EPL Result: Everton 2-0 Middlesbrough

	Everton 2 - 0 Middlesbrough 7' Joleon Lescott 1 - 0 58' Steven Pienaar 2 - 0
2		0

Mikel Arteta proved just how crucial he is to the Everton cause by returning to inspire a 2-0 Premier League victory over Middlesbrough.

As well as having a hand in goals from free-scoring defender Joleon Lescott and a first in English football for the on-loan Steven Pienaar, the Spanish midfielder was outstanding throughout on his comeback from injury.

He was sorely missed in last weekend's defeat at Aston Villa and the UEFA Cup first round first leg draw against Metalist Kharkiv and was simply too cute for Boro.

The visitors lacked such a figure, but of more concern would have been their impotence in attack, with Mido and Lee Dong-Gook failing to impress.

Arteta was one of five changes to the Everton side beaten 2-0 at Villa Park, with Ayegbeni Yakubu given the nod to start against his former side after scoring in the midweek Carling Cup victory at Sheffield Wednesday.

Tim Howard reclaimed his place in goal and James McFadden and Alan Stubbs were also retained from Wednesday's Hillsborough success.

Boro made two changes from their last league outing, recalling skipper George Boateng and Dong-Gook Lee for the injured Julio Arca and Tuncay Sanli.

Without a home win since the opening-day victory against Wigan and deprived of the misfiring Andrew Johnson (groin), Everton were looking to bounce back from two straight league defeats.

Boro were also struggling for form, having not won in their last three in all competitions.

It was not a fixture which traditionally promised a glut of goals, yet the sides boasted just one Barclays Premier League clean sheet between them this term.

It did not take long for the scoring to begin either, Arteta proving his worth with a testing eighth-minute corner which Yakubu glanced goalward.

Jonathan Woodgate headed off the line but Lescott was first to react, nodding the rebound into the opposite corner of the net.

Five minutes later and Boro wasted a glorious opportunity to level. Mido headed a cross down to the unmarked Gary O'Neil, who had time to steady himself but still scuffed his finish straight at Tim Howard.

Both sides were then guilty of glaring headed misses, Yakubu first when he somehow sent over a pinpoint Leighton Baines cross following a clever corner routine.

Lee followed when his effort from O'Neil's centre cannoned off the crossbar.

Yakubu's volleyed snapshot was straight down Mark Schwarzer's throat and the Nigerian's next contribution was a dive on the edge of the area for which he escaped a booking.

Schwarzer had to be more alert to clasp a deflected drive by the excellent Arteta.

It was meant to be Ladies Day at Goodison Park but there was nothing ladylike about O'Neil's ankle-crunching challenge on Pienaar for which the midfielder was rightly cautioned.

Pienaar almost exacted revenge in the correct manner but he too failed to send a header on target, Tony Hibbert supplying the cross.

McFadden finally did test the goalkeeper from Baines' centre but his aerial effort lacked any power.

It sparked Everton's most dominant spell of first half but their finishing continued to leave something to be desired.

Boateng added his name to the growing list of poor headers after the break when he mistimed his jump for Stewart Downing's corner.

Lee again demonstrated why he had failed to find the net in 14 previous Premier League appearances by volleying well wide.

And the South Korean betrayed his frustration with a crude challenge on Lescott, earning him a yellow card.

Moments later, his side controversially fell two behind.

Pienaar injured Boateng winning the ball 30 yards from goal, and the Boro skipper was still hobbling when Arteta broke into the box before squaring for the South African to slide a low finish across Schwarzer and into the net.

A raft of substitutions followed, Boro boss Gareth Southgate perhaps sending a message to both Mido and Lee by withdrawing both and deploying David Wheater as a makeshift centre-forward.

It had little effect, with opposite number David Moyes afforded the luxury in stoppage-time of bringing off Arteta to a richly-deserved standing ovation.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Birmingham 0-1 Man Utd

	Birmingham 0 - 1 Manchester United 51' 0 - 1 Cristiano Ronaldo
0		1

Cristiano Ronaldo's first goal of the Barclays Premier League campaign secured a fifth successive league win for Manchester United at St Andrews as Birmingham succumbed 1-0.

But his side were pushed all the way by Steve Bruce's battlers before climbing back into second spot - two points adrift of Arsenal, who also have a game in hand.

Ronaldo, in what was his 100th league start, settled the issue six minutes into the second half and United have now kept five successive clean sheets in the competition since losing the Manchester derby.

It was also their fourth 1-0 league win of the campaign and they have achieved their lofty position in the table despite scoring only seven times in eight games.

But Birmingham can consider themselves unfortunate not to have claimed a share of the spoils and were the more threatening side in the opening 45 minutes.

United seemed nervous at the back during the first half apart from a majestic performance by Rio Ferdinand.

The irony of the outcome would not have been lost on Bruce after Blues were heavily criticised for a defensive performance in earning a goalless draw at Liverpool last weekend.

On this occasion, his side caused the Red Devils all kinds of problems. Olivier Kapo and Gary McSheffrey created several good chances - but ended up with no reward.

Birmingham made an enterprising start and United keeper Edwin van der Sar was twice called into action in the first two minutes.

A mistake by Paul Scholes allowed Cameron Jerome a free run at the United goal and his fierce left-footed drive from 20 yards out was turned around the post by the Dutchman.

Then Van der Sar had to react smartly to cling on to Franck Queudrue's glancing header from the resulting corner by Sebastian Larsson.

The first real threat to the home side came when a long clearance from Van der Sar found its way to Wayne Rooney in plenty of space to the right of the Blues box.

The England striker tried to chip Northern Ireland keeper Maik Taylor, but he had come racing off his line to narrow the angle and managed to block his attempt.

Queudrue became the first player to be booked for a challenge on Ronaldo.

Rio Ferdinand came to United's rescue after 17 minutes when he cleared a downward header from Gary McSheffrey off the line from Larsson's cross.

Ronaldo was causing Birmingham problems and one shot from a narrow angle flew straight at a relieved Taylor after good play by Giggs and Brown.

A misplaced clearance by Van der Sar, when well off his line, flew straight to the lively Jerome.

The former Cardiff player tried to make the Dutchman pay for his error, but he failed to get enough height into his shot and Michael Carrick was able to make the block.

Taylor anticipated a pass from Rooney into the path of Ronaldo and saved bravely at his feet, but Birmingham deserved to be on level terms at the break.

United were forced into a half-time substitution with Van der Sar apparently still troubled by the first-half ankle knock and replaced by Tomasz Kuszczak.

After 51 minutes, Ronaldo broke the deadlock with his first league goal of the campaign.

There seemed little danger when Ferdinand played the ball forward just inside the Blues area, but Queudrue hesitated when he should have cleared and Ronaldo took full advantage. He surged forward and coolly took the ball around Taylor before firing home.

Birmingham tried to retaliate and Kuszczak needed two attempts to gather a low volley from McSheffrey.

But the former West Brom keeper made an excellent save to turn another McSheffrey pile-driver around the post after it took a deflection off Ferdinand.

McSheffrey was only just off target with the resulting inswinging free-kick from a narrow angle.

Ronaldo could have settled the issue but dragged his shot just wide and in the last few seconds Kuszczak kept out a drive from Blues substitute Garry O'Connor.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Wigan 0-1 Liverpool

	Wigan 0 - 1 Liverpool 75' 0 - 1 Yossi Benayoun
0		1

Yossi Benayoun ended Liverpool's mini crisis with the only goal of the game as Wigan suffered a 17th defeat in 17 matches against the Barclays Premier League's fabled 'big four'.

