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
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