5 January 2005

Southampton (2) 3 (Phillips 21, 29, Rosenior (og) 70)
Fulham (2) 3 (Bouba Diop 20, Malbranque 43, Radzinski 50)

Honours even at St Marys after relegation rivals Southampton and Fulham
shared six goals in a cracking encounter. A hugely enjoyable first half
saw both clubs take, and then lose, the lead as they shared four goals.
Fulham began well and went ahead when Mark Pembridge swung a free kick
to the far post where Papa Bouba Diop was on hand to nod in, however
just 53 seconds later, Saints were level when Fabrice Fernandes volleyed
a cross for Kevin Phillips to head in, although he did look to be
slightly offside. No such qualms for his second as he collected a pass
from Peter Crouch, turned and dribbled at the defence before curling a
beauty inside the far post, however just before half time, Fulham were
level when Luis Boa Morte saw his drilled shot saved and Steed
Malbranque bobbled in the rebound. More of the same followed in the
second half as Fulham regained the lead when Pembridge sent Thomasz
Radzinski clear and his first time shot from the edge of the box flew
into the bottom corner, however Southampton felt that Jamie Redknapp had
been fouled in the build up to the goal. With twenty minutes left,
Anders Svensson found space on the right and his cross was drilled into
the back of his own net by youngster Liam Rosenior to put Southampton
level at 3-3. The hosts then had a strong penalty appeal turned down
when Bouba Diop handled in the area, the ref feeling that it was ball-
to-hand rather than vice versa.

Assists : Pembridge (fk), Fernandes, Crouch, n/a, Pembridge, A Svensson

4 January 2005

Arsenal (0) 1 (Ljungberg 75)
Man City (1) 1 (Wright-Phillips (S) 31)

Arsenal needed a late equaliser to earn a point against Man City,
however they are now seven points adrift of leaders Chelsea. The
visitors took a surprise lead when Patrick Vieira was caught in
possession on the edge of his own area by Joey Barton and as the ball
fell to Shaun Wright-Phillips, he unleashed a superb shot which sailed
into the top corner from 25 yards. Arsenal levelled matters when Freddie
Ljungberg nodded in an overhead kick cross from Thierry Henry, however
this will be seen as two points lost for the hosts.

Assists : Barton, Henry


Birmingham (0) 1 (Upson 66)
Bolton (1) 2 (Diouf 17, Nolan 90)

Bolton left it late to see off Birmingham who themselves left Robbie
Savage out of the squad after the Welshman submitted a transfer request
earlier this week. The visitors went ahead when Jay-Jay Okocha's shot
was saved and El-Hadji Diouf was sharply to the rebound and fired in,
however in the second half, Birmingham equalised when Matthew Upson shot
home after Clinton Morrison had blasted a corner against the bar from
close range. Bolton clinched victory in stoppage time when Okocha's
effort was again parried, leaving Kevin Nolan with a tap in.

Assists : n/a, n/a, n/a


Chelsea (2) 2 (Drogba 15, 17)
Middlesbrough (0) 0

No problems for leaders Chelsea who wrapped up their game against
Middlesbrough early on. Didier Drogba did the damage with two goals in
three minutes, firstly when Frank Lampard played him in and having
skipped past Gareth Southgate, he slotted the ball home. Then he glanced
in a free kick with Lampard again the provider.

Assists : Lampard, Lampard (fk)


Everton (1) 2 (Stubbs 29, Osman 90)
Portsmouth (1) 1 (Yakubu 31)

Late drama at Goodison Park as Everton beat Portsmouth courtesy of the
last kick of the game. The home side had paraded new arrival James
Beattie to their fans before the game, however it was a defender who
gave them the lead when Alan Stubbs headed in a Thomas Gravesen corner.
Within two minutes, Portsmouth were level when Yakubu found space on the
left, cut in and hammered the ball into the top corner from a tight
angle. A draw looked the likely result until the final seconds when a
Matt Taylor headed clearance hit team mate Linvoy Primas, falling
perfectly for Leon Osman to volley the ball home.

Assists : Gravesen (ck), n/a, n/a


Man United (0) 0
Spurs (0) 0

Spurs were robbed at Old Trafford after a goalless draw against Man
United, which puts the hosts a massive eleven points behind leaders
Chelsea. United were never allowed to build up a real head of steam by
an impressive Spurs side, although the visitors rarely looked like
snatching a goal themselves. However with a minute left and United
pushing forward, a long range lob by Pedro Mendes was fumbled by Roy
Carroll and as he battled back to retreive the ball and claw it clear,
the ball was at least a yard over the line yet the linesman kept his
flag down! Calls for video refs will doubtless follow, but the fact
remains that Spurs should have won and would have done so had the
officials made the correct call.

Assists : n/a


3 January 2005

Norwich (0) 1 (Jarvis 88)
Liverpool (0) 2 (Luis Garcia 58, Riise 63)

Liverpool move in fifth place after two second half goals gave them a
narrow win at lowly Norwich. After an instantly forgettable first half,
Liverpool struck twice with six minutes after the break. John Arne Riise
made the first with a superb crossfield pass which sent Luis Garcia
through and his first time lob was perfect to beat Robert Green.
Provider then turned scorer as Riise was on hand to sidefoot home after
Florent Sinama-Pongolle's shot was parried away. Young sub Ryan Jarvis
pulled one back late on as he collected a pass from Matthias Jonson, cut
inside and smashed a shot into the top corner, however it was too
little, too late.

Assists : Riise, n/a, Jonson


Blackburn (1) 1 (Emerton 41)
Charlton (0) 0

Blackburn eased their relegation fears with a narrow win over Europe
chasing Charlton. The only goal came just before half time when Brett
Emerton was on hand at the far post to nod home David Thompson's cross.

Assist : Thompson


Crystal Palace (1) 2 (Johnson 33, (pen) 66)
Aston Villa (0) 0

Two more goals from Andy Johnson saw Crystal Palace move out of the drop
zone as inconsistant Aston Villa were comfortably beaten. The opening
goal came after a shot from Ben Watson was only parried and Johnson was
there to bury the rebound. The lead was doubled from the penalty spot,
also converted by Johnson, after Vassilis Lakis was tripped by Mark
Delaney.

Assists : n/a, Lakis (won pen)


West Brom (0) 0
Newcastle (0) 0

No goals at The Hawthorns, depsite the worst two defence's in the Prem
coming up against each other. West Brom remain bottom, however the best
chance fell to Newcastle's Lee Bowyer who thumped a shot against the
post in the first half.

Assists : n/a


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