Monday 31 December 2007

30th Dec

Derby 1 - 2 Blackburn

Derby: Price, Mears, Davis, Johnson (Fagan 58), McEveley, Barnes, Oakley, Leacock (Feilhaber 45), Lewis, Howard, Miller (Macken 79).
Subs Not Used: Hinchliffe, Teale.

Goals: Oakley 27

Booked: Lewis

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Tugay (Dunn 90), Mokoena, Pedersen (Olsson 83), Santa Cruz, McCarthy (Derbyshire 87).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Berner.

Goals: Santa Cruz 39, Bentley 42

Booked: Nelsen, Mokoena, Warnock.

Att: 30,048

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Man City 0 - 0 Liverpool

Man City: Hart, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Ireland (Gelson 61), Hamann, Corluka, Petrov, Elano (Bianchi 70), Vassell (Geovanni 74).
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Garrido.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell (Babel 74), Torres, Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Riise, Voronin, Alonso.

Booked: Torres.

Att: 47,321

Ref: Uriah Rennie (S Yorkshire).

29th Dec

Tottenham 6 -4 Reading

Tottenham:
Robinson, Chimbonda, Kaboul, King (Defoe 61), Lee, Lennon (Boateng 67), Jenas, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane (Tainio 80).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Taarabt.

Goals: Berbatov 7, 63, 73, Malbranque 76, Defoe 79, Berbatov 83.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (De la Cruz 71), Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Cisse, Harper, Convey (Long 84), Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Lita, Bikey.

Booked: Cisse, Shorey, Long.

Goals: Cisse 16, Ingimarsson 53, Kitson 69, 74.

Att: 36,178

Ref: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Birmingham 1 - Fulham 1

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Queudrue, McSheffrey, Muamba, Johnson (Nafti 45), Larsson (De Ridder 73), Forssell (O'Connor 77), Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Sadler.

Goals: Larsson 55.

Fulham: Niemi, Omozusi, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy (Smertin 70), Davis, Bouazza, Dempsey, Healy (Kuqi 74).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Kamara Leijer.

Booked: Bouazza, Konchesky, Davies.

Sent off: Bouazza 79.

Goals: Bocanegra 8.

Att: 28,923

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chelsea 2 - Newcastle 1

Chelsea: Hilario, Belletti, Alex, Ben-Haim, Bridge, Essien, Obi, Ballack (Sinclair 76), Wright-Phillips (Sidwell 90), Joe Cole (Pizarro 65), Kalou.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Ferreira.

Booked: Alex.

Goals: Essien 29, Kalou 87.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Taylor, Cacapa, N'Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Faye, Smith (Rozehnal 70), Duff (Viduka 89), Martins (Owen 74).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Emre.

Booked: Faye, Given.

Goals: Butt 56.

Att: 41,751

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Everton 1 - Arsenal 4

Everton: Howard, Hibbert (Johnson 71), Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Carsley, Neville, Pienaar, Cahill, Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Vaughan, Nuno Valente, Anichebe.

Sent Off: Arteta (84).

Goals: Cahill 19.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb (Diarra 82), Fabregas (Rosicky 88), Flamini, Diaby, Bendtner, Eduardo (Adebayor 74).
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Senderos.

Sent Off: Bendtner (74).

Booked: Bendtner, Eduardo, Clichy, Fabregas, Flamini.

Goals: Eduardo 47, 58, Adebayor 78, Rosicky 90.

Att: 39,443

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Portsmouth 0 - 1 Middlesbrough

Portsmouth: James, Lauren, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson (Taylor 46), Utaka (Nugent 62), Diop, Hughes (Muntari 72), Kranjcar, Mwaruwari, Kanu.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Traore.

Booked: Taylor.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil (Johnson 86), Shawky, Arca, Downing, Sanli, Lee (Hutchinson 75).
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Riggott, Grounds.

Booked: O'Neil, Woodgate, Young, Arca.

Goals: Sanli 20.

Att: 20,089

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sunderland 3 - 1 Bolton

Sunderland: Gordon, Whitehead, McShane, Higginbotham, Collins, Miller, Richardson (O'Donovan 70), Etuhu, Chopra (Leadbitter 46), Cole (Murphy 57), Jones.
Subs Not Used: Ward, Waghorn.

