7 January 2004

Bolton (0) 1 (Djorkaeff 89)
Man United (2) 2 (Scholes 24, Van Nistelrooy 39)

Man United go three points clear after a tight win over Bolton. The visitors
had the game won by half time as firstly Paul Scholes was on hald to tap in
after Ruud Van Nistelrooy's shot was saved and then as Ryan Giggs was sent
clear and rounded the keeper, his chip from a tight angle was nodded in by
Van Nistelrooy. Bolton pulled one back late on when Youri Djorkaeff headed
home Jay-Jay Okocha's far post cross, but it wasn't quite enough.


Chelsea (0) 0
Liverpool (1) 1 (Cheyrou 33)
RED CARD : Diouf (Liverpool) 86

Chelsea lost further ground on the top two after a home defeat against
Liverpool who themselves are back in the chase for a top four spot. The only
goal came from Bruno Cheyrou who thumped home a far post cross from Emile
Heskey. Liverpool were harshly reduced to ten men late on when El-Hadji
Diouf was shown a second yellow card after it appeared that he and Adrian
Mutu did little more than hook each others feet!


Everton (0) 1 (Radzinski 75)
Arsenal (1) 1 (Kanu 29)

Arsenal again fell foul to the late equaliser curse after a draw at Everton
left them three points adrift of leaders Man United. Kanu scored his first
league goal of the season to put the Gunners ahead, slotting in after
Freddie Ljungberg sent him clear, however with time running out, Francis
Jeffers' shot was saved and Thomasz Radzinki slid home the equaliser.


Man City (1) 1 (Fowler 39)
Charlton (0) 1 (Di Canio 84)

Still no win since early November for Man City as they also conceded a late
equaliser at home to Charlton. Robbie Fowler gave City the lead, shooting
home after Nik Anelka had been tackled in the area, however late on, Richard
Dunne was adjuged to have handled in the area and although Paolo Di Canio's
penalty was saved by David Seaman, the Italian converted the rebound.


Middlesbrough (1) 2 (Job 15, Nemeth 67)
Fulham (0) 1 (Hayles 89)

A goal in each half gave flatering Middlesbrough a good win against Fulham,
whose chase for a top four place took another stumble. Joseph Desire Job
gave the hosts the lead with a calm finish after an inital shot had been
saved and the lead was doubled when Gareth Southgate shot across goal for
Szilard Nemeth to sweep the ball in. Barry Hayles pulled a late goal back
aftera shot was blocked, however it was too late to grab an equaliser.


Newcastle (1) 1 (Shearer 4)
Leeds (0) 0

Newcastle are back on track after a win against Leeds who remain rooted in
the drop zone. The hosts dominated but only broke through once when Alan
Shearer drilled a 20-yard shot across goal and into the bottom corner.
Newcastle also felt that Leeds keeper Paul Robinson should have been red
carded when he seemed to bring down Kieron Dyer as the midfielder burst
through.


Southampton (0) 0
Leicester (0) 0

No goals in a drab encounter at St Mary's as Southampton and Leicester
earned a point each. Both sides came close in the first half as Fabrice
Fernandes shot across goal and wide for the hosts, whilst Les Ferdinand shot
wide whilst well placed for Leicester.


Spurs (3) 4 (Dalmat 10, 24, Davies 39, Keane 79)
Birmingham (0) 1 (Savage (pen) 68)

Spurs move out of the bottom three with a crushing win over Birmingham.
Stephane Dalmat scored the opening pair of goals, firstly with a stinging
25-yard shot and then from much closer in, he converted a Robbie Keane cross
which had been parried by keeper Maik Taylor. Simon Davies added a third,
his side-footed finish the culmination of a sweeping move and although
Robbie Savage pulled one back from the penalty spot after David Dunn went
down under challenge from Dalmat, the three goal cushion was re-established
when Keane tapped in Freddie Kanoute's cross.


Wolves (0) 2 (Butler 63, Rae 72)
Blackburn (1) 2 (Cole 14, Yorke 78)

Topsy-turvy stuff at Molineux as both Wolves and Blackburn gained and lost
the lead. The visitors went ahead when Brett Emerton's cross was converted
at the near post by Andy Cole, however in the second half Wolves took over
and after Paul Butler headed in Alex Rae's cross, Rae himself made it 2-1
with a shot into the bottom corner. Parity was restored shortly afterwards
when Dwight Yorke headed in another Emerton cross.


6 January 2004

Aston Villa (1) 2 (Angel 22, Vassell 83)
Portsmouth (0) 1 (Yakubu 49)

Villa's good form continued with a narrow win over struggling Portsmouth,
although it needed a freak late goal to clinch the points. Two excellent
headers kept the game level with Juan Pablo Angel heading in at the far post
from Gareth Barry's cross, only for Yakubu to send a powerful header in from
a Patrick Berger cross to equalise early in the second half. The winner came
from a scramble in the area as a shot at goal struck defender Arjun De Zueew
and then rebounded in off the stomach of Darius Vassell.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK


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