24 SEPTEMBER 2001

Southampton (1) 1 (Pahars 45)
Aston Villa (2) 3 (Boateng 9, Angel 15, Hadji 78)
RED CARDS : Delap (Southampton) 52, Dublin (Villa) 56

Southampton stay rooted firmly to the bottom of the table after a
3-1 home defeat against Aston Villa that saw both team reduced to
ten men early in the second half. Villa opened the scoring when Dion
Dublin slid the ball in for George Boateng who ran onto the pass to
fire home into the roof of the net from a tight angle. Six minutes
later, Angel and Lee Hendrie combined well to find Dublin, who again
found the delightful final flick for Angel to run onto and slot past
Jones. On half time, James Beattie found a fine cross that was met
powerfully by the head of Marion Pahars who planted his effort
firmly past Schmeichel. The second half began with red cards being
waved around like confetti as firstly Rory Delap went off after
clipping the ankle of Hassan Kachloul as he raced through on goal,
and just four minutes later, Dion Dublin followed him after an off
the ball incident that saw Tahar El-Khalej flattened in the area
whilst awaiting a free kick. Mustapha Hadji restored the two goal
lead with twelve minutes to go when he headed home at the near post
from Lee Hendrie's cross.


23 SEPTEMBER 2001

Chelsea (2) 2 (Hasselbaink 3, 37)
Middlesbrough (0) 2 (Stockdale 61, Boksic (pen) 90)

Chelsea lost a two goal lead at home to Middlesbrough thanks to a late
penalty converted by Alen Boksic. Chelsea began well with Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink giving them a comfortable half time lead, firstly when he
collected a pass from Eidur Gudjohnsen and rounded Mark Schwarzer before
slotting the ball into the inviting net and then later in the half, crashing
home from close range after the visitors failed to clear a Zenden corner. On
the hour, Boro pulled one back when Robbie Stockdale latched onto a
clearance by Frank Lampard to volley a shot goalwards that deflected off of
William Gallas and into the net. Chelsea were left stunned in stoppage time
when Graeme Le Saux handled Marinelli's cross the in area, leaving the ice
cool Boksic to score from the spot.


Leeds United (1) 3 (Bakke 9, Kewell 74, 77)
Derby (0) 0

Leeds United return to the summit of the Premiership after a 3-0 win over
Derby, however for a long spell of the game, the destination of the points
were in doubt before Leeds finished strongly.

Derby had an early goal disallowed when Rio Ferdinand helped a cross into
his own net only for Fabrizio Ravanelli, loitering behind the Leeds
defender, to be flagged offside. Within two minutes, Leeds took the lead
when Eirik Bakke was left unmarked to head home Ian Harte's free kick.

Derby began the second half well and almost equalised when Nigel Martyn
saved well from Malcolm Christie as the youngster broke clear to shoot and
then Ravanelli sent a header across goal and wide of the far post. Mark
Viduka was denied at the other end by Andy Oakes after Robbie Keane's
through ball sent the Australian clear and just minutes later, the lead was
doubled.

A long ball from Lee Bowyer found Harry Kewell one-on-one with his marker
and the left winger, who had had a poor game until then, cracked a 20 yard
shot goalwards that hit both posts before finding the net. The goal clearly
raised the confidence level and Kewell added his second and Leeds third when
he crashed home a superb header from a Bowyer cross just three minutes after
his first strike. Further goals could have followed, notably from Robbie
Keane and Lee Bowyer who were both denied twice by fine saves from Oakes.


West Ham (1) 3 (Hutchison 18, Di Canio 53, Kanoute 81)
Newcastle (0) 0

West Ham move of the foot of the table and indeed out of the drop zone
altogether after a well deserved 3-0 victory over Newcastle, whose London
jinx continues.

West Ham took the lead when Don Hutchison scored his first goal for the
Hammers since re-signing, diving full length to head home Michael Carrick's
cross. Both teams had great chances to add to the scoreline, however as Alan
Shearer headed over from close range at one end, Tomas Repka volleyed over
with the goal gaping at the other.

