Agence France Presse

London, April 3:

Newcastle United were dragged into the gutter when midfield stars Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were sent off for fighting each other in an amazing St James’ Park encounter which eventally saw the Magpies finish with eight men and 3-0 losers to Aston Villa. Later in the day, Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the table to 13 points with a 3-1 win away to struggling Southampton with Eidur Gujohnsen netting twice.

While Newcastle were imploding in spectacular style, Thierry Henry was banging in a hat-trick to help Arsenal leapfrog Manchester United into second place with a 4-1 win against relegation-bound Norwich at Highbury. With Manchester held to a goalless draw against Blackburn, Arsenal were left level on 67 points with their rivals but ahead on goal difference.

However, the day’s most extraordinary match was at St James’ Park. The home side were already down a man after Steven Taylor was sent-off for deliberate handball when Bowyer and Dyer exchanged punches in the centre circle.

Referee Barry Knight, who had angered Newcastle by denying them a penalty before awarding Villa two, both of which Gareth Barry converted, sent-off the fighting duo eight minutes from time.

Juan Pablo Angel had earlier given Villa a fifth minute lead. Both Dyer and Bowyer later apologised for their punch-up. At St Mary’s, England midfielder Frank Lampard put Chelsea ahead in the 22nd minute with a deflected free-kick before Gudjohnsen doubled the tally 17 minutes later.

Kevin Phillips pulled one back for Saints in the 69th minute before Gudjohnsen made sure of the points seven minutes before time. Arsenal and Norwich shared three goals in an action-packed 11 first-half minutes at Higbury. Henry opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Henry made it 2-0 three minutes later before Darren Huckerby struck for Norwich on the half hour mark.

However, Freddie Ljungberg restored Arsenal’s two-goal lead with a 50th minute far post header. Henry then completed his hat-trick from six yards out in the 66th minute.

Spanish La Liga

MADRID: Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan scored his 18th goal of the season to share the league lead with Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o and Villarreal defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-1 to climb into third place. Jose Mari Romero scored the other two goals in Villarreal’s seventh victory in its last 10 games.

In other 30th-round games, late goals by substitute Bernardo Corradi and defender Marco Caneira earned a depleted Valencia a 2-2 draw with Zaragoza, while Real Sociedad beat struggling Osasuna 2-0. The defending champion’s draw at Zaragoza kept it in fifth place and left it with only one win in five games. — AP