Liverpool had endured goalless draws in their previous two league games, sparking much criticism of boss Rafael Benitez's rotation policy.

In the end it was substitute Benayoun, a £5million buy from West Ham in the summer, who netted a 75th minute winner for his first league goal for the Reds.

From Wigan's perspective, it was another brave yet fruitless performance against one of the big boys as they have still to take a point off Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United since they were promoted to the top flight in 2005.

At least this was a dramatic improvement on the corresponding fixture last season, when they were 4-0 down at the interval.

On that occasion they were torn apart from the opening whistle, primarily due to the pace of former striker Craig Bellamy, to which the Latics could find no answer.

There was no Bellamy this time around - sold to West Ham in the summer - but instead there was Fernando Torres, the club record £26million replacement.

There had been a great debate surrounding Torres in the build-up to this encounter due to Benitez's continual rotation of his stars.

Torres had sat on the bench for the previous two league matches in which Liverpool had failed to score at Portsmouth and at home to Birmingham.

Benitez then handed the Spain international a start in the midweek Carling Cup tie at Reading, and he responded with a hat-trick.

That prompted speculation as to whether Benitez should play the 23-year-old from the off against Wigan and he ultimately opted to pair him with Dirk Kuyt.

He had Liverpool's three best chances in an opening 45 minutes in which goalkeeper Jose Reina was a virtual spectator.

That was due to Wigan being deprived of their two first-choice strikers, with Antoine Sibierski, a late withdrawal with a hamstring problem, joining Emile Heskey on the sidelines.

That led to boss Chris Hutchings handing Julius Aghahowa his first start this season alongside Marcus Bent, and the lack of cohesion and understanding between the duo was alarming.

After Wigan had started brightly, Liverpool edged into the game with every minute that passed and after Jermaine Pennant and John Arne Riise had shots blocked, Torres took over.

His first effort in the 25th minute was scuffed after Kuyt had delightfully cushioned a downward header to a Pennant cross into his path, giving Kirkland a comfortable take.

His second on the half hour came after a woeful error from life-long Reds fan Jason Koumas, who sprayed a pass along the halfway line directly to Kuyt.

The Holland forward immediately set Torres clear, and after outpacing Emmerson Boyce, he stabbed a shot goalwards that was blocked at point-blank range by Kirkland.

Wigan were then fortunate as the ricochet sprang off the Spaniard and rebounded inches past the left-hand post.

The spectacular followed from Torres two minutes later with a scissor kick that was just wide after rising to meet a right-wing ball from Alvaro Arbeloa, with Wigan's defence nowhere.

But then after the break Torres went missing as Wigan played with a fierce determination to their game, in particular with Titus Bramble an immense presence in defence.

Bent did have the ball in the net in the 50th minute, but it was controversially ruled out, stifling his delight.

Aghahowa, running back when the ball was played in by Josip Skoko, was offside, but not Bent, who was three yards on when the cross was delivered.

Koumas forced Reina into his only meaningful save of the game five minutes later, before a combination of Kirkland and Skoko denied Kuyt soon after.

As the game started to swing from end to end, an ungainly flick from Paul Scharner as he beat Reina to a Koumas ball over the top finished agonisingly wide.

Then, after Gerrard had screamed a 25-yard drive narrowly past the right-hand post, the Reds finally broke the deadlock 15 minutes from time.

Benayoun, on for Fabio Aurelio in the 56th minute, had plenty of work to do in picking up the ball a few yards outside the Wigan area.

But with an innocuous flick he gave himself time and space before beating Kirkland with a low shot.

Wigan, though, should have taken a point, only for Aghahowa to bury a six-yard header to a Koumas cross inches wide in the first of three minutes of injury time.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: West Ham 0-1 Arsenal

	West Ham 0 - 1 Arsenal 13' 0 - 1 Robin Van Persie
0		1

Barclays Premier League leaders Arsenal maintained their superb start to the season with a hard-earned 1-0 win at West Ham.

Robin van Persie's close-range header on 13 minutes proved enough for an eighth straight victory.

West Ham, though, had their chances - the best of which fell to England hopeful Dean Ashton - but they also were indebted to keeper Rob Green, who made a string a fine saves.

The Hammers have performed well against Arsenal in recent meetings - winning both games last season as they escaped the drop. However, the Gunners are currently in blistering form and again started brightly.

Inside the opening two minutes Arsenal broke quickly down the left, with Abou Diaby cutting the ball back to Emmanuel Adebayor, who drilled a low shot just wide from 15 yards.

West Ham, though, soon rallied and former Gunner Freddie Ljungberg was unfortunate to be flagged offside when collecting a quick backheel from Ashton on the edge of the Arsenal box.

The England hopeful was then sent clear himself, only to again be called up by the referee's assistant on the far side.

Ashton was leading the West Ham line with plenty of aggression, and turned to drill a 20-yard shot just over.

Arsenal, though, were ahead on 13 minutes.

Adebayor held the ball up well on the right side of the area and fed a pass out to Alexander Hleb.

His centre flew across the six-yard box, where van Persie arrived on queue at the far post to glance a header past Green, who was at full stretch and could only push the ball onto the post and in.

The goal silenced the home crowd, and after such a positive start the Hammers suddenly looked disjointed.

As the half-hour approached, West Ham were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men following an X-rated challenge by Mark Noble on Hleb.

The Belarus midfielder, just back from a knee problem, had to be carried off with what looked like a similar injury and was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue.

Arsenal were incensed, but referee Alan Wiley deemed a yellow card sufficient punishment.

West Ham continued to try to take the match to Arsenal, but the visitors were playing with a high defensive line and used the offside trap well.

When the hosts did get in behind, they could not find a telling cross into the danger zone.

At the other end, Lee Bowyer was penalised for handball just outside the area on the right.

Van Persie struck his effort goalwards, which Green palmed behind.

Mathieu Flamini tried his luck with a low, 20-yard strike which the West Ham keeper got down well to stop.

The hosts replaced Scott Parker, who looked to have picked up a knock, at the restart and were then quickly forced into another change when Anton Ferdinand hobbled off and Danny Gabbidon came on.

Van Persie came within inches of putting the visitors 2-0 ahead on 54 minutes.

The Dutchman side-stepped marker Gabbidon on the edge of the area, and drilled his shot towards the top left-hand corner.

Green was again at full stretch and got his fingertips to the ball, which this time bounced back off the post and away.

Moments later it should have been 1-1 after Bowyer chipped the ball into the area from the right.

Ashton had timed his run perfectly to get a free header at the back post, only to then nod it straight at a grateful Manuel Almunia.

This was a good spell for West Ham. Ljungberg did get the ball into the net when he collected Henri Camara's slide pass - but was flagged offside in what looked a marginal call.

However, Arsenal were dangerous on the break.

Van Persie and Adebayor exchanged passes on the edge of the West Ham box, which sent the Togo striker clear and Green came to the rescue with a fine reaction save low to his left.

Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy was the next man to force a good save from Green, the England international again at full stretch to turn the ball behind.

The Gunners made a change with 12 minutes left when Gilberto replaced Adebayor, who looked to have a dead leg, before Green once more pushed a goal-bound strike behind, this time from Flamini.

Van Persie booted a downward header from Ashton clear in front of his own net as the Gunners closed out the match - including four minutes of stoppage time - to stay ahead of the chasing pack.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Sunderland 1-2 Blackburn

	Sunderland 1 - 2 Blackburn 53' 0 - 1 David Bentley 55' 0 - 2 Roque Santa Cruz ' Grant Leadbitter 1 - 2
1		2

Mark Hughes came out on top in the battle of the Manchester United old boys as Blackburn cruised to a 2-1 victory at Sunderland.

