26 DECEMBER 2001

Arsenal (0) 2 (Campbell 49, Wiltord 70)
Chelsea (1) 1 (Lampard 31)

Arsenal came from behind to Chelsea to keep in touch with leaders
Newcastle. Frank Lampard scored his second in as many games when he
found the bottom corner after being found by Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink. After half time, it took Arsenal just four minutes to
get back on terms when Sol Campbell crashed home a header from a
Robert Pires corner. The winner came from sub Sylvain Wiltord who
bobbled home an effort from the edge of the box after Chelsea failed
to clear a Van Bronckhorst free kick.


Bolton (0) 0
Leeds United (2) 3 (Fowler 2, 16, 89)
MISSED PEN: Fowler (Leeds) 82

Leeds stay in the top four after a convincing victory at Bolton in a
game dominated by Robbie Fowler. The former Liverpool striker opened
the scoring inside two minutes, firing home after latching onto
David Batty's lob forward, and then doubled his tally after Viduka
had flicked the ball on. He even had time to miss a penalty after
Djibril Diawara had fouled Lee Bowyer, his awful kick bobbing wide.
However, Fowler was not to be denied a hat trick and completed the
treble late on, dribbling past keeper Jaaskelainen and Diawara after
Alan Smith had put him clear.


Fulham (0) 0
Charlton (0) 0

A drab encounter at Craven Cottage saw honours even as both sides
fail to impress.


Southampton (0) 1 (Beattie 56)
Spurs (0) 0

Two defeats in a row over Christmas for Spurs as Southampton
continued their battle against the drop. The only goal came early in
the second half when James Beattie beat Neil Sullivan to a high punt
from Paul Williams to head the ball into the net.


West Ham (1) 4 (Schemmel 5, Di Canio 73, Sinclair 86, Defoe 90)
Derby (0) 0
RED CARD: Carbone (Derby) 53

West Ham recorded their biggest victory of the season as Derby's
away day woes continue. Sebastien Schemmel began the rout early on,
tapping home after Derby failed to clear a free kick, however it
wasn't until late on when the Hammers clinched the points. After
Benito Carbone was sent off for a second bookable offence, a tackle
from behind on Tomas Repka, Paolo di Canio doubled the lead with a
crisp shot from the edge of the area. Trevor Sinclair made it three
when he acrobatically volleyed home Joe Cole's cross and in stoppage
time, Jermaine Defoe wrapped things up, prodding home after battling
through the defence.


Aston Villa (1) 1 (Hendrie 21)
Liverpool (1) 2 (Litmanen 9, Smicer 73)
MISS PEN: Litmanen (Liverpool) 35

Liverpool ended their recent poor run with a hard fought victory at
faltering Aston Villa. Jari Litmanen scored his second goal in four
days, although it was a real freak of a goal as Peter Schmeichel's
throw out hit the referee on the back and fell to the Finn who
slotted into an empty net from 30 yards out, however Lee Hendrie
equalised after Dudek has spilled Angel's shot. Litmanen then missed
a penalty, crashing his spot kick against the post after Boateng was
judged to have fouled Steven Gerrard, but with time running out,
Vladimir Smicer won the points for Liverpool, tapping past the
keeper after Berger's chip had sent him clear.


Blackburn (0) 0
Sunderland (2) 3 (Quinn 17, 32, Kilbane 90)
RED CARD: Short (Blackburn) 69

Sunderland doubled their away goals tally in the space of one game
as Blackburn were swept aside at Ewood Park. Niall Quinn was the
main problem for the home side with two goals in fifteen minutes,
firstly shooting home at the far post and then shortly afterwards
glancing a Julio Arca cross into the net. Craig Short was then sent
off for elbowing Kevin Kyle and in the final minute Kevin Kilbane
wrapped up the points with a simpke tap in from Kevin Phillips`
cross.

Everton (0) 0
Manchester United (0) 2 (Giggs 78, Van Nistelrooy 85)

Man United left it late at Everton to record their fourth win in a
row and keep the pressure on the top four clubs. The hosts were
holding their own when David Beckham crossed for Ryan Giggs to head
home with just twelve minutes to go. Shortly afterwards, Ruud van
Nistelrooy clinched the points when he blasted home after Giggs
crossed to the far post.


Ipswich (0) 2 (Bent 48, Peralta 55)
Leicester (0) 0

Ipswich moved off the bottom of the table and are replaced by the
team they beat at Portman Road - Leicester. Marcus Bent opened his
account for Ipswich early in the second half, heading Martijn Reuser
's cross firmly into the net and the points were secured minutes
later when Sixto Peralta slotted a shot inside the far post after
Reuser had again turned provider.


Newcastle (1) 3 (Shearer 29, Bellamy 58, Bernard 83)
Middlesbrough (0) 0

Newcastle remain three points clear at the top with a comfortable
win over north-east rivals Middlesbrough. Alan Shearer opened the
scoring on half an hour after his original shot had been saved and
the lead was doubled by Craig Bellamy who deflected Gary Speed's
header into the net shortly before the hour mark. Olivier Bernard
finished the rout late on, finishing well after Bellamy had crossed.


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