26 September 2005

Tottenham (1) 1 (Defoe 8)
Fulham (0) 0

Spurs move into the top four with a narrow against Fulham, who drop two
places into the bottom four as a result of the defeat. Spurs began well
and went ahead inside eight minutes thanks to a log ball forward by
Ledley King which sent Jermain Defoe clear and as keeper Tony Warner
hesitated as regards coming off of his line, Defoe slotted the ball past
him and into the net. Claus Jensen hit the bar for the visitors, whilst
both keepers had to make saves later in the game, but Spurs held on for
the win.

Attendance : 20,721
Assist : King


25 September 2005

Middlesbrough (0) 0
Sunderland (1) 2 (Miller 2, Arca 60)

Sunderland are off the bottom of the table after winning for the first
time this season, a deserved 2-0 victory at North-East rivals
Middlesbrough. Mick McCarthy's side were off to a flying start when they
went ahead inside 90 seconds. A long ball forward from keeper Kelvin
Davis was nodded on by Andy Gray and although Stephen Elliott couldn't
get the ball under control, the home defence failed to deal with the
ball and when it bounced into the path of Tommy Miller, he fired in off
the post. Davis then kept his side ahead with excellent saves from James
Morrison, Yakubu and George Boateng, all before half time and then on
the hour, the lead was doubled. It was a goal tinged with controversy as
Elliott was fouled on the edge of the area, however as he fell, his path
was deemed offside, but the ref judged that the tackle had come first
and awarded a free kick, which was promptly curled into the top corner
by Julio Arca. Boro had plenty of possession for the final half an hour,
but Davis was only called into action in stoppage time to save from
Boateng.

Attendance : 29,583
Assists : Gray, Elliott (won fk)


24 September 2005

Birmingham (0) 2 (Warnock (og) 72, Pandiani 75)
Liverpool (0) 2 (Garcia 68, Cisse (pen) 83
SENT OFF: Kilkenny (Birmingham) 82

Birmingham and Liverpool shared four goals, three of which came from
subs, all of which arrived in a crazy last 23 minutes at St Andrews. The
first three-quarters of the game was, in truth, drab, however when
Steven Gerrard sent Luis Garcia through and he finished well with a
first time shot from the edge of the area, it sparked off a remarkable
finale to the game. The hosts equalised when a Jermaine Pennant corner
was only cleared to Julian Gray on the right flank and his near post
cross was glanaced past his own goalkeeper by Stephen Warnock. Three
minutes later, Birmingham went ahead with Pennant again crossing, this
time for Emile Heskey and after his header was fumbled by keeper Jose
Reina, both Neil Kilkenny and Walter Pandiani went for the loose ball
which was again kept out by the keeper only for Pandiani to pounce again
to bundle the ball home. Liverpool grabbed a point with seven minutes to
go when Gerrard's corner was headed against the underside of the bar by
Jamie Carragher and although they claimed it had crossed the line, the
referee instead brandished a red card to Kilkenny and awarded a penalty.
Replays proved the official 100% right as it bounced well in front of
the line, only to spin back goalwards and then to be palmed away by the
Birmingham debutant. Djibril Cisse then converted the spot kick with
ease. Late on, Cisse blazed wide and Peter Crouch twice came close with
headers, however a draw was the final result.

Attendance : 27,733
Assists : Gerrard, n/a, n/a, n/a 


Chelsea (1) 2 (Lampard 45, (pen) 75)
Aston Villa (1) 1 (Moore 44)

Chelsea remain 100% this season, however not only did they concede for
the first time in the league, they also went behind in a game, yet still
battled back to beat Aston Villa. A shock looked possible just before
half time when a long punt forward was nodded on by Juan Pablo Angel for
Luke Moore to get the ball under control, make space and fire in from a
tight angle, although keeper Petr Cech did get a hand to the shot.
Within two minutes, Chelsea were level thanks to a Frank Lampard free
kick, struck low into the corner from twenty yards out. The winner came
with fifteen minutes left when Didier Drogba was clumsily fouled by Olof
Mellberg, leaving Lampard to score from the penalty spot.

Attendance : 42,146
Assists : n/a, Essien (won fk), Drogba (won pen)


Everton (0) 0
Wigan (0) 1 (Francis 47)

Wigan's excellent start to their embryonic Premiership campaign
continues as they won at Everton, whose season is rapidly falling apart
with six defeats in seven games now. The winner came early in the second
half as Nigel Martyn could only parry a shot from Henri Camara, leaving
Damien Francis to shoot home from close range from the rebound.

Attendance : 37,189
Assists : n/a


Man United (0) 1 (Van Nistelrooy 67)
Blackburn (1) 2 (Pedersen 33, 81)

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes returned to the club where he made his name
and still enjoys hero status - and shocked Man United with Rovers' first
win at Old Trafford in 43 years! Morten Gamst Pedersen was the new hero
with two goals, although both could be put down to United's dismal
defending. The first came from a free kick wide on the right, swung in
by Pedersen towards the far post. However as forwards and defenders
alike watched, it sailed past everyone and nestled into the net. United
equalised when Brad Friedel couldn't hold Wayne Rooney's shot and
allowed Ruud Van Nistelrooy to round him and tap the ball home. With
nine minutes to go, Blackburn completed their victory when Paul Scholes
lost possession on the edge of his own box and after being found by
Michael Gray, Pedersen smashed the ball past Edwin Van Der Sar and
inside the near post.

Attendance : 67,765
Assists : Bellamy (won fk), n/a, n/a


Newcastle (1) 1 (Owen 18)
Man City (0) 0

Two wins in two games for Newcastle now and two in two also for Michael
Owen after in-form Man City were narrowly beaten at St James Park. The
sole goal came when Lee Bowyer slid the ball foward for Owen to run onto
and the former Real Madrid striker prodded it first time past David
James and into the net.

Attendance : 52,280
Assists : Bowyer


West Brom (0) 1 (Davies 51)
Charlton (2) 2 (Murphy (pen) 9, 31)

Charlton's excellent start continues as they consolidated second place
with a victory at West Brom. The game was effectively over by half time,
but which time the visitors were two goals up. The first came from a
Danny Murphy penalty after Jerome Thomas had been tripped by Steve
Watson and Murphy added a second just after the half hour when he was
left with a tap in after a fine run and cross by Dennis Rommedalh. The
Baggies pulled one back when Ronnie Wallwork's header was nodded in by
Curtsi Davies, however Charlton held on for their sixth win in seven
league games.

Attendance : 23,909
Assists : Thomas (won pen), Rommedahl, Wallwork


West Ham (0) 0
Arsenal (0) 0

Arsenal completed a good day for Chelsea when they could only draw at
West Ham. Their best chance fell to Cesc Fabregas who slipped the ball
wide whilst through on goal, however West Ham could have snatched a win
late on when Bobby Zamora sent a free header wide.

Attendance : 34,742
Assists :


Bolton (1) 1 (Nolan 25)
Portsmouth (0) 0

Bolton moved into third place with a narrow win against struggling
Portsmouth. It wasn't the best game in truth, however the only goal was
something a bit special. It came from a cross by Henrik Pedersen which
found Kevin Davies at the far post. His nod back across goal was
acrobatically finished by Kevin Nolan with a superb overhead kick.

Attendance : 23,134
Assist : Pedersen


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK

Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
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