Two goals in as many second-half minutes sent Roy Keane's men tumbling to defeat as the Black Cats were served a reminder of just how difficult life in the Barclays Premier League can be.

David Bentley pounced on a rebound to open the scoring from close range on 53 minutes and Roque Santa Cruz smashed home his fifth goal of the season two minutes later as the home side were sliced open again.

Indeed, Bentley, who was booed throughout by the home fans and treated with little ceremony by the defenders he repeatedly tormented, should have made it 3-0 when he was played in by the impressive Santa Cruz.

Sunderland finished the game with four strikers on the pitch and sparked hopes of another late fightback when Grant Leadbitter capped a fine individual display with a sweet 90th-minute strike.

But they lacked the inspiration to open Rovers up often enough to make an impact on a day when they were more soundly beaten than the scoreline suggests in front of a crowd of 41,252.

However, things might have been different had referee Peter Walton pointed to the spot four minutes before the break, after Michael Chopra had gone down under Brad Friedel's challenge.

Former United team-mates Keane and Hughes never took a backward step during their playing days, and it was no surprise that the teams they sent out scrapped and fought their way through a tight first 45 minutes.

The quality of Tugay, David Dunn and Bentley in Blackburn's midfield gave them a foundation upon which to build, and they perhaps enjoyed the greater share of the possession during the opening period.

However, what Sunderland lack in craft and guile, they make up for in grit and determination, and the half's better chances came their way.

Youngster Leadbitter and last weekend's goal hero, Liam Miller, were their driving force, with the former making a nuisance of himself from the right wing despite having to leave the pitch temporarily after taking an accidental kick in the head from Dunn.

Leadbitter saw four first-half shots blocked and another saved by Brad Friedel, who also had to keep out another long-range effort from Miller.

For their part, Rovers failed to test Craig Gordon unduly at the other end, the Scot saving from Christopher Samba's low 23rd-minute drive seconds after seeing Danny Higginbotham deflect Santa Cruz's header over the bar.

But he was left hopelessly exposed on 38 minutes when Nyron Nosworthy failed to clear Bentley's blocked effort and Matt Derbyshire span to fire just wide of the far post.

Chopra, who scored in each of his first two games for the Black Cats, was left to bemoan a controversial decision four minutes before the break when he went down under Friedel's challenge as he ran on to Miller's through-ball.

Mr Walton took his time as the American held his breath, but then infuriated the former Newcastle striker and the home fans when he awarded only a corner.

Rovers resumed in enterprising fashion and Dunn and Aaron Mokoena both failed to make the most of early half-chances.

But they felled their hosts with a devastating blow inside two action-packed minutes.

Santa Cruz was allowed to carve his way into the penalty area and 53 minutes to fire in a shot which was blocked by Danny Higginbotham.

However, the ball dropped invitingly to Bentley, who needed no second invitation to thump it past the stranded Gordon.

Worse was to come for the home side after 55 minutes when Higginbotham left his back-pass woefully short and Brett Emerton ran through to force a good save from Gordon before turning the ball back across goal for Santa Cruz to help himself.

Sunderland's plight might have been irredeemable three minutes later when the impressive Santa Cruz broke to feed Bentley, who stepped inside before seeing his stabbed shot blocked by Gordon.

Leadbitter never really tested Friedel with a 62nd-minute free-kick, and Keane made his move three minutes later, withdrawing Ross Wallace, Dwight Yorke and Chopra to send on David Connolly, Daryl Murphy and Roy O'Donovan.

Hughes decided to introduce Morten Gamst Pedersen in place of Derbyshire at the same time, although with four strikers on the pitch, it was Sunderland who took the initiative.

However, it was not until the final minute of the game that they gave themselves any hope when Leadbitter's superb right-footed strike sparked a frenzied, but ultimately fruitless, late assault.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Portsmouth 7-4 Reading

	Portsmouth 7 - 4 Reading 7' Benjani Mwaruwari 1 - 0 37' Benjani Mwaruwari 2 - 0 45' 2 - 1 Stephen Hunt 48' 2 - 2 Dave Kitson 55' Hermann Hreidarsson 3 - 2 66' 3 - 2 Nicky Shorey (pen miss) 70' Benjani Mwaruwari 4 - 2 75' Niko Kranjcar 5 - 2 79' 5 - 3 Shane Long 81' Sean Davis 6 - 3 90' Sulley Muntari (pen) 7 - 3 90' 7 - 4 Nicky Shorey
7		4

Portsmouth went goal crazy at Fratton Park, with Benjani Mwaruwari netting a hat-trick in a 7-4 demolition of Reading that now represents the Barclays Premier League's highest-scoring game.

The Royals had only beaten Pompey once in the past 25 years but cannot have defended any worse in any of those previous encounters.

Goals from Stephen Hunt and Dave Kitson actually cancelled out Benjani's first-half double, but Steve Coppell's side were soon buried under an avalanche of replies.

Hermann Hreidarsson headed Pompey back ahead, Benjani's third was followed by a fine strike from Nico Kranjcar and, after substitute Shane Long had pulled one back for Reading, Sean Davis netted a long-rang shot, before Sulley Muntari made it 7-3 from the spot.

Nicky Shorey had the last word with a deflected fourth for the visitors.

A knee injury had robbed Portsmouth of top-scorer Kanu and, despite his Carling Cup winner at Burnley in midweek, England international David Nugent found himself still on the bench as Benjani was chosen to replace the Nigerian up front.

Harry Redknapp's judgement was soon proved to be correct, however, as the Zimbabwean opened the scoring after just seven minutes.

James Harper had lost the ball to Papa Bouba Diop and Benjani, having sent John Utaka into a crossing position on the left, completed the move by dispatching his colleague's delivery to the back post from close range.

Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann had remained rooted to his line on that occasion, but when he came out to claim Kranjcar's corner, the American succeeded only in spilling it into Diop's path and was mightily relieved when the Senegal international could only hook the loose ball wide.

Kranjcar was the first half's most lively performer, running at opponents at will but could not hit the target himself, screwing one effort wide from a good position in the box before blasting another well over.

Diop's 30-yard shot forced Hahnemann into a diving save, before Benjani made it 2-0 in the 37th minute.

Reading had been slow to react for the first goal and were caught out from their own attack this time as Diop's ball from inside his own half found the recalled front man.

Shorey and Ivar Ingimarsson were both unable to impede his progress, before Hahnemann was beaten with a well-placed drive from just outside the box.

The lead was no more than Pompey had deserved and Hahnemann somehow deflected Glen Johnson's shot over after Benjani's header had set up the defender at point-blank range.

Davis sent a long-range shot just over, but the last word of the half belonged to Reading when Hunt pulled a goal back in stoppage time.

Liam Rosenior and Kitson set it up with the former sending a cross over David James and the latter reacting to prod the ball goalwards when it had bounced down off the cross bar.

Sylvain Distin managed to block on the line, but Hunt followed up smartly to nod home.

Reading usually concede goals shortly after half-time, but this time Kitson scored one, with James' rash rush out of his box allowing it to take place in the 48th minute.

The England goalkeeper never looked likely to reach Hunt's ball from his own half and Kitson, having taken it past him, located the empty net with a perfectly-placed shot from a tight angle on the left.

