MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Chelsea’s 14-match unbeaten start to the Premier League season ended in a 2-1 loss at Newcastle, while a dreadful first half consigned Arsenal to a familiar defeat at Stoke today.
Papiss Cisse scored in the 57th and 78th minutes for Newcastle, which had defender Steven Taylor sent off and then conceded a goal to Didier Drogba but held on to dash Chelsea’s bid to go through its league campaign undefeated.
Second-place Manchester City can trim the gap to Chelsea to three points by beating Everton later today.
Arsenal conceded three goals in the first half in a 3-2 loss at Britannia Stadium, where Arsene Wenger’s team had won just once in their last nine attempts.
Liverpool and Tottenham drew 0-0 at home to Sunderland and Crystal Palace, respectively. Hull and West Bromwich Albion also played to a 0-0 draw.
Charlie Austin set up a goal, scored another and was sent off against his former club as Queens Park Rangers (QPR) beat Burnley 2-0.
Leroy Fer put QPR ahead in the 51st with a low left-footed shot after an assist by Austin, who then doubled the lead in the 74th with his eighth goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Austin was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Michael Keane.
