Everton 1-1 Blackburn

Everton stole a point from a Blackburn side still stung by being labelled 'violent' by Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger last week.

This full-blooded contest was never that, but Rovers received a slap in the face themselves when they conceded an equaliser with just 12 minutes left.

Rovers dominated the first period, and led through Roque Santa Cruz's third goal of the season, but opted to try to contain Everton in the second half.

But Everton have a reputation for late recoveries even when they are not playing well, and it was James McFadden - starting his first game of the season - who stabbed home the equaliser from Mikel Arteta's cross.

Work permit and contract delays robbed Everton of £17million of new signings with Ayegbeni Yakubu waiting for a permit, while Manual Fernandes' complicated contract has not yet been cleared by the Barclays Premier League.

It was all much simpler for Blackburn, who replaced suspended Ryan Nelsen with Andre Ooijer and called in Benny McCarthy for Matt Derbyshire.

Football, though, took very much second place ahead of the game as everyone paid their respects following the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones.

The build-up to the match had been overshadowed the shocking incident in nearby Croxteth.

And ahead of the match, his parents Melanie and Steve, and his brother Owen stood on the touchline flanked by managers David Moyes and Mark Hughes for a moving minute of applause.

Then, in keeping with the competitive image of both teams, the players set about each other at great pace. Ooijer set the tone on six minutes, booked for a foul on Arteta and Rovers conceded a string of free-kicks as Everton pressed.

Brad Friedel saved well from a Johnson hook and them blocked a fierce Alan Stubbs free-kick, from 25 yards out.

Then on 15 minutes, Rovers broke out and took the lead. A foul by Lee Carsley on Robbie Savage produced a free-kick that Joseph Yobo headed out.

Savage lifted the ball back into the box, Morten Gamst Pedersen hooked a shot on to the bar and Santa Cruz fired the rebound home.

Christopher Samba almost made it two when he reached a Santa Cruz corner on the far post and sent in a header that Baines cleared off the line. Then Tim Howard turned over a 20-yard effort from David Dunn.

Blackburn's strength and pace, plus their dominance in the air saw them continue to put Everton under extreme pressure.

Howard pulled down a Pedersen header following David Bentley's cross before Everton took off Carsley and sent on Phil Jagielka in central midfield, the hosts having been largely out-fought.

Moyes introduced Lescott for the second half, taking off Stubbs in a clear attempt to match Blackburn for pace, particularly against the impressive Santa Cruz.

Everton started to improve. Jagielka headed just wide from a Johnson chip and the hosts were not being as out-muscled as the first period.

But still much of their attacking was high balls aimed at Johnson, who was dwarfed by the giant Samba. That was at least addressed when Everton eventually sent on an extra forward in Victor Anichebe, withdrawing full-back Tony Hibbert.

But although Everton had more of the ball, they still were not creating anything significant. Arteta, Everton's main creative influence, was getting little change out of Stephen Warnock on the right flank.

On 74 minutes, Blackburn sent on Matt Derbyshire for McCarthy up front, but the hounding and pressing of the opponent in possession was still Rovers' best weapon.

But Everton are nothing if not persistent. And on 78 minutes they dragged themselves level.

Arteta found space at last on the right and drilled in a low cross that McFadden reached first a split second ahead of Warnock and Samba challenges and struck just inside Friedel's near post.

Blackburn were finally on the back foot and Hughes sent on Aaron Mokoena in midfield to replace Dunn.

Pedersen was booked for time-wasting in the final minutes, while Jason Roberts replaced Santa Cruz.

It still took a fine Howard save from a deflected Bentley free-kick to keep Blackburn from grabbing the points in injury time.

Source: Soccernet.com

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Bolton 3-0 Reading

Sammy Lee celebrated his first victory as Bolton manager, after succeeding Sam Allardyce at the end of last season, with a 3-0 home win over Reading.