Pompey reacted strongly and Reading were fortunate to scramble the ball away after Utaka's cross had gone over Hahnemann.

Harper fired a good chance over at the other end, but when Diop had a diving header ruled out for offside the reprieve was shortlived for the visitors as Hreidarsson made it 3-2 in the 55th minute.

Again Hahnemann appeared to be at fault, allowing the Pompey defender to beat him to Distin's cross and head home from eight yards out.

James made amends for his earlier error by saving Shorey's penalty after Diop had needlessly controlled the ball with an arm in the box.

Exactly why a striker did not take it remains unknown, but the home fans reacted rapturously with chants of 'England's Number One'.

Benjani made sure the match ball was his with a fine solo clincher with 20 minutes remaining. Sulley Muntari put him through and, with defenders trailing, he made the task of taking the ball round Hahnemann and finding the empty net look easy.

Kranjcar made it 5-2 with a headed conversion of a Davis cross, but Long's reply - a deflection of a Harper shot with 10 minutes remaining - was quickly followed by Pompey's sixth from Davis.

Muntari scored the seventh from the spot in stoppage time after Kranjcar had been fouled by Rosenior.

Shorey fired home a deflected fourth before the final whistle ended the mayhem.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Derby 1-1 Bolton: Miller hits first Derby goal

	Derby County 1 - 1 Bolton 19' Kenny Miller 1 - 0 32' 1 - 1 Nicolas Anelka
1		1

Derby keeper Stephen Bywater may have the most thankless job in the Barclays Premier League, but he proved his immense value with a stunning double save to secure a 1-1 draw at Pride Park.

Bywater had seen 20 goals sail past him in just seven league games to date, but he showed he has lost none of his confidence when he denied Bolton's Christian Wilhelmsson and Nicolas Anelka late on.

First, Bywater dived to parry Wilhelmsson's drive before somehow recovering to tip Anelka's fierce follow-up onto the underside of the bar and deny fellow strugglers Bolton a priceless victory.

Kenny Miller had given the home side a 19th-minute lead in a ragged and nervy tussle between the division's bottom two before Anelka's fortunate 32nd-minute equaliser, which took a heavy deflection off Claude Davis.

With Jussi Jaaskelainen also on top form at the other end to deny Miller a second goal, Bolton boss Sammy Lee will ultimately have breathed a sigh of relief that his side avoided defeat and possibly safeguarded his job in the process.

Until the late drama the Rams had looked the most likely winners from the start, and they had the first chance in the third minute when Stephen Pearson cut through the visitors' defence but scuffed his shot wide.

Bolton responded almost immediately through Ricardo Gardner, who got round the back of the home defence, only to send in a low cross which proved too strong for Kevin Davies in the box.

It was easy to see why these two sides were propping up the table table as each toiled admirably but plainly lacked quality and the nerves associated with such a crucial occasion were evident for all to see.

The home side broke through with a rare moment of class, Steve Howard chesting down Tyrone Mears' long ball and crossing for Miller to drill the ball low past Jaaskelainen.

Bolton's responses were sporadic and scarcely looked like giving Bywater more to worry about.

Anelka and Joey O'Brien both saw long-range efforts sail well wide of target, before the French striker finally seized upon a stroke of good fortune to snatch his side's equaliser.

Anelka moved to the edge of the Rams box and fired a shot which Bywater appeared to have covered, before it took a wicked deflection off Davis and squirmed into the far corner of the net.

Kevin Nolan went close to giving the visitors the lead five minutes from the break when Dean Leacock attempted a tight back-pass under pressure and Nolan nipped in but could only hit the side-netting.

Derby dominated the opening stages of the second half and came agonisingly close to going back ahead in the 49th minute, when another low Miller drive was brilliantly blocked by Jaaskelainen.

The Rams kept pressing, but as four goals from their seven previous matches testified, a second was going to be hard to come by. James McEveley's long-range effort was deflected behind, and Miller blazed over from an Eddie Lewis cross.

Anxious to turn the momentum of the match back in his favour, Lee made his first change in the 59th minute, replacing Davies with fellow striker Wilhelmsson.

The ever lively El-Hadji Diouf caught the Rams defence sleeping with his cross which trickled across the face of goal in the 62nd minute, but much to his obvious frustration there was no-one to poke the ball home.

Rams boss Billy Davies responded by introducing his young star Giles Barnes in place of David Jones in the 63rd minute in the hope of capitalising on his side's evident superiority since the break.

Wilhelmsson had his first chance for the visitors in the 67th minute when he cut into the left side of the Rams box, but his low shot was comfortably saved by Bywater.

Bywater was back in action in the 79th minute with his stunning saves from Wilhelmsson and Anelka, before Pearson booted Nolan's follow-up off the line to save a precious point.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Chelsea 0-0 Fulham

	Chelsea 0 - 0 Fulham
0		0

Chelsea lost captain John Terry with a suspected fractured cheekbone as Avram Grant's first home game in charge ended in stalemate and controversy.

The goalless draw with neighbours Fulham saw Chelsea take their unbeaten home league run to 67 games, but it was their fourth successive Premier League game without scoring.

To compound matters for Chelsea, Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, playing his first game since injuring his knee against Aston Villa in early September, was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 73rd minute.

England captain Terry would miss up to six weeks if the injury is confirmed as a broken cheekbone, meaning he would miss the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia.

His absence would also be a massive blow to Grant as he bids to turn Chelsea's fortunes around.

He was already without England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, absent after pulling a hamstring against Hull in the Carling Cup in midweek, and Michael Essien - also injured.

The Israeli was given a warm welcome by the Chelsea fans as he took his place in the home dugout for the first time.

But they turned on billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who was sat in the upper tier of the Shed stand among the fans.

As their frustrations boiled over, they could be seen shouting Jose Mourinho's name in his face as the bemused Russian looked on.

Before the game, fans had distributed leaflets demanding the return of Jose Mourinho as coach and revealed plans to stage a protest walkout at half-time, which did not materialise.

Grant's attacking style was quickly evident, with Salomon Kalou setting up Andriy Shevchenko to fire an 18-yard effort over the bar.

But in the third minute there was cause for concern when captain Terry required lengthy treatment after an accidental clash of heads with Fulham's Clinton Dempsey.

Chelsea were quickly on the offensive, but Fulham demonstrated they could be a danger on the break when a cross from Alexei Smertin was headed narrowly wide by Dempsey in the 14th minute.

In the 19th minute Claude Makelele set up Andriy Shevchenko on the edge of the penalty area, but again the Ukraine striker's effort posed little threat to Fulham keeper Kasey Keller, who collected the ball with ease.

Joe Cole was the next to try his luck for the Blues when he sent a low drive towards the left corner of the net, but Keller managed to deal with the pace of the ball quite comfortably.

There was plenty of attacking endeavour and desire from Chelsea but little in terms of real threat.

Drogba's return provided the midfielders with a focal point, but the striker had largely been kept under control by Carlos Bocanegra and Aaron Hughes.

Shevchenko, rested for the Carling Cup win over Hull in midweek, combined with Kalou in the 32nd minute, but the Ukraine striker again saw his shot whistle wide of the post.

Moments later a low cross from Joe Cole eluded the Fulham defence and Drogba at the far post as Chelsea increased the pressure on the visitors.

Drogba felt he had been fouled as he went for the ball and was booked by referee Martin Atkinson as a result of his protests.

Four minutes before the break, a cross from Shevchenko caused Fulham's defence a moment of panic, but neither Terry or Drogba could capitalise on the opportunity, with the Ivorian finally heading into the side-netting.