Booked: Richardson.

Goals: Richardson 13, Jones 32, Murphy 90.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Samuel (Guthrie 56), Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Joey O'Brien, McCann, Nolan (Campo 87), Diouf, Anelka, Davies (Giannakopoulos 73).

Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Michalik.

Booked: Davies, Diouf.

Goals: Diouf 41.

Att: 42,058

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

West Ham 2 - 1 Man Utd 1

West Ham: Green, Neill, Spector, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Pantsil 49), Parker (Ferdinand 55), Mullins, Noble, Ljungberg (Ashton 70), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Camara.

Booked: Pantsil, Mullins.

Goals: Ferdinand 77, Upson 82.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Brown (O'Shea 89), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves (Nani 80), Fletcher, Giggs, Saha, Tevez (Anderson 64).
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Pique.

Goals: Ronaldo 14.

Att: 34,966

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Wigan 1 - 2 Aston Villa

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Landzaat (Olembe 80), Brown, Taylor, Sibierski (Aghahowa 63), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Granqvist, Skoko.

Booked: Bramble.

Goals: Bramble 28.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Davies, Bouma, Maloney (Gardner 60), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young (Petrov 90), Carew (Moore 11), Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Harewood.

Booked: Agbonlahor.

Goals: Davies 55, Agbonlahor 70.

Att: 18,806

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Friday 28 December 2007

27th Dec

Man City 2-2
(HT 2-1)
Blackburn
Vassell 27
Nelsen o.g. 30

Santa Cruz 28
Santa Cruz 84
Bookings:
Richards 55

Bookings:
Berner 49

Att: 42,112.

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Thursday 27 December 2007

To everyone around the world

Merry christmas and happy new year from Ted

26th Dec

Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Birmingham 3-0
(HT 2-0)
Middlesbrough
Downing o.g. 22
Forssell 45
McSheffrey (pen) 90

Bookings:
McSheffrey 53
Bookings:
Arca 21
Woodgate 71

Att: 24,094

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).


Chelsea 4-4
(HT 1-2)
Aston Villa
Shevchenko (pen) 45
Shevchenko 50
Alex 66
Ballack 88
Maloney 14
Maloney 44
Laursen 72
Barry (pen) 90
Bookings:
Essien 19
Ballack 90
Alex 90
Bookings:
Reo-Coker 55
Harewood 90
Sent off:
Carvalho 80
Cole 90
Sent off:
Knight 45

Att: 41,686

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).


Derby 1-2
(HT 0-1)
Liverpool
McEveley 67
Torres 12
Gerrard 90
Bookings:
McEveley 71

Att: 33,029

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).



Everton 2-0
(HT 0-0)
Bolton
Neville 51
Cahill 70


Bookings:
O'Brien 42
Diouf 55
Nolan 72

Att: 38,918

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire.)


Portsmouth 0-0
(HT 0-0)
Arsenal
Bookings:
Lauren 56
Diop 81

Att: 20,556

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Bookings:
Eboue 60


Sunderland 0-4
(HT 0-3)
Man Utd

Rooney 20
Saha 30
Ronaldo 45
Saha (pen) 86
Bookings:
Whitehead 62
McShane 81

Att: 47,360

Ref: Uriah Rennie (S Yorkshire).
Bookings:
Fletcher 29


Tottenham 5-1
(HT 2-0)
Fulham
Keane 27
Huddlestone 45
Keane 62
Huddlestone 71
Defoe 90
Dempsey 60
Bookings:
Huddlestone 82
Bookings:
Baird 21
Volz 68
Smertin 80
Davies 84

Sent off:
Volz 87

Att: 36,077

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).


West Ham 1-1
(HT 1-0)
Reading
Solano 42
Kitson 60
Bookings:
Green 45
Cole 65
Bookings:
Hunt 45
Shorey 67

Sent off:
Gunnarsson 29

Att: 34,277

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).