Five games in to his tenure, the former Liverpool coach saw his team secure a crucial three points thanks to goals from Gary Speed, Nicolas Anelka and substitute Daniel Braaten.

After losing three on the trot, Lee knew it was imperative they had to take something from this Barclays Premier League match.

He must have been encouraged at seeing Bolton raise their game after losing to Newcastle, Fulham and Portsmouth in quick succession.

They set the tempo from the start and Reading found it difficult to handle Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf.

The two players showed good skill as well as pace and movement to continually trouble their opponents.

Diouf released Gavin McCann with a clever reverse ball in the sixth minute. The midfielder, though, failed to make the most of the opening after a poor first touch and Ulises de la Cruz was able to clear.

Two minutes later Anelka broke clear, only for Reading's Andre Bikey to block his effort.

Bolton almost took the lead in the 24th minute when Anelka fired in a powerful shot only for goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to make a superb block. The ball broke to Diouf, but Bikey was able to make another good block much to Reading's relief.

Bolton made the breakthrough after 31 minutes thanks to veteran midfielder Speed. Making his 525th Premier League appearance, he beat Bryn Gunnarsson to the ball when Diouf delivered the corner and found the net with a firm header.

Speed, 38 next month, continues to defy the years and it was his speed of thought that enabled him to find the target. The player-coach's first goal of the season was no more than the home team deserved.

Bolton were growing in confidence and McCann tested Hahnemann in the 48th minute following a neat one-two with Diouf.

Reading hit back in the 53rd minute and De la Cruz carved out an opening for himself in the area. However, he hurried his effort and saw it nestle in the sidenetting much to his frustration.

It was a brief respite for Reading as a minute later Anelka raced forward and whipped in 25-yard shot that went narrowly wide of the post.

Reading, however, failed to heed the warning and the France striker extended Bolton's lead in the 55th minute.

Released by Diouf, he managed to evade a weak challenge from De la Cruz to score his third goal in four games.

Bolton were spraying the ball around well and Diouf delivered a superb cross in the 61st minute that Golbourne did well to head away.

Anelka found the net again in the 64th minute following good work by Kevin Nolan, but his effort was ruled out for an infringement.

Bolton continued to dominate the game and Nolan saw a superb volley go narrowly wide of the post in the 81st minute.

Three minutes later Anelka got on the end of a free-kick from Diouf, but Hahnemann was able to take his header cleanly.

Braaten added a third for Bolton in stoppage time with a clinical finish following a superb cross from Anelka.

It was his first goal for the club since arriving from Rosenborg in the summer and he savoured the moment.

The Norwegian's effort capped a fine performance by Bolton, but Reading manager Steve Coppell must be concerned at his side's dismal display.

Source: Soccernet.com

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Aston Villa 2-1 Fulham

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was banished from the dug-out after a verbal blast at referee Steve Bennett and then saw substitute Shaun Maloney snatch an injury-time winner for a 2-1 success against 10-man Fulham at Villa Park.

O'Neill watched the second 45 minutes from the press box after berating Bennett as he left the pitch at half-time.

Ashley Young's shot, deflected off Zat Knight, cancelled out Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey's first-half effort and, after Chris Baird had been sent off with 20 minutes remaining, Maloney struck in the dying seconds.

O'Neill was hugged by fans at the final whistle as Villa grabbed their first win of the campaign after spurning a host of chances.

Young, in particular, was a constant threat and demonstrated why O'Neill had paid Watford £8million for him in January as Villa camped in the Fulham half after the break.

But they looked like paying for lacking the necessary finishing power in the danger area until Maloney settled the issue.

It means Fulham are still searching for their first away win since September.

Steven Davis had an early opportunity to make his mark against his former employers after seizing on a square pass from Simon Davies but, as he lined up a left-footed drive, he was on the receiving end of an excellent tackle from Mellberg.

Baird was yellow-carded for the first time after five minutes for clipping Young when in full flight.

But 60 seconds later the Cottagers stunned Villa by taking the lead through Dempsey.

