PREMIERSHIP ROUND 31
 
2 APRIL 2001

Southampton (0) 0
Ipswich (1) 3 (Stewart 33, 68, (pen) 71)

The post Glenn Hoddle era at Southampton got off to a bad start
thanks to a home defeat at the hands of Ipswich, courtesy largely
due to a fine hat trick from Marcus Stewart that puts his team third
in the table. Ipswich took the lead with a well worked goal from one
end to the other, culminating in Jamie Clapham's firm low cross
being turned in at the far post by Marcus Stewart, ending
Southampton's seven game run without conceading a goal. Whilst the
first half was fairly drab, the second was end to end as Reuser
almost doubled the lead when his ambitious 40 yard free kick struck
the bar and at the other end Jo Tessem crashed a volley against the
inside of the post only to see it bounce back into play. The second
Ipswich goal arrived midway through the second half when Hermann
Hreidarsson did brilliantly on the left and fired a ball across goal
for Stewart to head superbly past Paul Jones. Three minutes later,
El Khalej clattered into the back of Matt Holland in the area and
Stewart stepped up to cheekily chip the ball past Jones from the
penalty spot.


1 APRIL 2001

Charlton (1) 2 (Todd 33, Bartlett 82)
Leicester (0) 0

Charlton's hopes of a European spot next season were handed a boost
against a Leicester side whose away form is hampering their hopes of
similar after a 2-0 home win at the Valley today. Charlton went
ahead just after the half hour when Shaun Bartlett headed a corner
against the bar, although keeper Simon Royce did get fingertips on
it, and Andy Todd headed home the rebound. The victory was clinched
in spectacular style when Bartlett did find the net with a stunning
first first volley from the edge of the area after a superb long
pass from Graham Stuart.


31 MARCH 2001

Arsenal (0) 2 (Pires 70, Henry 87)
Tottenham (0) 0

The first of two high profile North London derby's was put into
perspective when the death of former Arsenal favourite David
Rocastle was announced this morning. `Rocky` lost his fight against
non-Hodkin's lymphoma - a type of cancer - in the early hours of
this morning and the minute's silence before the game was perfectly
observed. The game itself struggled to take off until the second
half when Arsenal eventually took the lead through Robert Pires who
controlled a Vieira pass, beat his man and fired a crisp shot into
the corner. Victory was confirmed late on when Thierry Henry
produced a slotted finish after a fine solo run.


Bradford (2) 2 (Wetherall 8, Blake (pen) 10)
Newcastle (1) 2 (Cort 26, Acuna 77)

Bottom club Bradford lost a two goal lead against Newcastle and
edged a little closer to the first division in the process as draws
are no longer good enough for them. David Wetherall got the scoring
started, heading home a Gareth Whalley corner, although Ashley Ward
may have got a touch on the ball. Within two minutes the lead was
doubled when Robbie Blake converted a penalty after Molenaar had
been fouled by Robert Lee. Newcastle halved the lead when Carl Cort
scored for the second game in a row, heading home powerfully from
Wayne Quinn's cross. Clarence Acuna earned a share of the points
late on, forcing home a Nol Solano cross.


Chelsea (1) 2 (Zola 36, Gudjohnsen 63)
Middlesbrough (0) 1 (Windass 54)

Two superb goals and an horrendous error decided this game at
Stamford Bridge that kept Chelsea in with a chance of Europe next
season and left Boro just four points above the drop zone.
Gianfranco Zola opened the scoring with an excellent near post
header to convert Celestine Babayaro's cross, however shortly after
half time Dean Windass levelled matters with a diving header at the
far post after Christian Karembeu's excellent cross. The game was
decided when Noel Whelan produced a drastically underhit back pass
that let in Eidur Gudjohnsen who finished with ease.


Coventry (2) 2 (Hadji 44, Hartson 49)
Derby (0) 0
RED CARD : Hadji (Coventry) 72

Coventry gave themselves some hope of avoiding the drop with a
simple victory over East Midland rivals Derby in a game tainted by
the red card for Mustapha Hadji who was dismissed for spitting at
Danny Higginbottom. The Moroccan had earlier put his side ahead,
heading in after Eustace's shot had been saved by Mart Poom. John
Hartson continued his good recent goal run, heading home shortly
after half time from a Telfer corner.


Liverpool (2) 2 (Gerrard 15, Fowler 40)
Man United (0) 0
RED CARD : Murphy (Liverpool) 68

Liverpool increased their Champions League chances whilst putting
Man Utd's title party on hold for a while with a well deserved 2-0
victory at Anfield. Steven Gerrard was the star of the show by
blasting home a sensational 30 yard screamer that found the top
corner to open the scoring, and then it was his chipped cross that
found Robbie Fowler who took advantage of a slip by Gary Neville to
crash home the second. Danny Murphy was red carded midway through
the second half for a second bookable offence - a late tackle on
Denis Irwin - but it didn't cloud Liverpool's first `double` over
United since 1979.


Man City (1) 1 (Goater 11)
Aston Villa (2) 3 (Merson 13, Dublin 45, Hendrie 65)
RED CARD : Tiatto (Man City) 80

Man City pressed the self destruct button and remain four points
from safety after losing the lead in a scrappy game against Aston
Villa. Shaun Goater opened the scoring, tapping home a Jeff Whitley
cross, however within two minutes Villa were level when Paul Merson
did similar to a Lee Hendrie cross with the help of a touch by Steve
Stone. The game will be remembered however for a howler by City
keeper Nicky Weaver on the stroke of half time as he somehow allowed
a Spencer Prior back pass to roll under his foot and in nipped Dion
Dublin to apologetically put Villa ahead. Lee Hendrie added a third,
slotting home after being sent clear by Merson and City's misery was
complete when Danny Tiatto was sent off for a second bookable
offence as he kicked the ball away following a tussle.


Sunderland (0) 0
Leeds United (1) 2 (Smith 33, Viduka 89)
RED CARD : Smith (Leeds) 73

The battle of the Champions League probables ended with a fine 2-0
victory for Leeds as they becoming only the second club to win in
the league at Sunderland this season. Alan Smith put Leeds ahead
with a header after Harry Kewell had headed Ian Harte's corner back
across goal. Smith was then red carded for a second bookable
offence, a retalitory flick at Carteron, however in the closing
minutes, sub Robbie Keane set up Mark Viduka to end Sunderland's
hopes.


West Ham (0) 0
Everton (1) 2 (Unsworth (pen) 45, Alexandersson 71)
RED CARD : Pearce (S) (West Ham) 44

West Ham and Everton are now level on points and still not totally
safe from relegation after the visitors collected a controversial
victory at Upton Park. The game hinged on a decision on the stroke
of half time when Stuart Pearce clashed with Tony Hibbert in the
area, leading to the referee to award a penalty and send off Pearce
for his second bookable offence. David Unsworth converted the spot
kick to put Everton ahead. Niclas Alexandersson decided the
destination of the points with twenty minutes to go when he finished
well having been sent clear by Ferguson.


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