Chelsea lost captain Terry with at the interval and he was replaced by Brazilian centre-back Alex.

But the mass walkout by fans did not appear to happen with the majority of the 41,837 crowd remaining in their seats.

Chelsea almost started the second half with a goal when Joe Cole's cross was met by Kalou on the edge of the six-yard box.

But the former Feyenoord striker's shot was superbly saved by Keller, who pushed the ball on to the post.

Drogba brought another fine save out of Keller in the 58th minute when he left fly from 20 yards.

Kalou was next to squander a chance to break the deadlock when he headed a cross from Ashley Cole wide of the target from eight yards.

It was clearly not Chelsea's afternoon as Kalou headed a free-kick from Makelele wide of the target in the 68th minute and then Joe Cole sent a shot inches beyond the far post moments later.

Chelsea's problems worsened in the 73rd minute when Drogba was shown the red card for a lunge on Chris Baird.

Drogba, who had been yellow-carded for dissent in the first half, was sent off for a second bookable offence that will mean a one-match ban instead of three.

Paul Konchesky almost stole all three points for Fulham five minutes from time, but Cech pulled off a fine save to deny him and Chelsea were booed off by their fans at the end.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Man City 3-1 Newcastle

	Manchester City 3 - 1 Newcastle 29' - 1 Obafemi Martins 38' Martin Petrov 1 - 1 47' Emile Mpenza 2 - 1 87' Blumer Elano 3 - 1
3		1

Elano led Newcastle a merry dance at Eastlands as Manchester City roared back to record a fourth successive Premier League home win.

The Brazilian midfielder had already established himself as a clear man-of-the-match with an inspired display of cultured passing in a pulsating contest when he strode up to rocket home the 86th-minute free-kick which guaranteed Sven-Goran Eriksson's men their 3-1 victory. Eriksson has steadfastly refused to set any targets for his team despite their amazing start to the campaign.

But on this evidence they look viable top-six contenders, even if their chances of matching Manchester United and Arsenal, whom they joined at the top of the table, no matter how briefly, are slender.

Certainly, after two years of drab fare under Stuart Pearce, City are not complaining and it should not be long before the empty seats which have become such a regular feature of recent home games are filled.

Although Eriksson's men had recorded single-goal victories in all their previous home games this season, it always seemed unlikely that run would continue against a Newcastle side packed with talent, even without Michael Owen, but without an away clean sheet in 10 months.

The return of Shay Given was a big call by Magpies boss Sam Allardyce given how well Stephen Harper has been doing, but the Republic of Ireland star justified the decision with a string of excellent saves, most notably to deny Elano and Ireland either side of the two first-half goals.

Eriksson certainly swooped under the radar when he splashed out £8million of Thaksin Shinawatra's cash on the 26-year-old Elano, who had been strutting his stuff in relative obscurity at Shakhtar Donetsk.

A international regular for Brazil, Elano has a touch of class well beyond the norm. His vision and touch are a delight to see and his promptings kept Newcastle's defence on their toes.

Aside from the inspired volley which brought an equally impressive response from Given, Elano also sent Ireland scurrying away twice, spotting off-the-ball runs that had gone completely unnoticed by beleaguered Magpies left-back Charles N'Zogbia.

On the first occasion, Ireland kept his nerve and rolled a cross to the far post which invited Petrov's clinical finish.

The second should really have seen City snatch an interval lead, but Given stood strong and blocked his fellow countryman's effort with his chest.

Without doubt, Given was the busier keeper, but England Under-21 international Joe Hart, preferred to Kasper Schmeichel by Eriksson, was hardly unemployed.

The £800,000 signing from Shrewsbury could so easily have been embarrassed when a poor first touch left the ball rolling agonisingly along the line as he was momentarily stranded the other side of his post.

Hart kept his cool in admirable fashion and was able to clear, which was just as well as by that stage he had already been beaten by Martins.

Micah Richards has barely put a foot wrong during his astonishing rise to international stardom over the past 18 month, but the City defender found himself on the wrong side of Martins as Geremi lifted a hopeful pass to the edge of the box and the half yard of space was all the Nigerian required to control, then finish in sublime fashion.

Richards had earlier escaped a rash challenge on James Milner, which could easily have presented Newcastle with a penalty, so it seems the 19-year-old is not infallible after all.

Both Eriksson and Allardyce would have wanted to make a flying start to the second period, but only the Swede got his wish as City seized the initiative within 90 seconds of the re-start.

N'Zogbia's unhappy day continued with an aimless header towards the touchline which Petrov was on to in a flash, outpacing Steven Taylor down the left flank before delivering a pin-point cross. With N'Zogbia still out of position, Mpenza was totally unmarked as he stooped to finish.

Newcastle gradually increased the pace as they hunted an equaliser, but the major threat was on their goal.

It took a just-legal challenge by Habib Beye on Richards to deny the youngster a clear run on goal. Then, when City countered once more, Richards stepped inside Jose Enrique but scuffed his shot badly.

Mpenza volleyed Ireland's cross wide, then had a shot blocked by Rozenhal as a frenetic contest reached a suitably frantic finish, with Elano providing the fitting ending.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Bolton 1-1 Tottenham

	Bolton 1 - 1 Tottenham 34' 0 - 1 Robbie Keane 39' Ivan Campo 1 - 1
1		1

Bolton manager Sammy Lee saw his side move off the foot of the table on goal difference by securing a 1-1 draw against Tottenham at the Reebok Stadium.

But despite moving ahead of fellow strugglers Derby, Lee will know they are not out of the woods yet with victories still hard to come by.

It is a similar story for Tottenham boss Martin Jol, although expectations are much higher at White Hart Lane.

Wanderers boss Lee brought back Ivan Campo for his first appearance of the season and it proved to be a shrewd move.

The Spaniard not only grabbed the equaliser but also helped galvanise a struggling side.

He was given a rousing reception by the supporters, who cheered his name from all corners of the ground.

Campo soon got into his stride and delivered a marvellous angled ball to Kevin Davies in the fifth minute.

The Bolton striker squared it into the area only for Michael Dawson to make a hurried clearance.

Tottenham nearly took the lead, however, in the 26th minute when Robbie Keane picked out Dimitar Berbatov at the back post.

He rattled in a shot from an acute angle which goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to parry.

Tottenham took the lead in the 33rd minute through Keane's first league goal of the season.

It was poor defending by Bolton after Jaaskelainen got a hand to Jermaine Jenas' close-range effort.

The ball broke to Campo but he only succeeded in setting up Keane, who took advantage from close range.

Campo made amends five minutes later by grabbing the equaliser with a thumping header into the corner following a free-kick from El-Hadji Diouf.

Joey O'Brien, however, almost handed Tottenham the lead on the stroke of half-time when he sent Teemu Tainio's cross narrowly past his own post.

Bolton's struggles in the early part of the season were reflected in the attendance with a crowd of only 20,308 present.

Tainio then came close to restoring Tottenham's lead with a rasping 20-yard drive.

However Jaaskelainen was equal to it and turned the midfielder's effort around the post.

Bolton won a free-kick in the 58th minute when Dawson barged into Davies. However Anelka sent his effort straight into Robinson's arms.

Tottenham looked dangerous on the break and Malbranque narrowly cleared the bar three minutes later after a weak punch by Jaaskelainen.

However there was a moment of danger for the visitors in the 63rd minute when Davies flicked on a throw in from Campo but Anelka just failed to get a vital touch.