Wigan 1-0
(HT 0-0)
Newcastle
Taylor 65

Bookings:
Brown 34
Bookings:
Milner 57
Emre 57
Smith 80
Taylor 88

Sent off:
Knight 45

Att: 20,304

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
_____________________________________________________________________

Monday 24 December 2007

Dec 22nd

Man Utd 2 - Everton 1

Tevez had an early go with a volley but went well wide. Ronaldo crossed the ball into the middle, rooney onto Tevez but just wide again. Lescott haad a go on target form the left hand side but saved. Tevez crosse dthe ball over to Ronaldo he took his time cued up the shot and curled in a high left shot on the 22nd min. Cahill got a goal back on the 27th min when he headed one home. Ronaldo had good play through to Rooney who tried to chip the ball in but kept out. It was all very one way traffic with Utd having chance after chance but Everton held their own until Pienaar gave away a stupid tackle by sticking his leg out from behind to trip up Giggs, penalty taken by Ronaldo 88th min taking the win, should have finished 1 - 1 if it hadnt been for a stupid mistake.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, Simpson (O'Shea 46), Brown, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (Saha 71), Anderson (Fletcher 86), Giggs, Rooney, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Nani.

Booked: Rooney, Evra, Anderson.

Goals: Ronaldo 22, 88 pen.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Carsley, Cahill (Anichebe 85), Neville, Pienaar, Yakubu (Gravesen 76), Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Wessels, McFadden, Nuno Valente.

Booked: Cahill, Hibbert, Pienaar.

Goals: Cahill 27.

Att: 75,749

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Newcastle 2 - Derby 2

Barnes took the lead scoring in the 6th minute with a shot in low left. Martins had a chance denied as his header was cleared off thline by Barnes. Smith was tackled by a few Derby defendered but managed to scramble the ball through to Viduka who scored on the 27th min. Miller then took derby in front again on the 52nd lin as he came in form the right to beat the keeper. But rubbish defending cost Derby the 3 point as the ball wasnt cleared and Viduka struck home the goal to take it level on the 86th min.



Barclays Premier League
23rd Dec 2007
KO 14:00
Ground: St James' Park, Newcastle
Att: 51,386
____________________________________________________________________________________

Blackburn 0 - Chelsea 1

Bentley came steaming in from the left to have an early go just over the bar. Betley again with a free kick went for goal hit the cross bar. Lampard got shot away deflected off for a corner. Joe cole picked up a cross from Lampard to fininsh a good goal on the 22nd min. Reid then struck a ball just going over the cross bar. Lampard hit the upright , its been a real week end of players hitting the wood work.



Barclays Premier League
23rd Dec 2007
KO 16:10
Ground: Ewood Park
Att: 23,966

Sunday 23 December 2007

Dec 21st

Fulham1 - Wigan 1

Davies had an early chance but saved by Kirkland. Davies crossed one into the area for Kamara to send the ball wide. Konchesky took a briliant left footed shoot from distance striking the cross bar. Bent opened the scoring on the 70th min as he brought the ball down on his chest and struck home a great ball. Healy had a chance go wide bvut theat seemed to be the case all through the game of shots going wide until Dempsey finished a good ball through to score on the 78th min. Kamara almost had a goal but was kept out and headed away , good defending. Sibieski almost took Wigan ahead with his glancing header just shaving the cross bar.

Fulham: Niemi, Omozusi (Baird 60), Bocanegra, Hughes, Konchesky, Bouazza (Kuqi 72), Davis (Healy 59), Murphy, Davies, Kamara, Dempsey.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Ki-Hyeon.

Goals: Dempsey 78.

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Scharner, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Landzaat, Taylor (Olembe 86), Aghahowa (Sibierski 63), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Granqvist, Skoko.

Goals: Bent 70.

Att: 20,820

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Reading 2 - Sunderland 1

Andy Cole almost took Sunderland in front straight away as he was 1 on 1 with Hahnemann but the keeper saved and it was a quick double save from a rebound ,this was just one of the great save's he made to keep Reading in front. Kitson had a good shot in from the left just clipping the top woodwork. Hunt then got a header in but the ball hit the upright. Doyle then sent the ball just wide across the goal mouth, Hunt struck a blistering shot that hit the inside of the near post and bounced back out (that shot desearved to be in, it was so good). Reading got a free kick in the Sunderland half and a good ball delivered in Sonko got a head to it , Gordon knocked the ball down for Ingimmarson to foot in taking the Royals aheaed on the 69th min. But Sonko then brought down Jones in the penalty area giving away a penalty, Chopra took and took thing level on the 82nd min. Chopra then had another stab at goal from distance but the shot was saved. Long was brought on and he created a good run along the right wing ball went in , Hunt got to it and sent the ball in the goal , on replay's it didnt look as if the ball crossed the line as Gordon got a hand to it and cleared the shot , the ref didnt give it but the lines did and the goal stood , fare play as they deserved the win for the effort.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson, Convey (Long 84), Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Cisse, Lita, Bikey.

