1 SEPTEMBER 2002

Bolton (0) 1 (Ricketts (pen) 55)
Aston Villa (0) 0

Bolton collected their first points of the season against a Villa side who have
lost three of their four games by the same 1-0 scoreline this season. The only
goal came after keeper Peter Enckleman brought down Per Pedersen in full flow.
Michael Ricketts stepped up and calmly converted the spot kick.


Chelsea (1) 1 (Zola 34)
Arsenal (0) 1 (Toure 59)
RED CARD : Vieira (Arsenal) 49

Honours even at Stamford Bridge after Arsenal came from a goal and a man down to
earn a draw against Chelsea. Gianfranco Zola opened the scoring after his 35
yard free kick missed everyone and floated inside the far post. Patrick Vieira
was then sent off for a second bookable offence, although he looked to be
unlucky as Jesper Gronkjaer appeared to catch Vieira's studs as he cleared the
ball. The Gunners levelled matters ten minutes later after Cudicini parried
Slyvain Wiltord's volley only for sub Kolo Toure to head home from close range.


28 AUGUST 2002

Aston Villa (0) 1 (Vassell 64)
Manchester City (0) 0

First points of the season for Aston Villa courtesy of Darius Vassell, who
blasted his shot through a sea of players after Man City had failed to clear a
free kick.


Blackburn (1) 2 (Dunn 15, Grabbi 83)
Liverpool (1) 2 (Murphy 31, Riise 77)

Liverpool lose their 100% record after a superb 2-2 draw at Ewood Park.
Blackburn took the lead when Damien Duff crossed for David Dunn to control well
and fire past Dudek. Danny Murphy levelled matters when his flick sent Abel
Xavier away on the right and his cross found the midfielder running into the
area and he powered the ball into the bottom corner. Liverpool took the lead
inside the final 15 minutes when John Arne Riise looped a header back across
goal and inside the far post from Xavier's cross, however just six minutes
later, sub Corrado Grabbi thumped home a header from Dunn's cross to make
honours even.


Everton (0) 1 (Unsworth 90)
Birmingham (0) 1 (John (pen) 50)
RED CARD : Stubbs (Everton) 49

Everton needed a stoppage time equaliser to earn a point against Birmingham, who
will be happy to have earned their first goal and point. Stern John fired a
penalty in off the post after Alan Stubbs had hauled the striker down as he bore
down on goal. Stubbs was red carded for his part in proceedings and could only
watch as his team mates left it very late before David Unsworth volleyed in from
the edge of the area via a couple of deflections.


Leeds United (0) 0
Sunderland (0) 1 (McAteer 46)

Leeds also lost their 100% record against Sunderland for whom Jason McAteer
scored their first goal of the season to win the game. The former Liverpool man
struck early in the second half after Kevin Phillips had nodded down Thomas
Butler's cross.


Southampton (0) 1 (Fernandes 51)
Chelsea (0) 1 (Lampard 80)

Honours even at St Marys at Chelsea snatched a late draw at Southampton. Fabrice
Fernandes gave the hosts the lead, holding off two defenders before firing in
from the edge of the area, however Frank Lampard levelled matters ten minutes
from time, clipped in after he'd collected a pass from Eidur Gudjohnsen.


27 AUGUST 2002

Arsenal (3) 5 (Cole 3, Lauren 21, Wiltord 24, 77, Aliadiere 89)
West Brom (0) 2 (Dobie 51, Roberts 87)

West Brom's baptism of fire continues as they have now lost to Man United, Leeds
and Arsenal in the opening ten days of the season. The most recent game at
Highbury was over inside 24 minutes, by which time the Champions were three
goals up. Ashley Cole grabbed the first, twisting past a defender after
collecting a pass from Kanu, before lashing his shot across goal and into the
opposite corner. Kanu also set up the second for the other full back Lauren,
crossing from the right for the Cameroon star to control, turn and fire into the
roof of the net. Sylvain Wiltord added the third, latching onto Thierry Henry's
through ball to chip home over the keeper. Early in the second half, dreadful
control by Cole allowed Scott Dobie a tap in, although David Seaman seemed to
allow the shot to go in under his body. Cole made amends though when his cross
was controlled and finished well by Wiltord, before Jason Roberts pulled another
back holding off Keown to fire home after being found by Siggurdson. The final
nail in the coffin came from youngster Jeremie Aliadiere, who converted Henry's
cross from close range.


Charlton (0) 0
Tottenham (1) 1 (Davies 8)

Spurs stay level on points with Arsenal as man of the moment Simon Davies scored
the only goal to see off Charlton. It came early in the game when he was found
by Teddy Sheringham before crashing the ball into the roof of the net.


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