PREMIERSHIP ROUND 22
 
13 JANUARY 2002

Southampton (1) 1 (Beattie 3)
Man United (2) 3 (Van Nistelrooy 9, Beckham 45, Solskjaer 63)

Man United top the table for the first time this season after coming from behind
to beat Southampton. James Beattie gave the hosts the lead, thundering home a
header from a Jason Dodd cross, however within six minutes, Ruud van Nistelrooy
became the first player to score from open play in seven successive Premiership
games when he broke into the area from Paul Scholes pass and slotted in from
a tight angle. Normal service was resumed on half time when David Beckham
curled a delightful 25 yard free kick into the bottom corner and in the second
half, Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer decided the destiny of the points when he drilled a
shot in off keeper Paul Jones and the post after excellent work from Van
Nistelrooy.


Arsenal (0) 1 (Ljungberg 61)
Liverpool (0) 1 (Riise 71)

Honours even at Highbury in a largely uninspiring encounter. Freddie Ljungberg
opened the scoring with a carbon copy of his goal at Anfield three weeks ago.
This time the provider was Robert Pires from the left flank and the Swede
slotted home at the near post. Liverpool equalised out of the blue when Steven
Gerrard's clearance/through ball sent John Arne Riise clear on goal and his shot
beat Stuart Taylor at his near post.


12 JANUARY 2002

Aston Villa (2) 2 (Vassell 12, Angel 26)
Derby (1) 1 (Powell 23)
RED CARD: Grenet (Derby) 24

Derby remain in trouble in the drop zone as Villa won only their second game in
twelve outings. Darius Vassell gave the hosts an early lead, firing into the
roof of the net after Juan Pablo Angel had headed a cross on, however Daryl
Powell levelled matters after Malcolm Christie caught keeper Peter Schmeichel in
possession. Within a minute, Derby were unluckily reduced to ten men when
Francois Grenet was sent off for a clattering foul from behind on Lee Hendrie
and a further two minutes on, Villa clinched all three points when Angel headed
home Ian Taylor's deep cross


Blackburn (2) 4 (Tugay 4, Cole 45, Hignett 82, Jansen 89)
Charlton (0) 1 (Euell 53)
RED CARD: Parker (Charlton) 63

Comfortable stuff at Ewood for Blackburn as their relegation fears were eased
with a crushing victory over Charlton. Tugay gave the hosts an early lead,
curling home from the edge of the area after a one-two with Andy Cole, and on
half time, Cole celebrated his home debut with a goal, brilliantly fired home
from 20 yards after David Dunn's touch had found him. Jason Euell pulled one
back when he lobbed home after an awful mis-kick by Bjornabye had sent him
clear, however after Scott Parker was sent off for bringing down Matt Jansen as
he bore down on goal, the game ran away from Charlton. Craig Hignett made it
3-1, finding the corner from the edge of the area after Cole had given him the
chance and with time almost up, Matt Jansen added a fourth, blasting in from
close range after a quickly taken free kick caught Charlton cold.


Bolton (0) 2 (Ricketts 57, Nolan 79)
Chelsea (0) 2 (Gudjohnsen 55, Forsell 67)

Chelsea's fading Championship hopes took another bash despite twice leading
against Bolton at the Reebok. Former Bolton striker Eidur Gudjohnsen opened the
scoring in the second half, shooting in off the past after Frank Lampard's chip
found him in space, but within two minutes, Michael Ricketts equalised, rounding
the keeper and finding the net after the ball found it's way through to him
after a scramble on the edge of the area. Mikael Forsell then regained the lead
for Chelsea, shooting into the corner from the edge of the area, just a minute
after coming on as sub, however Kevin Nolan earned a point for the hosts,
volleying in from 20 yards after new signing Fredi Bobic set him up.


Everton (1) 1 (Blomqvist 27)
Sunderland (0) 0

New signing Jesper Blomqvist scored the only goal of the game against
Sunderland to end a run of five successive league defeats for his team. The
Swede was on hand at the far post to head home Nik Alexandersson's cross.


Fulham (2) 2 (Saha 40, Marlet 45)
Middlesbrough (1) 1 (Cooper 8)

Fulham came from behind to record a vital win against Middlesbrough, who are
still very much in the dog fight at the bottom. Colin Cooper headed Boro into an
early lead after Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar and Sylvain Legwinski
appeared to leave the far post cross to each other, however sub Louis Saha
equalised, crashing home a header from Steed Malbranque's cross and within
five minutes, Steve Marlet clinched the points, slotting in from a tight angle after
good work from Saha.


Ipswich (1) 2 (Bent (M) 13, McGreal 82)
Tottenham (0) 1 (Poyet 58)

Five wins in six games for Ipswich now as the do the double over Spurs. Marcus
Bent gave the home side the lead, thundering home a header from a Matt
Holland corner, however when Gus Poyet levelled the scores early in the second
half, firing inside the near post after Rebrov's good pass set him up, Spurs were
looking good. However with eight minutes to go, Spurs' marking again let them
down as John McGreal headed home a corner although it may well have gone it
via Ledley King.


Newcastle (1) 3 (Duberry (og) 44, Dyer 61, Bellamy 88)
Leeds United (1) 1 (Smith 24 secs)
RED CARD: Mills (Leeds) 71

Newcastle take over top spot from Leeds whose had six players booked and one
sent off. Alan Smith took just 24 seconds to fire home the quickest goal of the
Prem season, latched onto Mark Viduka's pass and drilling past Given from the
edge of the area, however with half time approaching, Michael Duberry scored a
freak own goal, powering a header past Martyn after Solano had helped on
Bellamy's cross, to make it 1-1. Leeds target Kieron Dyer gave Newcastle the
lead, slotting into the net after Bellamy chested on Solano's cross and then
Leeds were reduced to ten men when Danny Mills stupidly kicked out at Craig
Bellamy. It was the Welshman who clinched the points late on, rolling the ball
home having been sent clear on goal by Dyer.


West Ham (1) 1 (Di Canio 35)
Leicester (0) 0

Paolo di Canio may be heading for Old Trafford this week, and if he is, he
signed off at Upton Park with the only goal of the game against bottom club
Leicester. The Italian struck ten minutes prior to half time, volleying in from
a tricky angle after Schemmel's header had found him.


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