Diomansy Kamara's pass took a deflection off a Villa player into the path of the midfielder, whose rising left-footed drive beat Scott Carson via the underside of the crossbar.

Young was soon tormenting Fulham and he screwed a right-footed drive just past the post.

Carew had his first clear sight of goal following a pass from Young, but the former Lyon player was not sharp enough and Paul Konchesky was able to make ground and make the tackle before he could shoot.

Fulham looked to have strong claims for a penalty in the 31st minute when a half volley from Kamara at close range appeared to be handled by Martin Laursen, but referee Bennett waved play on.

Carew had another opportunity after the ball cannoned off Konchesky into his path, but the ex-West Ham player got back quickly to put him off and the eventual low shot was easily dealt with by Keller.

Gabriel Agbonlahor had a golden chance after 35 minutes from a well measured pass from Nigel Reo-Coker. The England Under-21 player took the ball confidently enough in his stride but slipped his shot the wrong side of the post.

Wilfred Bouma became the first Villa player to be yellow-carded after 40 minutes for bringing down Dempsey.

In first-half injury-time Carew thudded a header against the post from a Young corner.

O'Neill had been involved in an angry exchange with referee Bennett when he left the field at half-time - and he took up a place in the press box for the second period after being banished from the dug-out.

Villa brought on Luke Moore for Petrov for the second 45 minutes and within five minutes the home side were back on level terms.

Reo-Coker's pass found the impressive Young in space on the left flank and he cut into the area before beating Keller with a cross-shot which took a deflection off Zat Knight into the far corner of the net.

That came a minute before Kamara had been close to doubling Fulham's lead with a low curling shot which defeated the dive of Carson but rebounded off a post to safety.

Villa were now in the ascendancy and Kelley turned a powerful shot on the turn from Moore around the post.

Carew continued to spurn decent chances, heading wide from a Barry centre and then heading just over from a Young cross.

Fulham were forced into a defensive substitution as Knight limped out of the action to be replaced by Ian Pearce.

Then the visitors were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes remaining as Baird picked up a second yellow card for a challenge on Young just outside the box.

Dempsey almost won the game for Fulham in a rare attack, but Carson did well to keep out his close-range header - and then came Maloney's late winner.

Source: Soccernet.com

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Derby 1-2 Birmingham

Cameron Jerome repaid manager Steve Bruce's faith in him by scoring both goals - one after just 30 seconds - as Birmingham recorded their first Barclays Premier League victory of the season by a 2-1 margin at Derby.

Jerome, making his first start of the campaign, had an instant impact as he combined with Mikael Forssell to open the scoring almost straight from the kick-off.

Matt Oakley equalised for Derby in the 51st minute, but Jerome had the last word, firing home from substitute Sebastian Larsson's flick-on just after the hour.

It left the Pride Park hosts, promoted via the play-offs, bottom of the table after their joint-worst start to the Premier League, having also only taken one point from four matches in 1999-2000.

With only half a minute gone neat interplay on the edge of the penalty area saw the former Cardiff striker play a quick one-two with Forssell and burst into the left-hand side of the box before rolling a shot across Stephen Bywater and into the far corner of the net.

Gary McSheffrey produced a similar run three minutes later, but Andy Todd did enough to put off the winger and he lost possession.

Derby's first effort came in the seventh minute when Gary Teale played in Craig Fagan, but Radhi Jaidi came across to half-block his shot and the ball rolled harmlessly to the recalled Maik Taylor.

Taylor was forced into his first save when Teale unleashed a shot from 25 yards and although the Birmingham keeper tipped the ball around his right-hand post, referee Lee Probert gave a goal-kick.

Andy Griffin's pass with the outside of his right-foot then picked out Oakley running into the channel, but his cross curled invitingly across the six-yard area with no Derby player close.

Claude Davis also failed to connect with Jay McEveley's inswinging free-kick after Jaidi had climbed all over Fagan in the 20th minute.

