12 September 2005 West Ham (2) 4 (Harewood 25, 29, 50, Benayoun 89) Aston Villa (0) 0 Marlon Harewood scored a hat trick - the first of the new season in the Premiership - as West Ham rocketed into the top half of the table after walloping Aston Villa 4-0. West Ham were deservedly ahead at half time, thanks to two typical strikers goals from Harewood, although they could hardly have been much different in their execution. The first came after he played the ball back to Teddy Sheringham in midfield and as the veteran nodded the ball forward, Harewood took advantage of a slip from Olof Mellberg to burst through on goal and slot calmly past keeper Thomas Sorenseon. Four minutes later, the lead was doubled as a corner from Matt Etherington was headed goalwards by Anton Ferdinand and as Sorensen looked to collect, Harewood got a toe to the ball to loop it over the keeper and in. Early in the second half, Villa came within inches of getting back into the game as a cross from James Milner deceived keeper Roy Carroll, hit the inside of the far post, bounced along the line and came back into play after hitting the other post! West Ham then went down the other end and increased their lead as a free kick from the right was floated in by Etherington and as Sorensen came off his line and misjudged the cross, Harewood controlled and fired in his third from six yards. Late on, came the icing on the cake as Sheringham found Yossi Benayoun in the area and after twisting and turning, he found space and drilled home the fourth and final goal. Attendance : 29,582 Assists : Sheringham, Ferdinand, Etherington (fk), Sheringham 11 September 2005 Bolton 0 Blackburn 0 The Lancashire derby ended goalless as both Bolton and Blackburn ultimately cancelled each other out. The first half was hard fought, yet forgetable as regards chances were concerned, with only Ivan Campo coming close when the Bolton man headed over from close range just before half time. Things were a little better after the break, but not much, although Blackburn looked most likely to score, especially when Steven Reid capitalised on an error from Henrik Pedersen to fire a shot goalwards which Jussi Jaaskelainen saved well. The home side were jeered off, more from boredom than disappointment at the result. Attendance : 24,405 Assists : n/a 10 September 2005 Middlesbrough 2 (Yakubu 40, Maccarone 59) Arsenal 1 (Reyes 93) Two defeats in four league games now for Arsenal as they were given a lesson in finishing by an impressive Middlesbrough side. The Gunners dominated early on, however their tendancy to try and walk the ball into the net cost them dear as they wasted a host of chances before the home side went ahead just before half time. George Boateng collected the ball in midfield and found Yakubu on the edge of the area. He miscontrolled the ball, but it deceived his marker as he turned to gather it and fire into the bottom corner. The lead was doubled just before the hour after Arsenal claimed a penalty when Alexander Hleb went down, albeit easily, under a challenge in the area from Abel Xavier. Boro then broke straight away up the other end as Yakubu turned provider to send Massimo Maccarone through and the Italian kept his cool to slot home. The second goal seemed to deflate Arsenal and only in stoppage time did they make any impression when a touch from Hleb put Jose Antonio Reyes clear on goal and he rounded the keeper to finish with a shot inside the post. Attendance : 28,075 Assists : Boateng, Yakubu, Hleb Birmingham 0 Charlton 1 (Bent 15) Charlton remain 100% and leap into second place after a narrow win at Birmingham, who are struggling to kick start their season. The only goal came, almost inevitably, from Darren Bent who lost his marker at the far post to head home after good work and a pinpoint cross from Jerome Thomas. Attendance : 26,846 Assist : Thomas Chelsea 2 (Geremi 54, Drogba 82) Sunderland 0 Top against bottom at Stamford Bridge, although Chelsea took their time breaking down a resolute Sunderland side who still search for their first point of the season. After a goalless first half, Chelsea finally broke through when a throw out from away keeper Kelvin Davis was horribly miscontrolled by sub Andy Welsh and as the ball fell to Geremi, he smashed it past Davis from fully 25 yards. Chelsea's 100% record was confirmed late on when Didier Drogba did his party piece and headed home firmly from Damien Duff's cross. Attendance : 41,969 Assists : n/a, Duff Everton 0 Portsmouth 1 (Ferguson 60 og) Portsmouth collected their first win of the season and condemned Everton to a place in the bottom three as Duncan Ferguson handed - or headed - the visitors a rare three points. The giant Scot was helping out at the back for a corner and as Laurent Robert swung the ball in, he rose at the near post to head past his own keeper. Attendance : 36,831 Assists : n/a Manchester United 1 (van Nistelrooy 45) Manchester City 1 (Barton 76) Honours even in the Manchester derby as City came from behind to stun their illustrious neighbours at Old Trafford. City defended well but fell behind in first half stoppage time when Ruud Van Nistelrooy helped on a bullet of a free kick from Paul Scholes and although keeper David James saved well, the big Dutchman was on hand to score from the rebound. City grabbed a point to remain unbeaten and end United's 100% record when Trevor Sinclair's cross was volleyed goalwards by Andy Cole and although Edwin Van Der Sar saved well, Darius Vassell sent the rebound back toward goal and it was helped in by Joey Barton to score the first goal conceded by United this season. Attendance : 67,839 Assists : n/a, Vassell Newcastle 1 (N'Zogbia 78 fk) Fulham 1 (McBride 13) Red Card : Parker 83 (Newcastle) With all eyes on Michael Owen for his Newcastle debut at St James Park, it was young sub Charles N'Zogbia who took the plaudits with a stunning equaliser against Fulham. The home side self destructed early on and handed Fulham a deserved goal when Stuart Taylor's back pass was intercepted by Thomasz Radzinski. He found Luis Boa Morte on the edge of the area and as he sent the ball across goal, Jean-Alain Boumsong slipped as he looked to block it, leaving the goal gaping for Brian McBride to tap in. With time running out, Newcastle were awarded a free kick on the right corner of the area and with everyone expecting a cross, N'Zogbia curled a beauty across goal and sailing into the far top corner for Newcastle's first league goal of the season. It still ended on a sour note as Scott Parker was sent off for a second bookable offence as he held back Claus Jensen, however Toon fans will be hoping that they are beginning to turn the corner. Attendance : 52,208 Assists : Boa Morte?, Owen (won fk) Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0 No goals at White Hart Lane, although it wasn't for the want of trying as both Spurs and Liverpool had goals disallowed. The hosts were unlucky early in the second half when Michael Carrick's corner sailed out of play and then back in before Grzegorz Rasiak headed in powerfully, however an indentical situation occurred later in the game at the other end when Steven Gerrard's corner was headed home by Peter Crouch. Both goals were rightly ruled out. That aside, John Arne Riise came as close as anyone when he smashed a shot against the underside of the bar with a stunning long range volley. Attendance : 36,148 Assists : West Brom 1 (Greening 26) Wigan 2 (Connolly 40, Bullard 91) Unfancied Wigan came from behind to win at West Brom and move into the top half of the table. The Baggies took the lead when Jonathon Greening's deflected shot was punched away by Mike Pollett, however it fell straight back to Greening who cracked the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the area. Wigan were level before half time when David Connolly was sent clear by Damien Francis and although the angle was tricky, he drilled a shot inside the near post. With the game heading for a draw and Wigan keeping the ball in the corner, the ball fell to Jason Roberts on the left edge of the area and he set up Jimmy Bullard to side foot the ball into the bottom corner. Attendance : 25,617 Assists : n/a, Francis, Roberts 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 |