17 APRIL 2001

Tottenham (0) 0
Chelsea (1) 3 (Hasselbaink 29, Poyet 60, Gudjohnsen 90)
RED CARD : Korsten (Tottenham) 44

Chelsea move into fifth with a comfortable victory over Spurs who
are yet to record a victory in the Premiership over their London
rivals. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink opened the scoring when he headed
home a Gianfranco Zola corner and just before half time Spurs
situation worsened when Willem Korsten was unluckily sent off for a
second bookable offence - a late lunge on Mario Melchiot. The result
was never in doubt in the second half as Gus Poyet sent a half
volley into the back of the net from Graeme Le Saux's cross and into
stoppage time Eidur Gudjohnsen added a third after a neat one-two
with Hasselbaink.


Charlton (2) 3 (Boateng (og) 16, Jensen (pen) 45, Kinsella 89)
Aston Villa (0) 3 (Ginola 59, Vassell 75, Hendrie 90)
RED CARD : Rufus (Charlton) 38

Honours even after a pulsating game at the Valley, although George
Boateng with be anxious to forget it after prodding Jonaton
Johanssen's cross into his own net and then blasting over an open
goal after Merson had hit the post. He was subbed at half time, but
by then Charlton were down to ten men after Richard Rufus's rash
challenge on Mark Delaney warranted a straight red, but they
increased their lead when Claus Jensen converted a penalty after
Bartlett was said to have been held back in the area by Steve
Staunton. Villa took advantage of the extra man after the break and
clawed back level, firstly when David Ginola sidefooted home after
good work by Lee Hendrie, and then Darius Vassell scored a fine solo
effort, cutting in from the right befre firing home. The drama was
only just beginning though as, with stoppage time approaching, Paul
Merson crashed an effort against the underside of the bar and as
Ilic cleared, Mark Kinsella was sent clear and clipped the ball past
David James. Villa were not to be denied though and deep into added
on time, Charlton failed to clear and a grounded Dion Dublin
squirmed the ball through to Hendrie who turned and shot home.


16 APRIL 2001

Coventry (1) 1 (Hartson 21)
Sunderland (0) 0
RED CARD : Varga (Sunderland) 49

Coventry moved within two points of safety with their third win in
four games thanks to victory over faltering Sunderland. The only
goal was the culmination of a superb passing move from Coventry that
ended with John Hartson crashing home a diving header from Lee
Carsley's cross. Sunderland task was made harder when Stanislav
Varga was red carded for two bookable offences, both tackles on Jay
Bothroyd. Sunderland felt that they should have had a penalty in the
final minute, however referee Dermot Gallagher waved away the
protests.


Derby (1) 2 (Boertien 24, Eranio 90)
Leicester (0) 0
RED CARD : Burton (Derby) 89

Derby eased their relegation problems and inflicted Leicester's
sixth successive league defeat in the East Midlands derby. Paul
Beortien opened the scoring, dribbling past two men before slotting
home. Deon Burton was dismissed late on for a headbutt on Robbie
Savage, however seconds later the points were put beyond doubt when
Stefano Eranio doubled the lead, also with a fine solo goal, beating
three men inside the area before scoring inside the far post.


Middlesbrough (1) 1 (Windass 39)
Ipswich (0) 2 (Armstrong 46, 50)

Middlesbrough are very much back in the relegation dogfight after
losing a lead at home to Ipswich. Both opening goals were crackers
as Dean Windass latched onto Paul Ince's through ball to crash a
shot into the corner from the edge of the box, however within
seconds of the restart, former Boro man Alun Armstrong did similar
with a superb volley after Marcus Stewart had lobbed the ball on.
Four minutes later, he did it again, flicking home Stewart's cross
at the near post to give Schwarzer no chance.


Newcastle (1) 2 (Cort 32, Solano (pen) 56)
West Ham (0) 1 (Lampard (pen) 80)

A rare victory for Newcastle as West Ham's indifferent form
continues. Carl Cort put the hosts ahead when he volleyed home a
Solano cross. The rest of the action was a tale of two penalties as
Nol Solano scored from the spot after Carrick was judged to have
handled and with ten minutes left, Frank Lampard gave the visitors
hope when he converted his spot kick after Song was clattered by
O'Brien


Everton (1) 2 (Ferguson 42, Unsworth (pen) 83)
Liverpool (1) 3 (Heskey 4, Babbel 57, McAllister 90)
MISSED PENALTY : Fowler (Liverpool) 59
RED CARD : Biscan (Liverpool) 77

A remarkable Merseyside derby that only really took off after half
time but saw Liverpool snatch victory with practically the last kick
of the game. Emile Heskey put Liverpool ahead, firing home Dietmar
Hamann's through ball, although seconds before Everton were
convinced of a handball by Carragher at the other end. Duncan
Ferguson levelled matters after Campbell had held up the Scot's
flick on, however in the second half Markus Babbel crashed home a
scorching shot after Fowler's cross had fallen behind Smicer. Fowler
should have decided matters two minutes later but only thudded his
penalty against the post after Richard Gough was harshly judged to
have fouled the penalty taker. Igor Biscan was then red carded for a
second bookable offence as he fouled Alexandersson and within six
minutes, Everton equalised with another dodgy penalty after referee
Jeff Winter judged that Hyypia was holding Ferguson down. David
Unsworth ingored the protests and sent Westerveld the wrong way.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Liverpool won it when Gary
McAllister's superb 30 yard free kick curled sweetly into the bottom
corner.

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