18 October 2004

Portsmouth (0) 1 (Yakubu 63)
Spurs (0) 0

Portsmouth recorded their first league clean sheet of the season after a
narrow win against Spurs, whose superb defensive record took a knock.
Portsmouth went ahead thanks to Lomana Lua-Lua found space on the right
and his cross was perfect for Yakubu to nod into the net from close
range. Late on, Spurs felt that they should have had a penalty when
Jermain Defoe went down after his shirt was pulled by Linvoy Primus,
however it wasn't seen by the officials. Johnnie Jackson also had a firm
shot blocked as they threw all but the kitchen sink at the hosts.


17 October 2004

Charlton (0) 1 (Lisbie 51)
Newcastle (1) 1 (Bellamy 39)

Honours even at The Valley as Charlton came from behind to draw with
Newcastle, although late on, either club could have won it. The visitors
took the lead six minutes from half time when Craig Bellamy sent a near
post header into the net from Olivier Bernard's superb cross, however
six minutes after the break, the hosts were level when Kevin Lisbie
collected a long throw, lobbed the ball over his marker and having
rounded Shay Given, he and defender Stephen Carr combined to propell the
ball goalwards and it eventually went it via the lunging leg of Andy
O'Brien. As the rain got heavier, both clubs came within inches of a
winner as firstly Alan Shearer had a header cleared off the line by
Danny Murphy and then in a remarkable 60 second spell, Charlton could
have scored on THREE occasions as Dennis Rommedahl's deflected shot
thumped against the bar and from the resulting corner, Shearer cleared
off the line from Jonathon Fortune before Matt Holland bobbled the
rebound against the post


16 October 2004

Birmingham (0) 0
Man United (0) 0

No goals at St Andrews as both Birmingham and Man United fired blanks in
what was an enjoyable game nonetheless. The home side had decent
possession, however Emile Heskey in patricular was denied by the legs of
Roy Carroll after striking a firm shot goalwards. At one stage, United
had Van Nistelrooy, Saha, Ronaldo, Smith and Rooney on the field with
the latter pair playing in midfield, however it was a first half effort
from Ruud Van Nistelrooy that came closest to breaking through as his
close range shot was saved by Maik Taylor. Ultimately United are drawing
too many games despite being unbeaten since the opening weekend.


Arsenal (2) 3 (Pires (pen) 19, 72, Henry 45)
Aston Villa (1) 1 (Hendrie 3)

Fourty-nine not out now for Arsenal as their unbeaten run continued,
despite going a goal down at home to Aston Villa. Lee Hendrie was the
scorer as he controllled a wayward pass from Carlton Cole before
drilling a long range effort into the bottom corner. The Gunners
levelled matters when Thierry Henry was tripped in the area by Mark
Delaney, allowing Robert Pires to send the keeper the wrong way from the
spot. On the stroke of half time, a through ball from Jose Antonio Reyes
sent Henry away and he made mo mistake as the keeper came out and the
victory was confirmed in the second half when Henry set up Pires to
drive into the net from 15 yards.


Blackburn (0) 0
Middlesbrough (0) 4 (Hasselbaink 46, 57, 90, Boateng 50)
RED CARD: Tugay (Blackburn) 30

New Blackburn boss Mark Hughes must be wondering what he's let himself
in four as his side capitulated in the second half against a
rejuventated Middlesbrough and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Rovers' cause
wasn't helped when Tugay, already booked for a deliberate handball,
launched into a late tackle on Gaizka Mendieta and was shown a second
yellow card on the half hour, however it was only after half time when
Boro took total control. They were ahead inside a minute when the
impressive Stuart Downing found Hasselbaink who turned and shot into the
net. Four minutes later, Mendieta's lovely chip into the area was
controlled by George Boateng before he fired in his first goal since
joining the club. Hasselbaink then made it three with a near post tap in
from Downing's right wing cross and the Dutchman completed his hat trick
late on with a shot from the edge of the area after Szilard Nemeth's
tackle set him up.


Bolton (1) 1 (Davies 45)
Crystal Palace (0) 0

Bolton's excellent start to the season continued with a narrow win
against struggling Crystal Palace. The only goal came in first half
stoppage time as Bruno N'Gotty's free kick was back-headed into the net
by Kevin Davies.


Everton (0) 1 (Osman 88)
Southampton (0) 0

Only one goal at Goodison as well as Everton left it late to see off
Southampton in another game with went with form. The goal was not a Goal
of the Season contender by any means as Thomas Gravesen's long throw was
helped on by Duncan Ferguson for Leon Osman to turn and find the net.


Fulham (2) 2 (Boa Morte 24, 30)
Liverpool (0) 4 (Knight (og) 50, Baros 71, Alonso 79, Biscan 90)
RED CARD: Josemi (77) Liverpool

Liverpool recorded their first away league win of the season, however
they made hard work of it as they came from two goals down at Fulham.
The hosts began well and went ahead when Steed Malbranque sent Brian
McBride away down the right and his cross was bundled in at the far post
by Luis Boa Morte. Six minutes later, Malbranque set up Boa Morte again
to drill the second goal between the legs of Chris Kirkland and into the
net. After half time, Liverpool battled back and gave themselves hope
when Zat Knight could only help a shot from Milan Baros to thud into the
turf and loop over his own keeper for his second own goal at Craven
Cottage this season and twenty minutes later, Baros was on hand to
equalise after Luis Garcia's header was only parried by Edwin Van Der
Sar. Things then took a turn for the worst for the visitors when
Gonzales Josemi was sent off for a foul on Boa Morte, his second yellow
card offence of the game, however within two minutes, a free kick from
Xabi Alonso found the back of the net, again with the help of a
deflection. Liverpool wrapped up the game late on when Stephen Warnock
set up fellow sub Igor Biscan to side-foot a shot into the roof of the
net from the edge of the area, his first touch of the game and his first
league goal for his club.


West Brom (0) 0
Norwich (0) 0

Norwich remain the only winless side in the Premiership after a goalless
draw at the Hawthorns against fellow strugglers West Brom. There were
chances as the hosts came close with a fine effort from Zoltan Gera
which fizzed just wide, whilst Norwich striker Leon McKenzie had a
volley over and a header saved.


Man City (1) 1 (Anelka (pen) 11)
Chelsea (0) 0

Chelsea fell to their first defeat of the season after losing 1-0 to Man
City in a rain-soaked City of Manchester Stadium. City took the lead
after William Gallas slipped in midfield, allowing Paul Bosveldt to send
Nik Anelka away and as he chased the ball into the area, he was bundled
over by Paulo Ferreira, giving the ref little option than to award a
penalty, coolly converted by Anelka. After the break, Chelsea stepped up
a gear with Frank Lampard twice denied by David James, once with the
help of the post and Eidur Gudjohnsen slicing horribly wide from a great
position, however the elusive equaliser remained just that.


Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
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