In the second half, Paolo Di Canio doubled the lead when he was found by a
long pass from Christian Dailly and as Warren Barton backed off into the
area, the Italian cracked a shot across goal and in off the far post. Di
Canio almost added a third when he just failed to lob Shay Given whilst
clean through and Carrick also came close when his stunning volley was
blocked by Alan Shearer of all people.

Frederik Kanoute was then unlucky to see Given make a superb save from his
well hit volley asit arrowed goalwards, however ten minutes later he was on
the mark as he latched onto a neat Di Canio flick, helped hugely by a dummy
by Hutchison, to slot easily past the visting keeper.

It's now 26 games, 46 months and three managers since Newcastle last won a
game in London!


22 SEPTEMBER 2001

Arsenal (0) 1 (Jeffers 73)
Bolton (0) 1 (Ricketts 83)
RED CARD : Gardner (Bolton) 31

Bolton stay top as they collected a fine point at Highbury despite
having played for an hour with ten men. Ricardo Gardner was red
carded on the half hour mark after pushing Dennis Bergkamp as the
Dutchman burst through the middle. The Trotters held out until late
on when sub Francis Jeffers finally broke the deadlock, tapping home
after being set up by Robert Pires. Bolton denied the Gunners top
spot when they found a remarkable equaliser with seven minutes to go
when another sub, Michael Ricketts, volleyed home after a good run
and cross from Rod Wallace.


Blackburn (1) 1 (Grabbi 37)
Everton (0) 0
MISSED PEN : Ferguson (Everton) 30

Blackburn collected an excellent three points, despite being
outplayed for long periods by an impressive Everton. The visitors
should have taken the lead when Duncan Ferguson's weak penalty was
saved by Brad Friedal after Alexandersson had been brought down by
Stig Inge Bjornabye. Seven minutes later, Coraddo Grabbi scored his
first goal for Rovers, slotting home neatly from 15 yards.


Leicester (0) 0
Fulham (0) 0

No goals at Filbert Street, but both clubs had chances. Dean
Sturridge and Jamie Scowcroft both headed narrowly off target for
the hosts, whilst record signing Steve Marlet looked dangerous for
Fulham and had one volley just over the bar.


Liverpool (0) 1 (Litmanen 57)
Tottenham (0) 0

Finnish international Jari Litmanen took full advantage of a rare
start to score a superb winner against Tottenham. The striker
collected a pass from Riise, cut inside from the left and crashed a
25 yard piledriver past Sullivan and in off the post.


Manchester United (2) 4 (Johnsen 14, Solskjaer 19, 90, Cole 89)
Ipswich (0) 0

Manchester United moved ominously to within a point of the leaders
with a comfortable victory over Ipswich. Ronny Johnsen headed the
opener, although there remains some doubt as to whether the ball
crossed the line before keeper Matteo Sereni saved. Ole Gunner
Solskjaer added a second, shooting home after Sereni had saved from
Andrew Cole. The former Newcastle man did get on the score sheet
late on, slotting past the keeper after being sent clear by Paul
Scholes, and in stoppage time Solsjkaer added a fourth, firing home
from a tight angle after good work from Cole.


Sunderland (0) 2 (Quinn 74, 76)
Charlton (1) 2 (Bartlett 12, Brown 60)

Sunderland came from two goals behind to earn a deserved point
against Charlton. Shaun Bartlett gave the visitors the lead, heading
home a Konchesky corner as goalkeeper Macho lost the flight of the
ball, although the final touch may have come off of Niall Quinn.
After coming under intense pressure early in the second half,
Charlton doubled their lead when Steve Brown looped a header over
Macho from Luke Young's long throw. Enter Niall Quinn who pulled a
goal back when he thundered home a far post header from Kevin
Phillips' cross. Then three minutes later, Quinn did it again, this
time heading home Gavin McCann's free kick.


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