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23 March 2008

CHELSEA 2 (Drogba 73, Drogba 82)
ARSENAL 1 (Sagna 59)

Chelsea move into second, five points behind leaders Man United after coming from behind to see off Arsenal who are now a further point back in third. The Gunners went ahead when Cesc Fabregas swung a corner to the near post and Bacary Sagna headed in, however Chelsea levelled thanks to Didier Drogba who latched onto a loose ball after Frank Lampard lost control in the area and fired into the net. Drogba then added his second with a bobbled effort after Nik Anelka's header fell nicely for him.

Attendance : 41,824
Assists : Fabregas (ck), n/a, Anelka


MANCHESTER UNITED 3 (Brown 34, Ronaldo 79, Nani 81)
LIVERPOOL 0

Man United took a massive step towards retaining their title with a crushing win over ten man Liverpool. United went ahead when Wayne Rooney's cross was met by Wes Brown ahead of the keeper and his header looped in. Liverpool's hopes effectively ended just before half time after Rio Ferdinand fouled Fernando Torres and the Liverpool man decided to have a moan at the ref despite being awarded the free kick. He was promptly booked for dissent at which point team mate Javier Mascherano took up the argument and suffered the same fate, followed by a red card having previously been booked. If Ashley Cole was petulant in midweek, Mascherano was totally brainless in his actions. United clinched the points late on as Cristiano Ronaldo headed in Nani's corner and then Nani himself walloped in a third after collecting a pass from Rooney.

Attendance : 76,000
Red Card : Mascherano 44 (Liverpool)
Assists : Rooney, Nani (ck), n/a


22 March 2008

EVERTON 1 (Yakubu 8)
WEST HAM 1 (Ashton 68)

Everton lost ground on rivals Liverpool in the battle for fourth place as West Ham came from behind to draw at Goodison. The hosts were ahead early when Yakubu turned his marker after latching onto a header from Victor Anichebe and showed excellent pace before thumping the ball past the keeper. He then had a goal harshly ruled out for offside before the Hammers levelled after the break as Dean Ashton, who'd earlier missed a great chance, headed in a cross from Lucas Neill.

Attendance : 37,430
Assists : Anichebe, Neil


ASTON VILLA 0
SUNDERLAND 1 (Chopra 83)

Sunderland recorded their first away win in the league this season as a late Michael Chopra goal saw off Aston Villa. It came from a long ball out of defence by Kieran Richardson which Chopra swept past the keeper as he came from his line. Sunderland are now four points clear of the drop zone with every team having seven games left.

Attendance : 42,640
Assists : Richardson


BLACKBURN 3 (Santa Cruz 12, Roberts 45, Santa Cruz 63)
WIGAN 1 (King 17 Pen)

Ten a side at Ewood as Blackburn beat Wigan in the Lancashire derby to leave the visitors still in the relegation battle. Rovers took an early lead when David Bentley's shot was saved by Chris Kirkland only for Roque Santa Cruz to be left with a simple header. Four minutes later Emile Heskey went down under a challenge from Christopher Samba to earn a penalty and a red card for his opponent who was adjudged to be last man. Marlon King found the bottom corner with the spot kick to level matters up although the keeper almost kept it out. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Blackburn regained the lead when a header from Santa Cruz found Jason Roberts who turned his man before firing in. The win was secured by Santa Cruz who powerfully headed in Bentley's cross before Wigan were reduced to ten men when Wilson Palacios hacked down Bentley for his second yellow of the game.

Attendance : 23,541
Red Cards : Samba 16 (Blackburn), Palacios 69 (Wigan)
Assists : n/a, Heskey (won pen), Santa Cruz, Bentley


BOLTON 0
MANCHESTER CITY 0

No goals at the Reebok leaving Bolton still in the bottom three.

Attendance : 22,633
Assist : n/a


MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Tuncay 32)
DERBY 0

Middlesbrough eased their relegation concerns with a narrow win over bottom club Derby. The only goal was well taken by Tuncay who latched onto George Boateng's pass to finish clinically. Derby are effectively down but boss Paul Jewell has more to worry about than that if today's Sunday papers are anything to go by!

Attendance : 25,649
Assist : Boateng


NEWCASTLE 2 (Viduka 7, Owen 83)
FULHAM 0

Middlesbrough eased their relegation concerns with a narrow win over bottom club Derby. The only goal was well taken by Tuncay who latched onto George Boateng's pass to finish clinically. Derby are effectively down but boss Paul Jewell has more to worry about than that if today's Sunday papers are anything to go by!

Attendance : 52,293
Assists : Geremi, Geremi (fk)


READING 2 (Bikey 31, Bikey 79)
BIRMINGHAM 1 (Zarate 64)

Two more relegation possibles met at the Madejski with Reading edging out Birmingham with two goals from the unlikely source of Andre Bikey. His first was a fine glancing header from John Oster's free kick and then late on he doubled his tally with another header with Nicky Shorey the provider. Birmingham had managed an equaliser when Mikael Forsell's cross was converted by Mauro Zarate at close range but Reading eased five points clear of the bottom three whilst Birmingham are just one point and one place Bolton.

Attendance : 24,085
Assists : Oster (fk), Forssell, Shorey (fk)


TOTTENHAM 2 (Bent 80, O'Hara 82)
PORTSMOUTH 0

Two late goals from two substitutes gave Spurs a win to dent the European hopes of Portsmouth. Both sides had chances before Spurs took a deserved lead when Dimitar Berbatov's half hit shot was headed in by Darren Bent. Scorer then turned provider with a run and cut back which was rolled over the line by fellow sub Jamie O'Hara.

Attendance : 35,998
Assists : n/a, Bent

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