24 November 2003

Fulham (2) 2 (Saha 30, 33)
Portsmouth (0) 0
RED CARD : Berger (Portsmouth) 82

Fulham move into fifth place after two Louis Saha goals gave them a victory
over Portsmouth. The visitors had the better of the opening stages, however
they fell behind to two quick-fire goals. The first, on the half hour, came
as the visitors failed to clear a loose ball on the edge of the area and as
it fell to Saha, his control and fierce shot was top class as the ball flew
in. Three minutes later, the lead was doubled as he crashed home a close
range header from a cross by Moritz Volz. Portsmouth misery was completed
late on when Patrik Berger was shown a straight red card, presumably for
dissent.


23 November 2003

Spurs (0) 2 (Ricketts 77, Keane 81)
Aston Villa (0) 1 (Allback 66)

Spurs came from behind to ease their concerns at the bottom but keep
opponents Aston Villa in the drop zone. After over an hour of utter tedium,
Villa took the lead when Marcus Allback scored with a looping header from
Peter Whittingham's cross, however the hosts levelled matters when Robbie
Keane found sub Rohan Ricketts wide and his shot across goal thumped in off
the far post. Keane then grabbed the winner himself as he collected a ball
from Stephen Carr, skipped past his marker and fired the ball inside the far
post.


22 November 2003

Man United (2) 2 (Van Nistelrooy 23, Kleberson 37)
Blackburn (0) 1 (Emerton 62)

Man United went to the top, albeit briefly, but ultimately kept pressure on
Chelsea, who they play next week, and Arsenal after this narrow early kick
off victory against Blackburn. United were two up by half time as Quinton
Fortune became the middle man in a superb one-two with Ruud Van Nistelrooy,
allowing the Dutchman to crash the ball in from a tight angle via the near
post. The lead was doubled when Van Nistelrooy turned provider as he broke
clear down the right. His cross to the far post found Fortune again whose
first time lay off was perfect for the onrushing Kleberson to slot home,
also with a first time strike. Blackburn were better in the second half and
after Dwight Yorke had a goal harshly ruled out for offside, Paul Gallagher
sent Brett Emerton clear and the Australian finished well past Tim Howard.


Birmingham (0) 0
Arsenal (1) 3 (Ljungberg 4, Bergkamp 80, Pires 88)

Arsenal set a new Premiership record having now gone thirteen games unbeaten
at the start of the season following this comfortable win at Birmingham.
Despite the suspensions from the `Old Trafford brawl` beginning, the Gunners
swept into an early lead when Thierry Henry sent Freddie Ljungberg clear to
slot home. With ten minutes to go, the visitors broke clear from a
Birmingham corner as Henry this time sent Dennis Bergkamp away to run half
the length of the pitch before dinking over the keeper. The victory was
completed late on when Henry again set up Robert Pires to bobble an effort
inside the far post.


Everton (2) 2 (Radzinski 16, Kilbane 19)
Wolves (0) 0

Everton picked up three vital points against fellow relegation strugglers
Wolves. Both goals came in a four minute spell as firstly Tomasz Radzinski
collected a loose pass to run at the defence and fire into the bottom corner
from 25 yards. Shortly afterwards the lead was doubled when Wayne Rooney's
cross was met by Kevin Kilbane to loop a header into the far corner.


Leeds United (0) 0
Bolton (2) 2 (Davies 16, Giannakopolous 17)

Leeds remain bottom after two Bolton goals in 60 seconds made it a loosing
start for caretaker boss Eddie Gray. The writing was on the proverbial wall
when a poor clearing header from Michael Duberry fell nicely for Kevin
Davies to drill in from the edge of the area. Within a minute, the game was
effectively over as Davies crossed from the by-line for Stelios
Giannakopolous to tap into the net. Leeds ended up with five men up front,
but it made little difference.


Leicester (1) 1 (Ferdinand 39)
Charlton (0) 1 (Di Canio (pen) 84)

A late disputed penalty gave Charlton a well earned point at Leicester, who
were livid over what they felt was a dive from Paolo di Canio. The hosts
were ahead courtesy of a fine header from Les Ferdinand, just beating the
keeper to Ben Thatcher's cross, however with six minutes remaining, Di Canio
toppled over in the area after Steve Howey appeared to do little more than
brush his face with his hand as he went past him. To rub salt in the Foxes
wounds, the Italian slotted home the spot kick himself to earn Charlton a
draw.


Middlesbrough (0) 0
Liverpool (0) 0

No goals and not much excitement at the Riverside as Middlesbrough and
Liverpool earn a point each. The better chances - the only chances? - fell
in the second half and largely to Liverpool as Florent Sinama-Pongolle blew
the best opportunity when shot over from close range.


Newcastle (0) 3 (Ameobi 57, Shearer 77, 85)
Man City (0) 0

Three second half goals gave Newcastle a well earned win over faltering Man
City. Shola Ameobi opened the scoring when he scrambled in Laurent Robert's
cross after his original far post header was blocked and twenty minutes
later, Alan Shearer doubled the lead with a fierce close range header from
Olivier Bernard's cross. He then doubled his personal tally as Bernard and
Ameobi combined to set him up, however the ball was scrambled home after
David Seaman did his best to deny his former international team mate.


Southampton (0) 0
Chelsea (0) 1 (Melchiot 47)

Chelsea stay second after a narrow, and slightly lucky, win at Southampton.
Mario Melchiot was the unlikely goalscorer as he latched onto Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink's pass to slot under the keeper, however Saints should really
have earned a draw when Kevin Phillips headed across goal from just three
yards out when he looked certain to score.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK

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