14 October 2003

Birmingham (0) 0
Chelsea (0) 0

Chelsea top the Premiership on goal difference after a goalless draw against
Birmingham, who now have six clean sheets in eight league games this season.
The best chances of a largely drab game went to Chelsea, however home keeper
Maik Taylor was on top form as he denied Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's near post
shot and then near the end, tipped over a long range effort from Frank
Lampard.


5 October 2003

Middlesbrough (0) 1 (Nemeth 46)
Chelsea (1) 2 (Gudjohnson 17, Crespo 88)

Chelsea keep the pressure on the top two, although they left it late to
clinch victory at Middlesbrough. The visitors took the lead when Damien Duff
threaded the ball through for Eidur Gudjohnson, who slotted home cooly. The
second half was less than twenty seconds old when Boro levelled matters as
Gaizka Mendieta sent Szilard Nemeth clear to finish equally as well as
Gudjohnson earlier. Boro probably deserved at least a draw on their second
half showing, however with two minutes left, Duff crossed deep for Hernan
Crespo to squeeze a header between the near post and Mark Schwarzer.


Aston Villa (0) 1 (Angel 58)
Bolton (0) 1 (Nolan 46)
SAVED PEN : Jasskelainen from Angel (Villa) 86

Juan Pablo Angel earned a point for Aston Villa against Bolton, but blew a
late chance to grab all three when his spot kick was saved. After a
forgetable first half during which Angel hit the bar from a free kick,
Bolton took the lead within a minute of the restart as Kevin Davies flicked
the ball through to Kevin Nolan to drill home from the edge of the area.
Villa battled back and levelled matters when Lee Hendrie laid the ball back
to Angel and he found the net with a deflected effort from 20 yards. As play
went from end to end, Villa were gifted a penalty when Ivan Campo and Angel
tussled in the area, however the Colombian's kick was well saved by Jussi
Jasskelainen to ensure justice was done.


4 October 2003

Liverpool (1) 1 (Kewell 14)
Arsenal (1) 2 (Hyypia (og) 31, Pires 68)

Robert Pires scored a sensational winner as Arsenal came from behind to win
at Liverpool in a game which also saw Michael Owen limp off with a twisted
leg muscle. Liverpool dominated the early stages and took a deserved lead
when John Arne Riise's cross struck Owen via an attempted clearance by Edu
and was dispatched first time into the net by Harry Kewell, whose first time
effort found the bottom corner superbly. Arsenal levelled matters when
Robert Pires swung a free kick into the far post and although Edu's header
was going wide, it caught the foot of Sami Hyypia and found the back of the
net. The visitors took a stunning lead midway through the second half as
Liverpool lost possession in their own half and as the ball was played to
Edu on the left, he found Pires who cut inside and unleashed a curling
effort which found the top corner, giving Dudek no chance


Fulham (1) 2 (Boa Morte 36, 73)
Leicester (0) 0
MISSED PEN : Malbranque (Fulham) 43

Fulham hit the dizzy heights of fourth after a comfortable win over
Leicester, who were the only club in the bottom five NOT to win! Both goals
came from Luis Boa Morte as firstly he poked the ball home after Steed
Malbranque's shot was blocked and then in the second half, he netted at the
second attempt having been sent clear by Malbranque again. The hosts even
had time to miss a penalty just before half time as Ian Walker saved
Malbranque's tame effort after Gerry Taggart had pulled Louis Saha in the
area.


Leeds United (2) 2 (Johnson 11, 27)
Blackburn (0) 1 (Baggio 86)

Leeds win for the first time at home this season, although they were made to
sweat after almost squandering a two goal lead. Both goals were scored by
Seth Johnson, who'd only netted once for Leeds prior to the game! His first
was a tap in after Brad Friedel had fumbled Mark Viduka's effort and then
just before the half hour, he doubled the lead after latching onto headers
from Jermaine Pennant and David Batty. Dino Baggio's late far post header
from Brett Emerton's cross gave Blackburn hope, but Leeds held out.


Man United (1) 3 (Van Nistelrooy (pen) 36, Scholes 57, Giggs 82)
Birmingham (0) 0
RED CARD : Taylor (Birmingham) 34

Man United remain a point adrift of Arsenal after a comfortable win against
Birmingham, their first defeat of the campaign. Things were tight though
until away keeper Maik Taylor brought down Paul Scholes and was red carded,
leaving Rudd Van Nistelrooy to slot in from the spot. Scholes added the
second himself with a fine shot from the edge of the area after good work
from Phil Neville and the win was secured late on when Diego Forlan set up
Ryan Giggs to fire in the third.


Newcastle (1) 1 (Shearer 44)
Southampton (0) 0

Newcastle recorded their first win of the season against high flying
Southampton as Alan Shearer scored his 250th league goal. Ultimately it was
the only goal of the game and arrived just before half time as Jermaine
Jenas threaded the ball in for the former England captain to fire home.


Portsmouth (1) 1 (Sheringham 34)
Charlton (0) 2 (Fortune 77, Bartlett 90)

Charlton produced a dramatic late comeback for the second week in a row as
Portsmouth were beaten at home. The hosts took the lead as Teddy Sheringham
headed in a corner, despite Scott Parker's attempts to clear off the line,
however Charlton equalised when Jonathon Fortune scored at the near post as
Portsmouth failed to clear a corner. The winner also came from a corner as
Shaun Bartlett headed in Paolo di Canio's kick.


Spurs (1) 3 (Kanoute 43, Poyet 46, Keane 49)
Everton (0) 0

Managerless Spurs destroyed Everton with a three goal blitz either side of
half time. The opener was an absolute belter as Freddie Kanoute exchanged
headers with Gus Poyet before blasting an unstoppable 30-yard volley into
the back of the net. Poyet added the second himself with a lovely glancing
header from Darren Anderton's cross and then Robbie Keane calmly added a
third after Anderton again had the away defence chasing shadows.


Wolves (0) 1 (Cameron 75)
Man City (0) 0

Another first as Wolves collected their opening win of the season and scored
their first home goal in the process against Man City. The sole goal came
late on as Colin Cameron headed in at the far post from Henri Camara's
cross.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK

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