Chelsea's Anelka ensures Hiddink begins term on a winning note

Updated on: 22 February,2009 07:20 AM IST |
AFP |

Anelka ensures Hiddink begins with a 1-0 win; Gunners held 0-0

Anelka ensures Hiddink begins with a 1-0 win; Gunners held 0-0

Goaaal! Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka celebrates scoring against Aston Villa during their English Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham on Saturday. Chelsea won 1-0. pic/AP

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.

19th minute goal

Anelka's 19th minute finish from Frank Lampard's pass lifted Chelsea above Villa into third place and within seven points off leaders Manchester United, who play Blackburn later on.

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. Everyone was doing a job for himself but also helping out the other players. Let's not exaggerate. I did not see what sometimes is suggested about this big division. I have analysed it well," said Hiddink, who has made it clear he'll only be at Chelsea until the end of the season.

Elsewhere, Arsenal's 0-0 home draw to Sunderland left the Gunners six points off the top four and struggling to qualify for the Champions League.

James Beattie's double strike saw Stoke City's move two points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-2 home draw to Portsmouth.

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