8 MARCH 2001

West Ham (0) 0
Chelsea (2) 2 (Gudjohnsen 30, Hasselbaink 37)

Chelsea win away in the league for the first time in almost a year
after two fine first half strikes saw off injury hit West Ham. The
hosts began well with Joe Cole crashing a close range effort against
the underside of the bar, however Chelsea stayed firm and eventually
broke through on the half hour. Eidur Gudjohnsen collected a pass
from Jesper Gronkjaer and slotted home a well directed shot from the
edge of the area. Better was to come however when Gronkjear helped
on a long ball forward from Frank Lebouef and it was collected by
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 25 yards from goal. He made space against
Christian Dailly and curled a cracking effort into the corner of
Shaka Hislop's net.


5 MARCH 2001

Sunderland (0) 1 (McCann 82)
Aston Villa (0) 1 (Joachin 51)

Sunderland missed the chance to go third after dominating against
Aston Villa, but ultimately needed a late goal to scramble a point.
Villa took the lead when both Thome and Craddock failed to clear a
long ball forward, allowing Julian Joachim to control the ball, turn
and shoot into the corner. After half an hour of pressure,
Sunderland levelled matters when Gavin McCann was left with a tap in
after David James failed to hold a Stefan Schwarz free kick and in
stoppage time, Sunderland perhaps should have won it when Danny
Dichio crashed home after Villa failed to clear a corner, however
the referee ruled that David James had been fouled with replays
showing that he actually ran into his own player.


4 MARCH 2001

Ipswich (0) 3 (Reuser 59, 71, Burchill 74)
Bradford (1) 1 (Carbone 27)

Ipswich came from behind to ease past bottom club Bradford and move into
third place. Beni Carbone crashed home a 35 yard free kick after Ipswich had
dominated early on, however in the second half, Ipswich eventually took
over. Andy O'Brien lost possession on the left to Martijn Reuser who then
cut inside and curled a beauty past Gary Walsh and into the far corner.
Wanting to prove that it wasn't a fluke, he then doubled his tally for the
game and the season, as he curled a superb free kick from the left around
the wall and inside the near post. Mark Burchill added a third, getting a
slight touch onto Hermann Hreidarsson's firm goalbound header.


3 MARCH 2001

Arsenal (3) 3 (Wiltord 6, 13, 39)
West Ham (0) 0

Arsenal consolidate second place and shrug off the thumping at Old
Trafford last week, after a Sylvain Wiltord in the first half saw
off London rivals West Ham. His first came at the expense of player
of the month Stuart Pearce, whose misplaced header found Robert
Pires who sent Wiltord racing away to slot home. Seven minutes later
and the lead was doubled, Wiltord again taking advantage of slack
defending to turn and fire home from the edge of the area. His hat
trick arrived shortly before half time having been sent through by
Frederik Ljungberg, Wiltord's shot was partially saved by Hislop but
he couldn't stop the ball from rolling in.


Coventry (0) 0
Chelsea (0) 0

Chelsea stay without an away win, Coventry remain deep in trouble in
a game largely dominated by the visitors. They came closest late on
when Gianfranco Zola came off the bench to fire an effort against
the bar. Coventry's best chance arrived shortly before half time
when David Thompson fired just wide. A result that neither club will
be happy with.


Derby (2) 2 (Strupar 12, (pen) 33)
Spurs (0) 1 (West (og) 70)

A crucial victory for Derby to further ease their relegation worries
as Spurs dismal away record continues. Branko Strupar was the hero
for the Rams, scoring twice in the first half. His first was a far
post volley after Crair Burley's corner was helped on by Delap. The
lead, and his goal tally, was doubled just after the half hour mark
when Alton Thelwell brought down Malcolm Christie, Strupar
converting the penalty. Spurs pulled one back with a freak own goal
when Taribo West headed a Sol Campbell clearance firmly past his own
keeper.


Everton (0) 1 (Unsworth (pen) 82)
Newcastle (0) 1 (Unsworth (og) 47)

A goal at both ends for Everton defender David Unsworth, although a
point not much use to either club. His own goal was unfortunate to
say the least as he diverted the ball home after Gerrard had pushed
out Shearer's shot. The equaliser came from the penalty spot,
Unsworth firing home after Caldwell had fouled Campbell.


Leeds United (0) 1 (Viduka 84)
Manchester United (0) 1 (Chadwick 63)
MISSED PEN: Harte (Leeds) 45

Controversy at Elland Rd as Leeds came from behind to earn a point
against Man United, but it could and maybe should have been more.
After they dominated the first half, they were awarded a penalty on
the stroke of half time when Fabien Barthez kicked out at Ian Harte
in the area. Barthez was a little lucky only to see yellow and not red
and then added to Leeds fury as he saved Harte's penalty. United's
first effort at goal game after 63 minutes and it found the net!
Solskjaer's shot was partially saved by Martyn, allowing Luke Chadwick
to come storming in for a tap in. Leeds levelled late on when Bowyer
helped on a Mills cross and Mark Viduka found the net with a diving
header. In the final minute, Leeds thought they'd won it when Wes
Brown turned Bowyer's cross into his own net but his blushes were
spared by a harsh offside flag.


Leicester (0) 2 (Akinbiyi 51, Izzet 90)
Liverpool (0) 0

Leicester move to within a point of Liverpool as both clubs fight
for a Champions League place. Liverpool showed every sign of a post
cup final hangover when they went behind early in the second half,
Ade Akinbiyi tapping home at the near post from Dean Sturridge's
cross. The points weren't secured until stoppage time when Muzzy
Izzet slotted home a Gunlaugsson through ball.


Man City (0) 0
Southampton (0) 1 (Petrescu 55)

A superb goal, totally out of keeper of a drab game, decided this
encounter and leaves City still in relegation trouble while Saints
amazingly join the race for a European spot. The decided moment came
ten minutes into the second half and saw Dan Petrescu latch onto a
weak clearing header by Wiekens and smash a volley into the top
corner.


Middlesbrough (0) 0
Charlton (0) 0

Not the season's most attarctive looking fixture and not the most
exciting game as it turned out. Boro are now two points away from
the relegation zone, although for the most part it was Charlton that
looked the most likely scorers with Jonaton Johansson heading wide
early on when he should have scored. Shaun Bartlett did similar in
the second half while Alen Boksic came closest for Boro with a
fierce shot that Ilic did well to save.

Gary Dowden
Chief Editor - Soccerage (UK)
http://www.soccerage.com
gary@soccerage.com