Shevchenko on target as Chelsea beat Pompey 2-1

LONDON, Oct 21 (Reuters) Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko ended his Chelsea goal drought with the opener in a 2-1 victory over Portsmouth that moved the champions to the top of the Premier League today.

Shevchenko's first goal in 10 games ended Portsmouth's resistance after 55 minutes. Midfielder Michael Ballack headed the second two minutes later before Zimbabwean forward Benjamin Mwaruwari scrambled one back for Portsmouth in the 69th minute.

Victory sent Jose Mourinho's side three points clear at the top -- at least until Manchester United play Liverpool in the weekend's showcase match at Old Trafford tomorrow.

In today's other games, Everton beat 10-man Sheffield United 2-0, Wigan Athletic notched their biggest ever win in the Premier League by thrashing Manchester City 4-0 and the match between the two bottom clubs, Charlton Athletic and Watford, ended in a goalless draw.

Aston Villa were playing Fulham in the late kickoff (21:45 IST) HUGE RELIEFF Shevchenko's goal, albeit deflected off Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell, will be a huge relief to the Ukraine captain, who cost Chelsea 30 million pounds (.45 million) with his move from AC Milan in May.

After scoring against Liverpool in the Community Shield on August 13 and then against Middlesbrough in Chelsea's only league defeat of the season 10 days later, Shevchenko had failed to score in any of the nine Premier League or Champions League matches he has played in since then.

The goal was his first at Stamford Bridge and will have Mourinho hoping it will trigger a flurry of goals from a player who was prolific for Milan in Serie A.

Germany captain Ballack soon headed the second after the ball was nodded over by Ivory Coast skipper Didier Drogba.

Mwaruwari kept Harry Redknapp's men in the game, bundling the ball home after Portuguese keeper Hilario failed to collect the ball in a goalmouth melee, but an equaliser eluded them.

As in the midweek Champions League win over Barcelona, Hilario was deputising for Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, who were both knocked unconscious in last weekend's win at Reading.

BEATTIE PENALTY Everton needed just over half an hour to secure their win.

Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta opened the scoring and James Beattie added a penalty after United defender Claude Davis was dismissed for bringing down Andy Johnson in the box.

Two goals inside the first four minutes set Wigan on their way against Manchester City.

Former England striker Emile Heskey fired home in the second minute and City defender Richard Dunne scored an own goal soon afterwards. Senegal forward Henri Camara and Ecuador midfielder Luis Antonio Valencia added two more in the second half to give Wigan their biggest win in the 46 Premier League matches they have played since gaining promotion last season.

REUTERS AB BST2245