28 March 2004

Bolton (1) 1 (Pedersen 4)
Newcastle (0) 0

Bolton reversed their recent slide down the table and put a dent in
Newcastle's Champions League hopes with a narrow, but deserved, win at the
Reebok. The only goal came early on and was a strange effort to say the
least. A long ball down the left flank tempted keeper Shay Given to the edge
of the area to try and claim it, especially after defender Steven Taylor
misjudged the flight. However, Henrik Pedersen spotted Given off his line
and lofted a lob miles into the air from a tight angle which somehow bounced
down onto the line and into the roof of the net!


Arsenal (0) 1 (Henry 50)
Man United (0) 1 (Saha 86)
Arsenal set a new record having gone 30 games unbeaten from the start of the
season, although Man United can feel a little hard done by having only drawn
the game. Thierry Henry put the Gunners ahead early in the second half when
he exchanged passes with Jose Reyes before unleashing a 25-yard belter which
swerved viciously and tore into the roof of the net. United looked to have a
good penalty shout rejected when Sol Campbell tripped Ryan Giggs, however
with the arrival from the subs bench of Louis Saha, they snatched a late
equaliser when he tapped in Ole Gunner Solskjaer's cross at the far post.
They almost won it late on when Ruud Van Nistelrooy's header was saved, but
the gap between Arsenal and United remains at twelve points.


Leicester (0) 0
Liverpool (0) 0

No goals at the Walkers Stadium as Leicester stay in the relegation zone and
Liverpool remain in fourth. Leicester had the better of the chances and
almost won a dramatic victory late on when Steffan Freund's cross was
deflected wide by Muzzy Izzet.


27 March 2004

Birmingham (1) 4 (Hughes 12, 66, Forrsell 69, (pen) 81)
Leeds (1) 1 (Viduka 3)

Brian Hughes and Mikael Forrsell both scored twice as Birmingham move level
on points, albeit possibly temporarily, with Liverpool and Newcastle after
coming from behind to wallop Leeds 4-1, although the margin of victory did
flatter the hosts slightly. Leeds began like the proverbial house on fire
and Mark Viduka could have had a hat trick inside the opening ten minutes.
He did manage one as he latched onto a superb through ball by Jermaine
Pennant, rounded Maik Taylor in the home goal and just managed to tap the
ball into the net ahead of the back-tracking defender. Birmingham levelled
matters when Clinton Morrison's cross somehow when through a crowded batch
of players at the near post and fell perfectly for Brian Hughes to tap into
the empty net. The hosts took the lead when a ball was chipped into the area
for Stan Lazaridis to hold the ball up for Hughes to slot in as he ran into
the danger zone. It was tough on Leeds and within three minutes it got worse
for them as a hopeful clearance from defence sent Forrsell clear on goal and
his drilled finish found the bottom corner. Forrsell and Stephen Clemence
were both off target shortly afterwards as they looked to kill off their
opponents completely and that was done in great style ten minutes from time
as Stephen Caldwell bundled Morrison over in the area and Forrsell stepped
up to send Robinson the wrong way from the penalty spot, although Hughes, on
a hat trick, was disappointed not to get the chance.


Blackburn (1) 1 (Tugay 37)
Portsmouth (1) 2 (Shheringham 17, Yakubu 82)

Portsmouth won away for the first time this season to ease their relegation
fears and drag Blackburn into the dogfight in the process. Teddy
Sheringham's 25 yard free gave the visitors the lead via the post, however
Rovers equalised when Tugay's shot from the edge of the area found the net
courtesy of two deflections. Portsmouth clinched the points when Lomana
Lua-Lua's run was halted by a last ditch tackle, however as the ball fell to
Yakubu he slotted into the bottom corner to record a vital win.


Charlton (1) 1 (Cole 8)
Aston Villa (1) 2 (Vassell 24, Samuel 54)
MISSED PEN : Jensen (Charlton) 90

Aston Villa came from behind to beat Charlton, although the hosts did miss a
last minute penalty which would have earned them a point. Carlton Cole put
Charlton ahead with a firm header from a corner, however Darius Vassell
equalised after Gareth Barry's shot was blocked. Barry also set up the
winner with a through ball to J.Lloyd Samuel who slotted home only his
second ever goal - his first was also against Charlton earlier this season.
In stoppage time, Jonaton Johansson was fouled by Thomas Sorensen, however
Claus Jensen sent the penalty high over the bar with the final kick of the
game.


Chelsea (1) 5 (Melchiot 4, Lampard 70, Hasselbaink 77, 87, 90)
Wolves (1) 2 (Camara 23, Cradock 57)

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink came off the bench to score a thirteen minute hat
trick as Chelsea came from behind to beat bottom club Wolves. Things looked
to be going to plan when Joe Cole set up Mario Melchiot to give the hosts an
early lead, however when Celestine Babayaro's underhit pass put John Terry
into trouble, Henri Camara nipped in to level matters. Mark Kennedy's corner
was then nodded in by Jody Craddock to give Wolves a shock lead, however
Chelsea equalised when Damien Duff's pass was fired in by Frank Lampard from
long range. Enter Hasselbaink who, on his 32nd birthday, collected a pass
from William Gallas and then blasted home his 100th Prem goal from the edge
of the area after a short solo run and then ten minutes later, Duff sent him
clear to add his second and Chelsea's fourth. In stoppage time, the hat
trick was complete as Lampard sent him away to make no mistake.


Everton (0) 1 (Radzinski 78)
Middlesbrough (0) 1 (Job 83)

Honours even at Goodison after a late freak goal gave Middlesbrough a draw
against Everton. The hosts looked to have won the game when Kevin Kilbane se
nt Thomasz Radzinski away to fire in at the near post, however Boro levelled
matters when a Boudewijn Zenden cross forced a scramble and as Joseph Yobo
went to clear, he only blasted the ball against Joseph Desire Job and into
the net.


Man City (0) 0
Fulham (0) 0

No goals at the City of Manchester Stadium, although both clubs looked to
have clear penalties ruled out by ref Jeff Winter. City were angered when
Jon Macken looked to have his leg hooked in the area, whilst Fulham were
also denied a spot kick when Luis Boa Morte was brought down by Sylvain
Distin.


Southampton (0) 1 (Delap 64)
Spurs (0) 0

Only one goal at St Mary's, but what a beauty as Southampton beat Spurs. The
strike came from an unlikely source as Rory Delap unleashed a stunning
overhead kick which tore past Kasey Keller and into the roof of the net.


Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
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