Bolton were working tirelessly to get only their second win of the season and that must have pleased Lee.

Davies again got clear of his marker in the 70th minute when Campo floated in a free-kick but his header failed to test Robinson.

Tottenham boss Jol decided to switch things around and brought on Darren Bent and Aaron Lennon in the space of six minutes for Berbatov and Tainio.

Keane came close to restoring their lead in the 86th minute but Jaaskelainen made a marvellous block.

Jaaskelainen then had a heated disagreement in stoppage time with Abdoulaye Meite as Tottenham pushed forward.

Fingers were pointed and words exchanged but Bolton secured a point and their display was a marked improvement on the one against Rabotnicki Kometal in the UEFA Cup on Thursday when they salvaged a draw after a poor performance.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Blackburn 0-1 Portsmouth

	Blackburn 0 - 1 Portsmouth 25' 0 - 1 Nwankwo Kanu
0		1

A solitary strike from Kanu was enough to give Portsmouth their first away victory of the year and consign Blackburn to a second defeat in four days.

Harry Redknapp's side had not savoured a win on the road since a Boxing Day triumph at West Ham, since when they had suffered eight defeats and five draws.

Kanu's 25th-minute strike was his third goal of the season, adding to Blackburn's woes after their shock loss to Larissa on Thursday in the first leg of a UEFA Cup first-round tie.

That loss had ended a 15-match unbeaten run, with Blackburn eager to atone as they bossed the game prior to Kanu's goal, and should have had the points wrapped up by then.

But football again proved what a cruel game it can be as from virtually nowhere Portsmouth scored what proved to be the winner.

Kanu's eventual finish had been preceded 60 seconds earlier by a sensational double save from Brad Friedel to deny the Nigerian.

Stealing in behind the Rovers defence, Kanu met John Utaka's cross with a powerful header from seven yards, only for Friedel to claw the ball off his line.

However, the rebound fell at the feet of Kanu, and looking more certain to score at the second time of asking, his stabbed shot was blocked at point-blank range by the American.

If Rovers thought they had enjoyed a fortuitous, yet fantastic escape, they were made to think again almost instantly.

From the halfway line Sylvain Distin pumped a long ball forward that was nodded down into Kanu's path by Papa Bouba Diop.

At that stage Kanu had more work to do than with his two previous chances combined, but he proceeded to shrug off Christopher Samba, rounded Friedel and then brushed aside Stephen Warnock.

From a tight angle the 31-year-old Samba then drilled a shot in between the left-hand post and Samba, who had recovered his ground.

The goal drew the sting out of Rovers, who had been rampant prior to those moments, and looked like a team more in keeping with the one that had enjoyed their unbeaten run before Thursday's Greek tragedy.

That 2-0 defeat was more of a shock given the manner of the lethargic performance.

Even Hughes had described it as ``a mystery``, so there was no real surprise when Blackburn flew out of the blocks at the start of this game, with David Bentley inspirational.

It was the England winger's fourth-minute cross that resulted in Roque Santa Cruz cracking a seven-yard header against the bar.

David James then denied Bentley from a 25-yard free-kick before the latter delivered a piercing cross to the far post that was initially chested down by Morten Gamst Pedersen.

The Norway winger flicked the ball back to Benni McCarthy for a sidefoot volley from 11 yards that flashed past the right-hand post, an opportunity from which the South Africa striker should at least have been on target.

Moments later the all-action Bentley drilled over the bar a 20-yard drive from the corner of the area after being teed up by Santa Cruz who had hustled Hermann Hreidarsson off the ball.

Playing a 4-5-1 formation up until then, Redknapp displayed his tactical nous by switching Sean Davis to a holding role in front of the defence.

That gave the midfield and lone striker Kanu more stability and greater breathing space, to which Blackburn never found an answer.

Portsmouth stifled Rovers for the remainder of the first half, and even after the break they struggled to find a way through.

The visitors could even have had a second but for the outstretched fingertips of Friedel as Samba had headed a goal-kick from James goalwards, and but for the intervention, Kanu would have pounced.

Then Davis should have showed a selfish side as he was left with only Friedel to beat after powering into the area, but opted for a pull back that came to nothing.

Rovers huffed and puffed, but other than a save from James to deny Santa Cruz with a low, curling shot and another Bentley free-kick that was inches wide, they barely threatened.

Instead, it was Pompey who came closest to adding to their tally, only for Friedel to again perform heroics in denying Matt Taylor with his first touch in the 85th minute after he had replaced Niko Kranjcar.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Aston Villa 2-0 Everton

	Aston Villa 2 - 0 Everton 14' John Carew 1 - 0 60' Gabriel Agbonlahor 2 - 0
2		0

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor's liking for Everton continued as he grabbed the decisive second goal in the Barclays Premier League clash with David Moyes' side.

The England Under-21 player had scored on his Villa debut against the Toffees 18 months ago and then netted the equaliser in last season's corresponding game at Villa Park.

This time he doubled Villa's lead after 62 minutes, after John Carew's first half opener - his first domestic goal of the campaign - had put them on the way to a 2-0 win.

Martin O'Neill would have been pleased with the response of his players after Villa's poor performance at Manchester City a week ago.

It was not in the same class as their win over Chelsea on the same ground three weeks ago but was still achieved with relative ease against the Merseysiders.

Everton never moved out of second gear and appeared to be suffering a hangover from their disappointing midweek result against Metalist Kharkiv in the UEFA Cup, when Andrew Johnson missed two penalties.

Moyes made three changes, including leaving out £11million summer capture Ayegbeni Yakubu, but the visitors seldom posed a threat to the Villa defence.

The only downside for Villa was seeing Carew, who had defied a groin injury to play in recent weeks, limping out of the action early in the second period.

Villa did not fire on all cylinders but the pace of Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, the power of Carew before he was injured, the midfield guile of Gareth Barry and Nigel Reo-Coker and the defensive strength of Martin Laursen gave them the edge.

Predictably Everton's former Birmingham striker Andrew Johnson, without a goal for six months, was booed every time he touched the ball - and he seldom looked like ending that barren sequence despite a hard-working display.

Young attempted the first effort on goal for Villa but his 25 yard drive set the tone for a generally mediocre first half as it flew high and wide.

But after 13 minutes Villa broke the deadlock through John Carew's first goal of the campaign.

Wilfred Bouma's left-wing cross was headed straight up in the air by Joseph Yobo and then Leighton Baines only succeeded in clearing the ball straight to Carew, who steadied himself before firing a low shot past Stefan Wessels.

Agbonlahor had the ball in the net again four minutes later but Young's cross was adjudged to have curled out of play before finding his England Under-21 team-mate.

Johnson made a telling break down the right flank after Jagielka's pass over the top of the Villa defence but his low centre was cut out by Scott Carson who was being watched by England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence.

Johnson's trickery won him a free-kick just outside the Villa box after being upended by Zat Knight but Leon Osman crashed his low shot straight into the Villa defensive wall.

The Everton midfielder would also have been disappointed to curl a cross straight at Carson after taking up a good position wide right.

In first half injury-time Tony Hibbert came to Everton's rescue when he cleared Agbonlahor's header off the line after Wessels had failed to deal with an Ashley Young corner.

Reo-Coker presented Everton with a chance early in the second half to get back on level terms when he brought down Phil Jagielka on the edge of the Villa box.

Up stepped Johnson to curl the free-kick around the defensive wall - but Carson was alert to the situation and had his body right behind the shot.

Johnson had his first clear-cut chance after 52 minutes but he mishit his shot just past the post from a knockdown by Victor Anichebe.

