19 September 2005 Arsenal 2 (Campbell 11, 30) Everton 0 Arsenal got back on track in the league with a comfortable 2-0 win against Everton, who continue to struggle at the wrong end of the table. Arsenal totally dominated the first half and their two goal lead was no surprise, even if the scorer was! Sol Campbell, starting his first league game of the season, was on hand on the six yard box to nod in a free kick from taken from the right by Jose Reyes and, remarkably on the half hour, it was like Groundhog Day as the same pairing combined again, with the kick this time coming from the left flank and the finish slightly further out. Between the goals, Robin Van Persie smashed a shot against the post as Everton struggled to make any impact. It wasn't quite as open in the second half, although Freddie Ljungberg did hit the bar. Attendance : 38,121 Assists : Reyes (fk), Reyes (fk) 18 September 2005 Manchester City 0 Bolton 1 (Speed 93 pen) Man City lost for the first time this season, although they'll wonder how as Bolton snatched victory with a late penalty. City had by far the better of things and hit the woodwork on a number of occasions, however it's goals that count and in stoppage time, Henrik Pedersen burst forward for the visitors and as he looked to lob the ball over Richard Dunne, the City defender blocked it with his hand. Veteran Gary Speed kept his cool and smashed home the penalty to give his side an unlikely win. Attendance : 43,137 Assist : n/a Wigan 1 (Camara 68) Middlesbrough 1 (Yakubu 14) Wigan's respectable start continued as they came from behind to hold Middlesbrough. The visitors took an early lead when Abel Xavier's long ball was nodded on by Mark Viduka, straight into the path of Yakubu who controlled it well and fired home. Wigan earned a point, also courtesy of a long ball, this time from Leighton Baines and as Ugo Ehigou looked to clear it, he only hooked the ball against Henri Camara who prodded past the keeper and in. Attendance : 16,641 Assists : Viduka, n/a Blackburn 0 Newcastle 3 (Shearer 62, Owen 66, N'Zogbia 85) Newcastle eased the pressure on boss Graeme Souness with a stunning 3-0 win at his former club Blackburn in a game that saw both Alan Shearer and Michael Owen find the net for the first time this season. The first half was, at best, scrappy as both clubs struggled to keep possession and struggled more to create. Owen had an early chance for the visitors but shot wide, whilst Blackburn's only effort came from a Robbie Savage free kick that was clawed away by Shay Given. The second half began better with Steven Reid close on two occasions for the home side as one shot was deflected another and a second drifted wide. It was somewhat ironic then that, just after the hour, Newcastle took the lead as Shearer ended his 18 game goal drought. A foul on Owen gave the visitors a free kick on the edge of the box and the captain found the bottom corner with a drilled effort after Lee Clark had rolled the ball to him. With Shearer off for the season, it took another four minutes for Owen to get off the mark with a superb near post header from a cross by Charles N'Zogbia. Blackburn were given hope when the visitors were reduced to ten men when a foul by Steven Taylor on Craig Bellamy led to a second yellow card, although the pull on the shirt was minimal. That said, he did the same thing on the same player earlier in the half and got away with it. This was the cue for Rovers to attack and with ten minutes to go, Tugay almost pulled one back with a stunning volley that flew just wide, however with them pushing forward, they were caught out at the back when Celestine Babayaro sent N'Zogbia clear and with Brad Friedel off his line, he dragged the ball beneath his boot to beat the keeper and tapped into the empty net. Attendance : 20,725 Red Card : Taylor 72 (Newcastle) Assists : Clark, N'Zogbia, Babayaro Liverpool 0 Manchester United 0 Man United were denied their annual win at Anfield after a goalless draw against Liverpool which was tactical rather than exciting. The first half was, as expected, fast and furious but lacking of an end product as both defences were well on top. Chances were few and far between with the best opportunity falling to Ruud Van Nistelrooy who chipped over the keeper and just over the bar having been sent through by Rio Ferdinand. That aside, the highlight was a slo-mo replay of Ferdinand confronting Peter Crouch and calling him a 'flipping stick' - I think. Liverpool began the second half well and after Crouch shot weakly at Edwin van der Sar, Steven Gerrard thumped