Premier League round-up: Yakubu grabs four in big scoring day

Blackburn Rovers 4 Swansea City 2

Steve Kean admitted he found it "hard to fathom" the protests that marred Yakubu's four-goal solo show in

Blackburn Rovers

' 4-2 win over

Swansea City

yesterday.

Yakubu's heroics lifted Rovers off the foot of the Premier League table but sections of the home supporters chanted loudly for Kean's removal throughout.

"There must be other issues because I can't fathom why, when we're leading a game, they're chanting, but that's their prerogative," said the Blackburn manager.

"I'm always positive. I think we're in a good run of games and the best thing to do is go on an unbeaten run and climb the table. If they want to protest there's obviously something else behind it.

"It's not frustrating in the least. I'm very happy. My dressing room is bouncing. If people want to stay after the game and protest it's up to them, but it doesn't affect us at all."

Kean hailed Yakubu, who became the first man to score four goals in one game in the Premier League for Rovers, in a game that saw the late dismissal of Swansea midfielder Joe Allen.

Leroy Lita cancelled out the Nigerian striker's opener but a goal either side of the break put Rovers back in control. After Luke Moore reduced the deficit, Yakubu rounded things off with a late penalty.

"He's got 10 goals so far this season and the good thing is it's different types of goals - he scores penalties, tap-ins and goals like the first one today," said Kean.

"But he'd be the first to say a striker is only as good as the service he is getting. The service today was excellent and as the saying goes, if you feed him in the box he will score."

The Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers conceded defensive errors had cost his side dear but hailed their effort in twice getting back into the match.

"It wasn't a great afternoon defensively and that's disappointing because for a large part of the game we looked terrific going forward," said Rodgers.

"We conceded before half time which was very disappointing, and then another for 3-1 which from time to time we're going to do, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept.

"It was a very frustrating day because for large parts of the game we were in total control. It wasn't just possession, it was penetration too, but we needed to defend better."

Rodgers was unhappy with Allen's late sending off for a second bookable offence, but had no complaints over the penalty given away by Neil Taylor.

"It was very, very harsh to get sent off," said Rodgers. "He's honest and he's tried to get back in on the goal side. He touches him but there's nothing to the contact really."

Queens Park Rangers 1 West Bromwich Albion 1

Shane Long's late goal helped

West Brom

rescue a point from a match

Queens Park Rangers

will be wondering how they failed to win.

The Rs looked set to propel themselves into the top half when Heidar Helguson netted for the fourth successive Premier League match.

The 34-year-old's sixth of the campaign came after 20 minutes when he headed home a superb first-time ball from Joey Barton at the back-post.

Shaun Wright-Phillips thought he had doubled the home side's advantage moments later, although the winger's superb effort was chalked off for a tight offside call.

Neil Warnock felt aggrieved at the decision and saw his side fritter away numerous chances to extend their lead, allowing Long to level in the 81st minute.

Substitute Peter Odemwingie ghosted down the left flank and his superb cross was tucked away by Ireland international Long at the back post.

Tottenham Hotspurs 3 Bolton Wanderers 0

Tottenham moved ahead of Manchester United into second place in the Premier League, until United overcame Aston Villa later in the day, after easing to victory over 10-man Bolton at White Hart Lane.

Gareth Bale tapped home a Luka Modric corner to break the deadlock after six minutes and he then removed his boot in front of the Bolton fans as a tribute to former Wales manager and Bolton player Gary Speed.

Gary Cahill was given a very harsh red card for a foul on Scott Parker in the 17th minute and Spurs dominated from then on, adding second-half goals from Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon to seal the comfortable win which stretched their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

Wigan Athletic 0 Arsenal 4

Arsenal moved into fifth place in the Premier League table with a thumping win over Wigan at the DW Stadium.

The hosts, who drop to the bottom of the table, began brightly but were undone by two goals in two minutes just before the half-hour mark as first Mikel Arteta's shot evaded Ali Al Habsi's grasp and then Thomas Vermaelen nodded in a corner.

Arsenal always looked likely to add to their lead in the second half and in the 61st minute Gervinho made it three before Robin Van Persie added his customary goal 12 minutes from time after good work from Theo Walcott.

Newcastle 0 Chelsea 3

Didier Drogba's third goal of the season put Chelsea on the road to victory in an eventful 90 minutes at Newcastle.

The Ivory Coast international headed home Juan Mata's 38th-minute cross to leave substitute Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge to wrap up the win with late strikes.

Tim Krul had to pull off a string of fine saves to keep the home side in it until the final few minutes, but Chelsea did not have things all their one way with Newcastle hitting the woodwork three times.

A planned minute's applause in memory of former Magpies midfielder Gary Speed began spontaneously and lasted significantly longer with assistant manager and close friend John Carver being comforted by fourth official Mark Halsey.

And within the opening five minutes Chelsea enjoyed a major escape when Yohan Cabaye's fine pass allowed striker Demba Ba to get behind central defender David Luiz, who cynically hauled him to the ground.

There seemed only one logical conclusion with the Brazilian the last man, but referee Mike Dean, to the astonishment of Ba, his team-mates and the entire crowd, produced only a yellow card.

As the clock ticked past the 11-minute mark, the number Speed wore for Newcastle, the home fans paid their own tribute by waving their scarves and singing.

Three minutes later, after Cabaye had tripped Daniel Sturridge in the box, Frank Lampard stepped up to send the penalty low to Tim Krul's left, where the Dutchman superbly tipped it on to the post.