Martin O'Neill was forced to make a change after 52 minutes when Carew limped out of the action to be replaced by Craig Gardner.

It led to Agbonlahor being pushed up front - and after 62 minutes he showed great control to double Villa's lead with his third goal in four matches against Everton.

Carson's long clearance over the Everton defence was brought down with one touch by Agbonlahor - and his second slid the ball wide of the dive of Wessels.

It was his second strike of the season after also netting in Villa's previous home game - the win over Chelsea three weeks ago.

Moyes brought on Yakubu for the final 20 minutes but Everton never threatened to force their way back into the match.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Newcastle 3-1 West Ham

	Newcastle 3 - 1 West Ham 2' Mark Viduka 1 - 0 32' 1 - 1 Dean Ashton 41' Mark Viduka 2 - 1 76' Charles N'Zogbia 3 - 1
3		1

Mark Viduka announced his arrival on Tyneside with a first-half double as Newcastle saw off West Ham 3-1.

The Australian got his side off to the perfect start with a second-minute bullet header, and then converted Charles N'Zogbia's cross four minutes before half-time.

In the meantime, Dean Ashton had dragged the visitors back into it with his second goal in as many games since his return from injury, and the Hammers could count themselves unfortunate to go in behind at the break after pinning their hosts back for long periods.

Keeper Steve Harper had to produce excellent one-handed saves to deny first Mark Noble and then former team-mate Lee Bowyer, but the Magpies dominated the second half and were rewarded when N'Zogbia slotted home their third goal after 76 minutes.

The win was just what manager Sam Allardyce needed after an insipid display in defeat at Derby on Monday evening, and the fact that it came courtesy of a less than fluent performance will not spoil his enjoyment of an important result.

The home side had taken to the pitch for the warm-up wearing tee-shirts bearing the slogan ``Rock Steady'', a message of solidarity with troubled bank Northern Rock, the club's shirt sponsor.

Allardyce could have been forgiven as he headed for the dressing room at half-time for wishing the same could have been said of his defence.

In an intensely uncomfortable 45 minutes, David Rozehnal and Claudio Cacapa, the latest recruits in the seemingly endless quest to stem the tide of goals which has blighted Newcastle for so long, were given the sternest of examinations by Carlton Cole and Ashton.

It was no surprise when the pair combined on 32 minutes to beat Harper, Cole climbing well to flick on Lucas Neill's long throw for Ashton to fire into the bottom corner.

The goal came as the visitors recovered from a disastrous start which had seen Viduka power home a second-minute header from N'Zogbia's near-post cross, and for much of the half, they were the better side.

Allardyce's men lacked width on the right with Alan Smith sitting in-field and Habib Beye getting forward from full-back only fleetingly.

That left Viduka and Michael Owen isolated, and the Hammers prospered with Noble forcing a fine one-handed save from Harper.

Owen, whose fitness has been the subject of an intense debate all week, was a largely peripheral figure, although he almost opened the door for Viduka once again six minutes before the break after running on to Nicky Butt's ball over the top.

The striker looked up before sending in an inviting cross, and it took a good block by Anton Ferdinand to keep out the Australian's header.

However, there was nothing Ferdinand, or anyone else for that matter, could do to deny Viduka four minutes before the break as he provided further evidence of the wisdom of Allardyce's summer swoop for him.

Once again, it was N'Zogbia who created the opening, bursting past former Magpie Bowyer from Rozehnal's clearance before crossing to the far post for the former Middlesbrough front man to bundle home his second goal of the game and his third in a black and white shirt.

N'Zogbia wasted a 47th-minute free-kick in a promising position after Owen had shown a rare burst of pace to round George McCartney, but was felled in the process.

That proved to be Owen's last contribution of any note and he was replaced by Obafemi Martins four minutes later with the England international worryingly heading straight down the tunnel.

Rozehnal almost caught keeper Robert Green on his heels with a left-foot drive from distance on 53 minutes, and Butt tested the keeper with an equally well-struck effort two minutes later.

But referee Mike Riley had to stop the game two minutes later after Noble reacted furiously to a robust challenge by Nicky Butt.

Harper saved well from Ashton's 64th-minute free-kick, which bounced dangerously in front of him, and Ashton flicked a header wide as West Ham rallied, but the home side were defending with greater resilience than they had before the break.

However, Harper had to be at his best once again in the 72nd minute when Bowyer latched on to Rozehnal's weak header and forced a fine save low to the keeper's right.

But N'Zogbia made sure of the points with 14 minutes remaining when he fed Martins on the left and then met his cross to make it 3-1, and the Nigerian should have added his name to the scoresheet three minutes from time, but fired wide after rounding Green.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea: Tevez Scored!

	Manchester United 2 - 0 Louis Saha 45' Carlos Tevez 1 - 0 90' Louis Saha (pen) 2 - 0
2		0

Carlos Tevez struck his first goal for the club in injury time at the end of the first half before Louis Saha capped off a dominant Reds display with a late penalty in a match that saw Chelsea reduced to ten man after John Obi Mikel’s sending off.

In truth, United were always in control and never looked ending this match with anything other than three points.

The goings-on at Chelsea earlier this week took centre stage in build-up to the game. However, during his Friday press conference, Sir Alex was insistent that Jose Mourinho’s departure from Stamford Bridge would not overshadow the greatest need - three points – in what he said would be an important, if perhaps not decisive, meeting in the race for the title.

And that mindset was clear from the start. United, playing 4-4-2 with Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez paired up front for the first time. And the former quickly stamped his mark on the game. Rooney latched onto a ball Ryan Giggs won in midfield, and carrying the ball forward he took on his marker Tal Ben-Haim and curled shot towards the far top corner. Petr Cech had to be at his best from the off, finger-tipping his save from the jaws of the upright.

The new man, Avram Grant, wasn’t aiming for a rapid departure from the brand of football Mourinho preached, sticking to the Portuguese coach’s 4-5-1 template, with width and expansive, attacking play – high on Roman Abramovich’s wish-list – clearly not yet applied. The missing Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard further blunted Chelsea’s attacking options.

Just short of the 20-minute mark, Evra and the entire Stretford were up in arms as Joe Cole appeared to catch the Reds left-back just inside the area. Referee Mike Dean ushered away the protests.

United’s forward triumvirate of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo began increasingly to cause Chelsea significant problems. Paul Scholes picked out their forward runs with relative ease. All three attackers had shots that troubled Cech, and Sir Alex’s side were edging closer to finding the breakthrough.

All the goalscoring opportunities were United’s. Rooney controlled a poor Ashley Cole clearance and crossed to the far post, where Giggs narrowly side-footed over. More than the chances, red shirts were first to every ball, strong in defence, organised in midfield, eager to get on and play from free-kicks and positive in everything they did going forward.

United were to be given a further boost in the 32nd minute when John Obi Mikel went into a challenge on Patrice Evra and lifted both feet off the ground. Fortunately he didn’t follow through, otherwise the Frenchman could have seriously been injured. Nontheless, the referee considered it dangerous play and sent the young Nigerian from the field.

Advantage United, perhaps. But it still needed the goal the home side’s play deserved. It almost arrived five minutes from time when Nemanja Vidic, the match-winner against Everton, rose above Chelsea’s defence to test Cech again.

The breakthrough finally did arrive in injury time at the end of the first half. Giggs curled in an inviting cross to the front post and Tevez darted into space, heading past Cech. It was nothing more than United deserved, and what better time for the Argentinian to score his first goal for the club?