But Birmingham could have been further in front moments later when Jerome nodded on for Forssell to fire left-footed at Bywater and, from Stuart Parnaby's resulting corner, Jaidi hit the crossbar with a header.

From a corner at the other end Teale fired into the side-netting from a narrow angle.

A flowing move from right to left involving Teale, Eddie Lewis and Stephen Pearson saw the ball transferred to striker Steve Howard 10 yards out, but he wanted too much time and Jaidi closed him down.

Three minutes before half-time Bywater raced off his line to deny Fabrice Muamba after the midfielder broke through, while at the other end Teale saw his hooked right-foot shot bounce agonisingly wide of Taylor's left-hand post.

The first real threat of the second half came from Birmingham, who broke swiftly from a Derby corner just 90 seconds after the restart.

Jerome picked up the ball midway inside his own half and carried it 40 yards, but his pass to Forssell pushed the Finland striker wide and he scuffed a shot off target.

Jerome wasted the chance for a second when he sprang the offside trap and pushed the ball past Bywater but opted to pull it back to Forssell rather than shoot from a wide angle and his partner's effort was deflected for a corner.

He was made to pay for that error as Derby went straight down the other end and scored in the 51st minute.

Lewis found space down the left and when he crossed to the far post, Oakley was there to volley home the equaliser.

Davis, who looked to have been carrying an injury after a first-half clash with Forssell, was replaced by Darren Moore on the hour, with Forssell also making way for Larsson.

Larsson's impact was immediate as with his first touch he flicked on a cross from Stephen Kelly and Jerome, at the far post, fired home Birmingham's second.

Having gone ahead again, Birmingham were content to eat up time in possession, but Derby stepped up the pressure and there was some frantic defending by the visitors.

However, Derby lacked a cutting edge up front and Bruce's side held on despite four minutes of added time for an important victory.

Source: Soccernet.com

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Lampard scored again! Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth

Frank Lampard's first-half goal moved Chelsea to the top of the Barclays Premier League and cast doubt on the ability of Portsmouth goalkeeper David James to reclaim the England number one jersey.

James, who watched Paul Robinson drop a real clanger in England's defeat to Germany on Wednesday night, did not enhance his own case when he failed to prevent Lampard's effort from hitting the net in what was the only goal of the game.

James is hoping to replace Robinson for England's two European Championship qualifiers against Israel and Russia next month, so could ill afford such a blunder in front of the watching Steve McClaren.

• Mourinho backs Lamps

Chelsea began in their customary attacking fashion and almost took a first-minute lead when Claudio Pizarro sent a low drive just beyond the reach of James and his right-hand upright.

In the 10th minute the home side put together another fine move, with Pizarro and Florent Malouda combining on the left-blank. However, Malouda's left-foot shot from an acute angle could only find the side-netting.

Two minutes later a free-kick from Malouda almost paid dividends for the home side, but Pizarro's header was just too high to trouble James.

Portsmouth have never beaten Chelsea in eight meetings since they returned to the Premier League in 2003 and although they had taken five points from three games prior to their trip to Stamford Bridge, Harry Redknapp's side showed little desire to change that record.

But the visitors did enough to stifle the home side and such was their success that Jose Mourinho spent much of the first half berating his side for not taking the game to their opponents.

Chelsea found themselves having to defend for the first time in the game and, in the 23rd minute, Pompey almost took the lead.

Matt Taylor found himself with time and space in the penalty area and his curling shot deflected inches wide of Petr Cech's far post.

Moments later Lauren tried his luck from distance, but his effort failed to trouble Cech.

But Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 31st minute thanks to England midfielder Lampard.

The goal owed much to the bravery of Didier Drogba, who collected a kick in the face for his efforts as he found Lampard with a flick-on.

Lampard ran clear of the Pompey defence to drive the ball under James. The England stopper should really have done better but, although he got a hand to the drive, he could not prevent it going in.

