7 December 2003

Everton (0) 0
Man City (0) 0

No goals in a scrappy encounter at Goodison which did at least move Everton
out of the bottom three. Thomas Gravesen came as close as anyone when he hit
the post with a crisp shot.


Southampton (2) 3 (Svensson (M) 6, Ormerod 45, 86)
Charlton (0) 2 (Parker 46, 65)

Charlton came from two goals down to level matters as Southampton only to
lose to a late strike in a pulsating encounter. Saints took an early lead
from a corner as Michael Svensson diverted a shot over the line, despite the
best efforts of Jason Euell to keep it out, and the lead was doubled on half
time when Brett Ormerod netted at the near post from James Beattie's cross.
Within thirty seconds of the second half starting, Scott Parker curled a
superb shot into the far corner to bring Charlton back into it and twenty
minutes later, he did it again as he collected a past from Euell before
curling another cracker inside the post. Either club could have won it,
however it was the hosts who clinched the post as Charlton failed to clear a
corner, allowing Svensson to nod the ball on for Ormerod to hook past the
keeper.


6 December 2003

Newcastle (0) 1 (Shearer (pen) 62)
Liverpool (1) 1 (Murphy 6)

Honours even at St James Park between the two clubs widely expected to lead
the battle for fourth place come May. Liverpool took an early lead when John
Arne Riise's chip forward was misjudged by both Titus Bramble and Jonathon
Woodgate, allowing Danny Murphy to break through and prod the ball home.
Newcastle earned a point though when Laurent Robert was brought down in the
area by Chris Kirkland, leaving Alan Shearer to crash home the penalty in
off the bar.


Birmingham (0) 0
Blackburn (0) 4 (Ferguson 66, Neill 68, Tugay 82, Gallagher 88)
RED CARD : Dugarry (Birmingham) 72

Birmingham's dismal form of late continued as the were swept aside in the
second half at home to Birmingham. The opening goal came when Andy Cole sent
Barry Ferguson clear to slot home and within two minutes, it was like
Groundhog Day as this time Cole sent Lucas Neill through to drill into the
roof of the net. Christophe Dugarry, lucky to stay on for an early elbow
into the face of Craig Short, did get red carded for a tussle with Short
which earned him a second yellow card and with it went any hope for the
hosts. Tugay added a third with a bullet of a shot from 25 yards, whilst
youngster Paul Gallagher completed the rout with a close range lob after
showing good close control.


Fulham (0) 2 (Davis 75, Sava 76)
Bolton (0) 1 (Davies 52)

Two goals in a minute gave Fulham victory over Bolton and kept them in
fourth place. The visitors took the lead when Kevin Davies netted with a
close range volley after Fulham failed to deal with a long throw, however
Sean Davis restored parity with a fine finish after being set up by Barry
Hayles. Within a minute, Hayles was tackled in the area, however it fell to
Facundo Sava who made no mistake.


Leeds (1) 1 (Pennant 18)
Chelsea (0) 1 (Duff 70)

Chelsea stay top despite needing a late equaliser to save face at Leeds who
move off the bottom. Jermaine Pennant gave the home side a shock lead as he
latched onto a mistake from Claude Makelele, dribbed around four men before
clipping the ball past Carlo Cudicini for the first goal against Chelsea in
over ten hours! Blushes were saved with twenty minutes to go when Damien
Duff scrambled in the equaliser after Adrian Mutu's shot had been blocked.


Leicester (0) 1 (Hignett 90)
Arsenal (0) 1 (Gilberto 60)
RED CARD : Cole (Arsenal) 73

Arsenal blew the chance to go top after they were denied victory at
Leicester due to a stoppage time goal. The Gunners took the lead when
Gilberto crashed home a header from a cross by Dennis Bergkamp, however they
were always up against things after Ashley Cole was red carded after
launching into a two-footed tackle on Ben Thatcher, missing the ball
completely. With time almost up, a ball into the area was nodded on by James
Scowcroft, allowing Craig Hignett to hook the ball in.


Man United (2) 4 (Van Nistelrooy 16, 45, Forlan 89, 90)
Aston Villa (0) 0

Man United gain ground on the London pair, but remain third after seeing off
Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Ruud van Nistelrooy opened the scoring, tapping
in Kleberson's cut back and then doubled the lead before half time as
controlled and shot home from Ryan Giggs' cross. The second half was a
non-event until stoppage time when Diego Forlan scored twice! Firstly with a
fine 25 yard shot into the top corner and then, a minute later, slotting
home after Kleberson's back heel put him through.


Middlesbrough (0) 0
Portsmouth (0) 0
RED CARD : Stone (Portsmouth) 78

No goals at the Riverside, although on-loan defender Danny Mills did come
agonisingly close with a shot which crashed clear off of post and bar.
Portsmouth played the latter stages with ten men after Steve Stone was sent
off for a second yellow card, a trip on Massimo Maccarone.


Spurs (1) 5 (Keane 29, 75, 83, Kanoute 50, Dalmat 90)
Wolves (1) 2 (Ince 30, Rae 84)

Wolves go bottom after one of their old boys, Robbie Keane, smashed a hat
trick against them for Spurs. He opened the scoring with a good shot from
the edge of the area after Ledley King had sent him clear, however within a
minute, Paul Ince equalised with a shot from long range into the bottom
corner. Early in the second half, Freddie Kanoute restored the lead with an
excellent glancing header from Darren Anderton's cross and then Keane struck
twice more to complete his trio, firstly with a far post volley from Paul
Konchesky's cross and then snapping up the rebound after Anderton's header
was saved. Alex Rae pulled one back almost straight away with a cross shot
into the far corner, however in stoppage time, Stephane Dalmat added a fifth
as he beat two men cutting in from the right and then unleashing a beauty
into the top corner.

Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK


Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
http://www.topica.com/lists/premier-L/
Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it

http://www.peanutsfan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/footiemad
The Unofficial Premiership Site