The second half brought, as expected with Chelsea down to ten men, long periods of possession for the Reds. And with United rock solid in defence, wave after wave of attack came with the rain that raked across Old Trafford.

Chelsea never really looked like equalling United in any department all afternoon. The sending off undoubtedly didn’t help their cause, but from the very start the Reds showed they wanted this victory more than Chelsea.

And the afternoon was capped off nicely when substitute Louis Saha, on for the impressive and tireless Tevez, was pulled back in the area by Ben-Haim and the referee pointed to the spot. The Frenchman, having earned the penalty, stepped up to take it, despite the inevitable offer from Ronaldo to take over duties if he should be required. Saha welcomed his second goal of the season with a strike down the middle of the goal.

Saha had the chance to add a second in injury time. The forward raced away from Ben-Haim and controlled Carrick’s raking ball forward perfectly before firing his shot narrowly over.

The victory breaks the trend of 1-0 wins – United were headed for a fifth on the trot before Saha’s penalty – and moves the Reds to second in the table, two points behind Arsenal. Chelsea must surely now be asking questions of their ability to reclaim the title. For United, the defence of it gathers momentum.

Team Line-ups

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs (c); Tevez (Saha, 79), Rooney.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, O’Shea, Nani, Pique.

Chelsea: Cech; Ferreira, Ben-Haim, Terry(c), A.Cole; J.Cole (Pizarro, 76), Mikel (sent off 32), Makelele, Essien, Malouda (Wright-Phillips, 69); Shevchenko (Kalou, 59).
Subs not used: Cudicini, Alex.

Source: ManUtd.com

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EPL: Man Utd v Chelsea: Preview

Manchester United - Chelsea

Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced Manchester United have a 'big, big chance' of glory this season if Louis Saha can stay fit.

Although he has added the varied attacking talents of Carlos Tevez, Anderson and Nani to a squad which already contains Wayne Rooney and was the most prolific in the Premier League last term, Ferguson knows Saha offers something different.

Quick, strong, excellent in the air and blessed with shooting power in both feet, Saha's only major weakness is his appearance record.

Barely a month has gone by without the France international picking up one physical problem or another, hence the reason why Ferguson is showing such patience with the 29-year-old this season.

Saha has already scored an all-important winner against Sunderland and his introduction as a substitute at Goodison Park last weekend was a major factor in United sneaking a victory over Everton.

He then helped see the Red Devils home for a crucial Champions League triumph over Sporting Lisbon in midweek.

So, while the former Fulham man is likely to start on the bench tomorrow when United look to turn a difficult week into a disaster for Chelsea following the departure of Jose Mourinho, Ferguson confirmed Saha is a hugely influential figure at Old Trafford.

'Louis is a different type of player to anyone else I have at the club,' he said.

'If you look at last season, he had already scored 12 goals up to the point where he got his injury in December. If he had stayed fit, he might have got us 30.

'He has already come on against Sunderland and scored an important goal for us and changed it for us against Sporting on Wednesday at a point when Wayne was starting to tire.

'If Louis stays fit, we have a big, big chance this year.'

With Gary Neville still over a week away from a return from calf and thigh trouble and Owen Hargreaves not quite close enough to be considered as he inches towards a recovery from a thigh injury picked up on England duty, Ferguson will rely on the squad which collected maximum points from their trip to Portugal.

The Scot's major selection issue centres around a possible recall for Tevez, possibly in place of Nani.

Meanwhile, Avram Grant is confident of earning the respect of the dressing room and keeping Chelsea in the hunt for the Premier League title following the departure of Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho had total authority over his squad at Stamford Bridge during a trophy-laden three years and there have been reports of player unrest during a turbulent week.

Grant, despite a successful spell as Israel coach, does not have the same Champions League credentials as the `Special One' but feels he has the squad to add to Chelsea's silverware haul since Roman Abramovich took over.

Grant and Abramovich are friends but the club have insisted his arrival as director of football in the summer has had nothing to do with Mourinho's departure.

'If I thought I cannot make it I would not take the job,' said 52-year-old Grant.

'I took it because I think I can handle the situation, including in the dressing room.

'I can make things better, I must say they were good already, but I want to make things better.

'I am very satisfied with the squad we have. It is a good squad that can play good football and win titles.'

Grant explained that his arrival and swift appointment following Mourinho's departure does not mean he had a hand in the Portuguese coach leaving.

'I was director of football, my relationship with Jose was good,' he added. 'I did my job, he did his job.'

Grant could not ask for a tougher start, taking his team up to Manchester United tomorrow, the third Chelsea boss in a row to start his reign against Sir Alex Ferguson's men.

He did not take training the day before the match either as it was Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday.

Source: Soccernet.com

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EPL Result: Fulham 3-3 Man City: Thriller at the Cottage

	Fulham 3 - 3 Manchester City 13' Simon Davies 1 - 0 36' 1 - 1 Martin Petrov 48' Hameur Bouazza 2 - 1 50' 2 - 2 Emile Mpenza 60' 2 - 3 Martin Petrov 75' Danny Murphy 3 - 3
3		3

Fighting Fulham came back to snatch a 3-3 draw in yet another Craven Cottage six-goal thriller which left Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson fuming about his team's defensive lapses.

The last time Eriksson tangled with Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez was two years ago when the Swede was England boss and his rival was manager of Northern Ireland, for whom he engineered a shock 1-0 victory in Belfast.

David Healy was one of four Fulham players in that Irish line-up, but he was not on target against City, whose winning chance finally disappeared with debut-making substitute Danny Murphy's 74th-minute equaliser for the hosts.

Fulham had twice led but then slipped 3-2 behind after the second of two goals by Martin Petrov.

The Bulgarian benefited from slipshod goalkeeping by Antti Niemi and also the generosity of referee Mark Halsey, who allowed Brazilian Elano to get away with a blatant foul before setting up the goal that Petrov hoped would be the winner.

However, he reckoned without a complete lack of concentration from City defender Vedran Corluka which allowed Murphy to pounce on a low cross from the left to save a point for the home side.

Three weeks ago Fulham came back from 3-1 down to draw with Tottenham - from whom they had just bought Murphy.

It was Healy and the lively Hameur Bouazza who gave the home side the early impetus.

Richard Dunne, the City captain returning after suspension, made a superb tackle to deny Healy an early strike but let Simon Davies escape him at the near post to head in Bouazza's left-wing cross in the 13th minute.

City replied when Michael Johnson spread the ball out to the left and Petrov cut in past Chris Baird's tame challenge to fire a low shot which Niemi could only help into the net.

Two minutes after the break Fulham led again when Dunne tripped substitute Diomansy Kamara and Bouazza fired the free-kick through City's dishevelled defensive wall.

That lead lasted only a minute, as Niemi could only palm out Petrov's shot for Emile Mpenza to notch an easy header from the rebound.

Petrov seemed to have won it 11 minutes later after Elano was allowed to go through and feed him for a shot that went in between Niemi and his near post.

Fulham looked to be the victims of injustice, but then along came Murphy, who had been part of a double substitution in the 65th minute, to take advantage of Corluka nodding off and rifle home a point-saver.

The same player almost won the contest for Fulham with a long-range deflected free-kick which Kasper Schmeichel clawed away from under the bar.

In a frantic finish City substitute Geovanni was only inches too high with a stoppage-time snapshot which almost brought the visitors a winner.

But the point was enough to move them back up the table into second, while Fulham are fourth from bottom - two points clear of the relegation zone.

Source: Soccernet.com

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