It was his second goal in four days after the midfielder had netted for England in their 2-1 defeat by Germany at Wembley on Wednesday night.

It was the signal for Chelsea to increase the pace and moments later Shaun Wright-Phillips skied an 18-yard effort high over the crossbar.

It was all Chelsea now and in the 42nd minute Wright-Phillips almost managed to get on the end of a cross from Drogba, but the diminutive winger could not anticipate the flight of the ball adequately.

Moments later Lampard almost made it two, but James was equal to his quickly-taken free-kick and managed to save comfortably.

Chelsea began where they left off and a clever move involving Malouda and Drogba ended with Wright-Phillips shooting just wide of the target from the edge of the penalty area.

A minute later Portsmouth should have equalised when Davis collected a neat pass from Kanu, only to fire over the crossbar from eight yards.

The visitors squandered another opportunity in the 58th minute when a counter-attack caught Chelsea's defence napping, but Gary O'Neil could not find the target from the edge of the penalty area when presented with a clear shot at goal.

Portsmouth continued to push for an equaliser, but Cech gathered the ball safely when Sylvain Distin looked to prosper from Sully Muntari's long ball into the penalty area in the 67th minute.

Yet Chelsea showed they were very much in charge when Malouda sent a 20-yard effort just inches wide two minutes later.

James was at his best to prevent Drogba from adding a second goal fives minutes from time when he took advantage of a fine pass from Malouda to deliver a stinging drive which the Pompey did well to hold on to.

But Chelsea were lucky to escape three minutes from time when a header from Hermann Hreidarsson was cleared off the line by Ashley Cole.

Source: Soccernet.com

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Liverpool win on Wearside, Sunderland 0 - 2 Liverpool

Andriy Voronin struck to end Roy Keane's hopes of another dramatic Sunderland escape and finally gave boss Rafael Benitez something to cheer about. Benitez had railed against what he perceived to be a catalogue of injustices against his side this week but his mood will have lifted after Liverpool's solid display.

Full Report: Soccernet.com

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Manchester City winning streak stopped by Arsenal, Arsenal 1 - 0 Manchester City

Arsenal's Fabregas score the winning goal against Kasper Schmeichel to end the winning streak of Manchester City.

Manchester City had the early chance from Mpenza, but was saved well from Almunia, Arsenal's keeper. Arsenal had chance to take the lead when Robin van Persie got the chance to take penalty, but it was a great saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

At 80', Fabregas blasted home at the near post from Hleb's pass to spare the Dutchman's blushes.

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Injured Lehmann out for two weeks, says Wenger

Jens Lehmann has injured his Achilles tendon and will miss Saturday's home clash with Premier League leaders Manchester City, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Thursday.

The goalkeeper aggravated a chronic injury during Germany's 2-1 win over England at Wembley on Wednesday, Wenger told a news conference.

Wenger said: 'Jens is out and he will miss two weeks, I think. Maybe more. I don't know. He is going to see a specialist in Germany tomorrow. He had this injury before but it has got much worse.'

Wenger said Lehmann joined an injury list that included captain Frenchman William Gallas, with a groin injury, and Brazilian midfielder Emmanuel Eboue, who has an ankle injury.

Wenger said Spaniard Manuel Almunia would replace Lehmann on Saturday for a fixture in which he hopes Arsenal will end City's unbeaten start to the season.

Looking ahead to City's visit to the Emirates Stadium, their first with former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson in charge, Wenger said it was too early to say if City would be able to maintain a challenge at the top.

'It can last but we will know more after 15 games, then we will have a better idea,' he said. 'I think we have to be patient a little bit.'

He agreed that he was surprised at their confident start to the season and three straight wins.

'When you sign a lot of players, more than three or many more, then it usually takes time for them to click. But they have super-clicked and done so super-quickly as well.'

Source: Soccernet.com

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Chelsea agree deal with Barca for Belletti

Chelsea's search for a right-back has finished with the signing of Juliano Belletti from Barcelona on a three-year deal.

