7 November 2005 Bolton (1) 1 (Nolan 32) Tottenham (0) 0 Bolton move into third after a narrow in against top five rivals Spurs. Bolton had the better of the first half and led thanks to a stunning strike from captain Kevin Nolan. He was 25 yards out when El Hadji Diouf and Kevin Davies set him up for a first time shot that ripped into the net past Paul Robinson. A minute later, Jermain Defoe had the ball in the net at the other end, however he was ruled offside when replays showed that he was level and just before half time, Nolan almost doubled the lead but his shot, from closer range this time, hit the post. The second half saw fewer chances and culminated with a backs to the wall situation for Bolton as Spurs psuhed forward looking for an equaliser which almost arrived with a minute to go when Paul Stalteri hit the bar fromthe edge of the area. Attendance : 26,634 Assist : Davies 6 November 2005 Everton (1) 1 (Beattie 16) Middlesbrough (0) 0 Everton moved out of the bottom three with a narrow win against inconsistant Middlesbrough. The only goal came from James Beattie who found the net with a thumping header from Andy Van Der Meyde's pinpoint cross. Attendance : 34,349 Assist : van der Meyde Manchester United (1) 1 (Fletcher 31) Chelsea (0) 0 Chelsea's year long, 40 game unbeaten record has come to an end after Manchester United did to them what they did to Arsenal last season and halted what seemed an unstoppable charge. After an opening half an hour of cagy play that saw little more than half chances, United went ahead from just that - a half chance. Cristiano Ronaldo was the creator as he lofted a cross to the far post which was met by Darren Fletcher. His header looped not only over keeper Petr Cech, but also over John Terry on the line and dropped just inside the far post. Early in the second half, United could have doubled the lead when Ruud Van Nistelrooy shot over, however it only sparked a spell of possession for Chelsea which could, and maybe should, have produced an equaliser. Damien Duff could have provided it, but only shot at fresh air, whilst Didier Drogba, Joe Cole and Asier Del Horne were off target. United keeper Edwin Van Der Sar saved at close range from Frank Lampard and although the closing stages were unbearably tense, United defended well and held out for a win that will perhaps pacify the fans after the last week or so. Attendance : 67,864 Assists : Ronaldo 5 November 2005 Portsmouth 0 Wigan 2 (Chimbonda 48, Roberts 47) Six wins from six league games now for Wigan as they consolidated second place with a comfortable win at Portsmouth. They went ahead early in the second half when Pascal Chimbonda scored his second goal in as many games with a far post header from Graham Kavanagh's corner. The home side barely posed a threat and Wigan clinched victory as Chimbonda broke free from his own half and although he could have shot, he instead squared the ball to give Jason Roberts a simple tap in. Attendance : 19,102 Assists : Bullard (ck), Chimbonda Arsenal 3 (van Persie 12, Henry 36, 82) Sunderland 1 (Stubbs 75) Arsenal moved up to third ahead of the Sunday games with a comfortable win against bottom club Sunderland. They were ahead early on when Sol Campbell's long ball sent Robin Van Persie through and he finished with a crisp shot. The lead was doubled when Thierry Henry bundled in Lauren's cross at the far post and Henry almost made it three with a wonderful overhead kick which clipped the outside of the post. Sunderland made a fight of it when Alan Stubbs was on hand to prod in after Daryl Murphy's corner had been headed down by Stephen Caldwell, however Arsenal clinched the points eight minutes later when Henry latched onto a pass from Cesc Fabregas, beat his man and slotted calmly home. Attendance : 38,210 Assists : Campbell, Lauren, Caldwell, Fabregas Blackburn 4 (Emerton 2, Dickov 18, Pedersen 59, Bellamy 90) Charlton 1 (Hughes 36) Blackburn turned the table on it's head with a crushing win against Charlton who, prior to this game, had won all their away games this season. Brett Emerton set Rovers on their way with a stunning shot into the top corner after Herman Hreidarsson has miscontrolled the ball on the edge of his area and the lead was doubled when Lucas Neill's deflected cross was headed in by Paul Dickov. Charlton were back in it when Brian Hughes bundled in at the far post after Darren Ambrose has miskicked from Marcus Bent's cross, however Rovers took control after the break. Morten Gamst Pedersen made it three when he scored with a deflected shot from Steven Reid's cross and late on, Craig Bellamy wrapped it up with a good finish after Shefki Kuqi had nodded on Pedersen's long ball. Attendance : 17,691 Assists : n/a, n/a, Ambrose, n/a, Kuqi Fulham 2 (Malbranque 6, 45) Manchester City 1 (Croft 20) Fulham also won a game that the table suggested their wouldn't after a Steed Malbranque brace secured victory against in form Man City. He struck first early on having been left with a tap in after Luis Boa Morte's cross beat keeper David James, however City were level when Darius Vassell and Stephen Ireland set up Lee Croft to drive in his first league goal. Fulham won it in first half stoppage time when Boa Morte again sent Malbranque clear and he rounded the keeper to tap home. Late on, James went up front for a City free kick and having miskicked on the edge of the area, Fulham broke clear, resulting in Thomasz Radzinski being left with an open goal 20 yards out, however he didn't put enough power in his shot and allowed Sun Jihai to clear. Attendance : 22,241 Assists : Boa Morte, Ireland, Boa Morte Newcastle 1 (Emre 78) Birmingham 0 Four wins in four games now for Newcastle who are showing signs of turning their season around. In fairness to Birmingham, they were unlucky not to get something from the game, however Newcastle took the chance that came, albeit thanks to a howler from keeper Maik Taylor. The ball was laid back for Emre to drive a shot from 25 yards and although it may have moved in the air, Taylor stuck out a hand to stop it, only to help the ball into the net. Attendance : 52,191 Assists : ? West Ham 1 (Sheringham 57) West Brom 0 West Ham moved into eighth after a narrow win against West Brom. An entertaining game was won in the second half when Christian Dailly's header fell perfectly for veteran Teddy Sheringham to control and fire home. Attendance : 34,325 Assists : Dailly Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2 (Gerrard 85 pen, Alonso 89) Two goals in the final five minutes gave Liverpool their first away league win of the season as Aston Villa's poor start continued. The first half was largely uneventful and forgetable with the best (only?) chance falling to Liverpool's Djibril Cisse who drilled his shot at keeper Thomas Sorensen after being clean through on goal. The second half was little better until the latter stages when Sorensen again saved well, this time from Steven Gerrard, however with time running out, Liverpool were awarded a penalty with five minutes to go when Liam Ridgewell was holding Peter Crouch, although the Liverpool man did seem to be doing plenty of shirt pulling of his own. Gerrard stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot and Liverpool confirmed their victory four minutes later. Crouch was again involved as his shot was blocked by Olof Mellberg, however Xavi Alonso drilled in the rebound from the edge of the area with a shot that seemed to go throughthe hands of Sorensen. Attendance : 42,551 Assists : Crouch (won pen), n/a Gary Dowden Chief Editor SoccerAge UK Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list http://www.topica.com/lists/premier-L/ Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it http://www.peanutsfan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/footiemad The Unofficial Premiership Site |