PREMIERSHIP ROUND 21
 
30 DECEMBER 2000

Arsenal (2) 2 (Vieira 5, Dixon 39)
Sunderland (0) 2 (Phillips (pen) 53, McCann 83)

Arsenal blew a golden chance to gain ground on Man United are
wasting a hat full of first half chances, only to then lose the two
goal lead they had earned. Arsenal were ahead inside five minutes
when Patrick Vieira headed home a Robert Pires corner. They wasted a
number of chances before Lee Dixon of all people doubled the lead
before half time, slotting home after a fine run by Henry. Some half
time words of wisdom from Sunderland boss Peter Reid clearly did the
trick and after Vieira had handled in the area, Kevin Phillips
crashed home the penalty. The equaliser was something special!
Vieira was caught in possession on the edge of his area and Gavin
McCann found the top corner brilliantly with a curler.


Ipswich (1) 3 (Stewart 8, Armstrong 62, Clapham 88)
Tottenham (0) 0

Nine away defeats in eleven games for Spurs now as Ipswich rise into
third place having totally dominated this game. Marcus Stewart
opened the scoring, tapping home Holland's cross and wrong footing
keeper Sullivan. Alun Armstrong was left with a tap-in in the second
half after good work on the left by Reuser and Stewart. The icing on
the cake came late on when sub Jamie Clapham blasted home the third
after David Johnson had failed to convert Reuser's cross, although
the Dutchman did look offside earlier in the move.


Man City (0) 1 (Huckerby (pen) 90)
Charlton (2) 4 (Johansson 26, 36, Stuart (pen) 79, Jensen 89)

Manchester City were well and truly swept aside by Charlton who have
now scored eight past Joe Royle's team this season. City contributed
well to their own downfall. Jonaton Johansson opened the scoring
after Howey had mis-kicked when trying to clear a corner. Ten
minutes later the lead was doubled when Johansson was set up by
Kishishev after Nicky Weaver's weak goal kick was intercepted. It
was 3-0 late on when Robinson went down under challenge from Howey,
although the City man appeared to have pulled out of the tackle,
leaving the Charlton man to produce a wonderful dive. Graham Stuart
converted the kick and we were ready for an amazing fourth goal.
Jensen lost possession to Dunne who tried to drill the ball upfield,
Instead he hammered it at Jensen and it soared off the Charlton man
and into the net from all of 40 yards! Debutant Darren Huckerby
converted a late penalty for City after he was fouled by Konchesky,
but it was little consolation.


Middlesbrough (0) 1 (Boksic 86)
Coventry (1) 1 (Whelan (og) 41)

Middlesbrough found a late equaliser from sub Alen Boksic to deny
Coventry a crucial victory in the bottom of the table clash. Former
Coventry man Noel Whelan celebrated his 26th birthday by firing a
corner firmly into his own net just before half time! He also missed
a couple of sitters before being substituted! Boksic found the goal
craved by Boro late on, shooting across Kirkland with four minutes
left having been put through by Ricard.


Newcastle (0) 1 (Glass 81)
Man United (1) 1 (Beckham (pen) 25)

Man United lost a lead late at Newcastle but remain eight points
clear at the top of the Premiership after Arsenal did similar
against Sunderland. David Beckham put the Champions ahead with a
disputed penalty after Giggs was adjudged to have been fouled by
Griffin. Sub Stephen Glass earned a point for Newcastle, blasting
home after Lua-Lua had got a touch on Cordone's cross.


Southampton (0) 1 (Beattie 73)
Derby (0) 0

Goal machine James Beattie made it ten goals in ten games to lift
Southampton further away from the drop zone. The only goal of the
game came from a fine header from a cross by Pahars.

All other games were postponed


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor - Soccerage (UK)
http://www.soccerage.com
garydowden@blueyonder.co.uk