After declaring an interest in Dani Alves but not agreeing a fee with Sevilla, Chelsea closed in on Belletti - underlining chairman Bruce Buck's insistence that they would not be held to ransom in any transfer deal.

Buck has also described Arjen Robben's move to Real Madrid as a 'very good business result', with Jose Mourinho's squad taking shape as Chelsea look to win back the Premier League title.

Robben's move to Spain is worth around double the £12million Chelsea paid PSV Eindhoven in 2004 for the Holland winger - a healthy return for a player who did not want to stay at Stamford Bridge.

'Value is not the right word - we had a very good business result there,' said Buck.

'We pretty much doubled our money in terms of the transfer fee we paid three years ago.'

Chelsea's transfer policy has shifted since Roman Abramovich first became owner, with chief executive Peter Kenyon outlining in the summer that money is available for the right players at the right price.

'It goes both ways in terms of not being held ransom, in respect to players we might be selling and not being held ransom in respect to players we might be buying,' said Buck.

'In all those situations we are looking to get the price we think is appropriate, either buying a player or selling a player.'

Buck added: 'In the first year we spent quite a bit of money because we felt we had catch-up to do.

'Always, the plan was for the amount we spent on aggregate for transfers each 'window' to go down every time. It has.

'It just makes sense for the club - we're looking to bring more players through the academy, which takes time to implement.

'Over time I think we'll have a better strategy towards spending money during transfer windows.'

Alves, who has been tipped to join Robben in Madrid, is seen as one of the most exciting full-backs in Europe. But in Belletti Chelsea have a 31-year-old, also Brazilian, who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final two seasons ago.

Robben's departure, meanwhile, came despite Chelsea wanting the winger to stay - although losing him has been softened by Florent Malouda's early-season form.

'Jose said when we were in the US, and I've said many times, we wanted Arjen to stay,' Buck added.

'We think he's a very good player - and he's made a real contribution to Chelsea Football Club. For reasons only he can answer, he wanted to leave. We weren't going to let him leave unless there was an appropriate business resolution.

'Peter Kenyon did some very good business there. We wish him [Robben] well.'

Buck was speaking at the launch of a team of former players, with Chelsea Old Boys playing against the West Ham Team of '86 at Tooting and Mitcham FC this Sunday.

The project, which will give its proceeds to the Chelsea Past Players' Trust, has been seen as another sign of Abramovich's commitment to the club.

'Roman is 100% committed to this club and has been since July 1, 2003,' said Buck.

'We see no change in that in the foreseeable future.'

Former Chelsea player Clive Walker said: 'We understand that football has moved on.

'These guys should earn as much as they can, because there is a long time out of football.

'These guys will not have to worry about their future - some of the guys through the 70s and 80s have fallen on hard times.'


Source: Soccernet.com

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American goalkeeper Keller signs for Fulham

Veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller has joined Fulham.

The Cottagers have been short of options in goal this season, following an injury to first-choice Antti Niemi and with a lack of cover for Tony Warner in the Finn's absence.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez believes 37-year-old American Keller could be the right man at the right time for the Barclays Premier League club.

'I'm delighted that Kasey has joined us, and I'm sure he'll be a great addition to the squad,' said Sanchez of the former Leicester goalkeeper, who has been playing most recently for Borussia Moenchengladbach.

'Obviously, with Antti being injured, it was important we added some strength and depth in that area - and Kasey is a proven professional with impeccable international credentials.

'It's vital we have cover in all areas throughout the squad, and I think he will be a valuable asset to us over the course of the season.'

Keller, meanwhile, is delighted at the opportunity to show what he can do again at the top level in English football.

'It's fantastic to be back in the Premier League after a couple of years' absence - and when the opportunity to join Fulham came up it was an exciting proposition that didn't take too much consideration,' he said.

'I am really enthusiastic about this new challenge.'

Source: Soccernet.com

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