker hit low into the net on 41 minutes for the only goal which pushed Man United to third place on 40 points, ahead of Everton on goal difference.

Portsmouth had limited Chelsea to only one real shot at goal in the first half, with Didier Drogba’s attempt saved by goalkeeper Shaka Hislop. Chelsea needed a strong save by Petr Cech to deny Nigel Quashie in the 20th minute.

“In the second half we discovered the positions we have to use to break the balance they have in their defensive system,” Mourinho said. “At the end of the game I think we deserved to win, but when I look to the first half, I give Portsmouth a lot of credit.”

Robben’s seventh goal of the season was an angled drive that confused Hislop. However, the Dutchman’s goal celebration – taking his shirt off and waving it in the air – led to him being shown a yellow card and substituted.

Charlton ended Everton’s unbeaten streak with late goals from Talal El Karkouri and Hermann Hreidarsson within three minutes.

In between, Duncan Ferguson was sent off for violent conduct – after only ten minutes on the pitch – for elbowing Hreidarsson. It was only Everton’s fourth loss in 20 games this season.

“The boys have done well,” Everton manager David Moyes said. “They’ve had two hard games and taken three points, so we’re not too downhearted by that.”

Everton lost goalkeeper Nigel Martyn to a thigh injury near the end of the first half, with Richard Wright sent on as a replacement.

Tottenham were aiming to win their sixth consecutive Premier League match for the first time ever and looked on target when Jermaine Defoe scored after 54 minutes with a right-footed shot.

But Andy Johnson levelled for Palace with 11 minutes left with a shot that England goalkeeper Paul Robinson couldn’t reach.

Manchester City started Joey Barton for the first time since he was fined four weeks’ wages for burning teammate Jamie Tandy’s eyelid with a lit cigar at the club’s Christmas party. Barton was left on the bench for the 2-1 defeat to Everton two days ago.

West Brom’s hopes of getting off the bottom of the standings were hit when Thomas Gaardsoe was sent off after 15 minutes for a foul on Nicolas Anelka. The Frenchman missed from the resulting free kick but netted in the 32nd.

The home side gifted the struggling Baggies a point in injury time with an own goal from Richard Dunne.

Blackburn secured the win after six minutes through a powerful Paul Dickov volley. The win eased Blackburn’s relegation worries, but Bolton continued their slide down the table with their sixth successive defeat.

Emile Heskey gave Birmingham the lead after 25 minutes over Fulham, with Sylvain Legwinski levelling nine minutes later. Darren Carter put Birmingham ahead again in the 41st, soon after he had forced Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar into a strong one-handed save. Robbie Savage made it 3-1 early in the second half.

Joseph-Desire Job scored two goals in two minutes early in the second half as Middlesbrough beat Norwich 2-0. Norwich stay in 17th place, just one point from the relegation zone.