4 DECEMBER 2001

Tottenham (0) 3 (Poyet 47, Ferdinand 48, Sheringham 86)
Bolton (1) 2 (Ricketts 8, Wallace 56)

Spurs move into fifth place after coming from behind to beat Bolton
at White Hart Lane. The visitors took the lead early on when Bruno N
'Gotty's long ball was back heeled into the path of Michael Ricketts
by Kevin Nolan, the striker making space for himself before drilling
the ball into the bottom corner. Les Ferdinand came on at half time
and had a dramatic impact as his header hit the post, bounced off of
Whitlow and the bar before Gus Poyet headed home. Then a minute
later, Bunjevcevic, also on as a half time sub, played Ferdinand in
and the former Newcastle man fired into the back of the net. Within
ten minutes, Bolton levelled matters when Ricketts played Wallace
through and although his shot should have been dealt with by
Sullivan, the Spurs keeper allowed the effort to squirm under his
hands and over the line. With time running out, Spurs won the game
when Teddy Sheringham produced a delightful glancing header from
Ziege's near post free kick.


2 DECEMBER 2001

Fulham (0) 0
Leeds United (0) 0

Fulham had the better of a poor game at Craven Cottage and were
unlucky on two occasions. Luis Boa Morte beat Nigel Martyn with a
shot only to see Gary Kelly slide back to clear off the line, whilst
in the second half Alain Goma headed against the bar. Robbie Fowler
made his debut for Leeds and was denied on a couple of occasions by
Edwin van der Sar, however in general chances were at a premium.


Everton (0) 2 (Radzinski 50, Pembridge 86)
Southampton (0) 0

Very much the proverbial game of two halves as Everton were jeered
off after a goalless opening 45 minutes and then scored two fine
second half goals to clinch the points. The half time arrival of
subs Paul Gascoigne and Mark Pembridge seemed to lift the hosts and
they took the lead when Tomasz Radzinski was sent clear by Steve
Watson and fired past Paul Jones at the near post. Both clubs have
chances to add to the scoreline, however Everton wrapped up the win
when Thomas Gravesen, who had earlier missed two glorious chances,
crossed for Pembridge to fire home first time.


1 DECEMBER 2001

Aston Villa (0) 0
Leicester (1) 2 (Akinbiyi 12, Scowcroft 50)
RED CARD: Ginola (Aston Villa) 85

Strugglers Leicester found their form at Villa Park to record a
vital victory in this Midlands derby. Much maligned Ade Akinbiyi
scored the opener, heading in at the far post after a corner was
flicked on, the ball looking to be over the line before Frank
Sinclair helped it in. The win was secured early in the second half
when James Scowcroft hooked in after Peter Schmeichel had fumbled a
cross under pressure. It completed a poor day for the Villa keeper
as he had slipped during the build up to the first goal. Villa's
misery was complete when David Ginola was sent off just minutes
after coming on as sub. The Frenchman kicked out at Dennis Wise
having been fouled by the Leicester midfielder, however he refused
to go quietly and argued with just about everyone as he made his way
off.


Blackburn (0) 0
Middlesbrough (1) 1 (Boksic 45)

A freak goal by Alen Boksic clinched the points for Middlesbrough at
Ewood Park against a Blackburn side who continue to blow hot and
cold. The only goal came in first half stoppage time when a tackle
by Craig Short struck the Croatian and looped back into the net!


Charlton (0) 1 (Macdonald 83)
Newcastle (0) 1 (Speed 73)
RED CARD: Shearer (Newcastle) 87

28 games since Newcastle last won in London, although the came
pretty close this time. Gary Speed gave the Toon the lead late on,
bobbling a shot into the corner after the home side failed to clear
a cross, however Charlton levelled matters with seven minutes when
Charlie McDonald drilled home from the edge of the area after
Robinson's shot was blocked. With time running out, Alan Shearer was
shown a straight red card after jumping for an airborne challenge
with Jon Fortune, he appeared to catch the Charlton man with a
flayling arm, a decision with looked harsh to say the least.


Derby (0) 0
Liverpool (1) 1 (Owen 6)
MISSED PEN: Ravanelli (Derby) 87

Liverpool pull three points clear at the top, although Derby striker
Fabrizio Ravanelli could have earned a late point. Michael Owen gave
Liverpool an early lead, rounding Poom and tapping home after the
Derby keeper spilled a shot from Patrik Berger, however with time
running out, Emile Heskey handled Ravanelli's header in the area,
however the Italian could only watch in horror as his spot kick was
saved by Dudek - Ravanelli's second miss in as many games.


Ipswich (0) 0
Arsenal (1) 2 (Ljungberg 5, Henry (pen) 54)

Arsenal move into second place with a comfortable win at bottom club
Ipswich. Freddie Ljungberg gave the Gunners a golden start, slotting
home Thierry Henry's through ball after a poor pass from Titus
Bramble and the Swede was involved in the second goal as well. He
was adjudged to have been blocked by Mark Venus, allowing Henry to
step up and convert the spot kick - are you watching Ravanelli?


Manchester United (0) 0
Chelsea (1) 3 (Melchiot 6, Hasselbaink 64, Gudjohnsen 86)

Chelsea stunned Man United at Old Trafford with an astonishing 3-0
victory - and well deserved it was too. Mario Malchiot was the
unlikely scorer of the opening goal, crashing home a header from a
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink corner to score only his second ever goal
for the Blues, the first also coming against United in the 2000
Charity Shield. Chelsea missed a host of other chances before the
lead was doubled in the second half. Hasselbaink latched onto a poor
ball by Juan Veron and played Eidur Gudjohnsen in. He surged forward
and returned the compliment to Hasselbaink who fired a shot across
Barthez and into the far corner. The humiliation was complete late
on when Babayaro played a through ball in for Gudjohnsen who had
time to steady himself before firing past Barthez.


Sunderland (0) 1 (Phillips 79)
West Ham (0) 0

Sunderland left it late to beat West Ham in a game decided by a
trademark strike from Kevin Phillips. The England international
latched on a cross from Julio Arca and clipped the ball over David
James and in as the keeper came off his line.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK
http://www.soccerage.com
gary@soccerage.com
garydowden@blueyonder.co.uk