a header wide as the home side looked to break through. Gerrard came close midway through the half when his long range effort was batted away by the away keeper and then he set up Luis Garcia who drilled an effort across the face of the goal. United showed little in attack until late on when Paul Scholes belted a shot off target whilst at the other end, Luis garcia nodded a cross just wide. For what is surely the biggest 'grudge' game in the Premiership, aside from local derbies, this was ultimately a little disappointing with too many mistakes and not enough individual skill. Attendance : 44,917 Assists : n/a 17 September 2005 Charlton (0) 0 Chelsea (0) 2 (Crespo 55, Robben 60) The two clubs with a 100% record met at The Valley and Champions Chelsea came out on top thanks to two goals in a six minute spell. Charlton held their own before half time, however ten minutes after the break, the visitors took the lead. Michael Essien was the provider with a pin point cross, nodded in at the near post by Hernan Crespo. The win was secured shortly afterwards when Damien Duff set up Arjen Robben and he curled in a beauty from the right edge of the penalty area leaving Chelsea six points ahead of their nearest rivals and still yet to concede a goal. Attendance : 27,111 Assists : Essien, Duff Fulham (0) 1 (Boa Morte 66) West Ham (0) 2 (Harewood 47, Warner (og) 52) The other London derby saw West Ham cap a fine week with an excellent win at Fulham. After a goalless first half, Marlon Harewood grabbed his fourth goal in five days as he latched onto a flick from Bobby Zamora, lobbed the ball over a defender and neatly clipped past the outrushing Tony Warner. Five minutes later, a rejuvenated Harewood turned on Paul Konchesky's cross and although his shot struck the post, it bounced off the back of Warner and bobbled back into the net. Fulham pulled one back when Steed Malbranque set up Luis Boa Morte to cut in from the right and shoot into the far corner, but the Hammers held on to sneak into fourth place ahead of Sunday's games. Attendance : 21,907 Assists : Zamora, n/a, Malbranque Portsmouth (1) 1 (Lua-Lua 4) Birmingham (1) 1 (Jarosik 6) SENT OFF : Butt (Birmingham) 44 Portsmouth and Birmingham both scored early at Fratton Park, however neither could convert a good start into a win, even though Birmingham played with ten men for over half the game. The home side went ahead when Laurent Robert's corner found Lomana Lua-Lua inside the six yard box and he found the net, however more poor defending saw Birmingham equalise as Jiri Jarosik was unmarked to nod in Jermaine Pennant's free kick. Just before half time, Dario Silva seemed to obstruct Nicky Butt as they waited for a free kick, however Butt took exception and kicked the Portsmouth man from behind and after Silva was booked, Butt was sent off on the advice of the linesman. Attendance : 19,319 Assists : Robert (ck), Pennant (fk) Sunderland (1) 1 (Breen 7) West Brom (0) 1 (Gera 90) Heartbreak for Sunderland who were seconds away from their first win of the season only to concede a last minute equaliser. They began in spectacular style when Gary Breen headed home a Dean Whitehouse corner, however as the match wore on, they became more nervous and eventually the Baggies snatched a point. It also came from a corner, sent in by Diomansy Kamara and as West Brom keeper Chris Kirkland, up in attack for the kick, took some attention on the edge of the area, Zoltan Gera crept in to power home a late header. Sunderland do win their first point, but they'll be feeling as though they've lost again. Attendance : 31,657 Assists : Whitehead (ck), Kamara (ck) Aston Villa (1) 1 (Milner 4) Tottenham (0) 1 (Keane 78) MISSED PEN: Defoe (Spurs) 27 - Saved Honours even at Villa Park as two of the 'could do better' clubs of Prem history shared the goals. Villa had the better of the first half and would have been more than one goal up had it not been for four fine saves from Paul Robinson. He was beaten once, early on as Spurs lost possession in midfield and after Milan Baros set up James Milner, the ex-Leeds man beat him former team mate with a fine shot from the edge of the area. The visitors did have a great chance to equalise when Wilfred Bouma handled in the area, however Jermaine Defoe's spot kick was well saved by Thomas Sorensen. It was left to another former Leeds star to grab a point for Spurs as Robbie Keane controlled a loose ball well before firing home after Defoe lost possession in the area. Attendance : 33,686 Assists : Baros, 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 |