Goals: Ingimarsson 69, Hunt 90.

Sunderland: Gordon, Whitehead, McShane, Higginbotham, Collins, Chopra (Stokes 87), Yorke, Leadbitter, Murphy (Wallace 62), Jones, Cole (Etuhu 62).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Harte.

Booked: Murphy, Leadbitter, Jones, Yorke.

Goals: Chopra 82 pen.

Att: 24,082

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Aston Villa 1 - Man City 1

Bianchi opened the scoring in 11 mins for city. Carew was very good as he took on defenders and got around them to bring it all even on the 14th min with a low left shot. Laursen had a chance with a header but went wide. Agbonlahor managed to get a foot to the ball from a corner but kept out. Carew good shot on goal kept out by Hart and struck the upright on the way out of the goal mouth. Reo-Coker had a really good chance with a break away but didnt pass the ball and when he did he lost it. Hart came out to block a shot from Agbonlahor.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Maloney (Petrov 75), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Harewood, Davies, Gardner.

Booked: Barry, Reo-Coker.

Goals: Carew 14.

Man City: Hart, Onuoha, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Vassell, Hamann (Corluka 70), Gelson, Petrov, Elano (Garrido 76), Bianchi (Etuhu 85).
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Geovanni.

Booked: Hamann, Gelson, Ball, Vassell.

Goals: Bianchi 11.

Att: 41,455

Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Middlesbrough 1 - West Ham 2

Ljungberg had a early chance but sent the ball wide. Boro had a free kick taken by Downing to Aliadiere headed in for Wheater to slot away taking Boro in front on the 40th min. But West ham answered back when Ashton struck a low shot in left and brought it all level. Solano took a free kick on for goal but pushed over by Schwarzer, Parker got around the Boror defence to shot into the far side beating the keeper good goal on the 44th min.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate (Huth 63), Wheater, Pogatetz, Johnson (Cattermole 77), Boateng, Arca, Downing, Aliadiere, Sanli. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Shawky, Lee.

Booked: Boateng, Arca.

Goals: Wheater 40.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Upson, McCartney, Spector, Solano (Noble 76), Parker, Mullins, Ljungberg, Camara (Pantsil 85), Ashton. Subs Not Used: Wright, Dailly, Ephraim.

Booked: Parker, Solano.

Goals: Ashton 44, Parker 90.

Att: 26,007

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Liverpool 4 - Portsmouth 1

Kuyt almost had early chance but Johnson defended well. Beneyoun took a volley on goal from a cross from Kewell and scored on the 13th min. Kuyt then crossed to Torres ball hit Distin to rebound in and rolled into the goal for an own goal on the 16th min. Beneyoun had a crack on goal hitting the side netting of the far post. Mwaruwari got one back for Pompey on the 57th min shooting low right. Kewell had a go on target from distance from the left but just went over the bar. A keeping error cost Pompey a goal as Babel had a shot on goal James couldnt control the save and Torres struck home a goal on the 67th min. Gerrard then Headed in a ball on the 85th min into the box for Torres to sink no.4 in .

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Benayoun (Babel 64), Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell (Aurelio 76), Torres (Lucas 86), Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Voronin.

Booked: Arbeloa.

Goals: Benayoun 13, Distin 16 og, Torres 67, 85.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson (Lauren 46), Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Kanu 46), Diop, Pedro Mendes, Muntari (Taylor 73), Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Nugent.

Booked: Diop, Hreidarsson.

Goals: Mwaruwari 57.

Att: 43,071

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Arsenal 2 - Tottenham 1

Flamini tried to flick ball in early hitting the side netting. Adebayor had a good shot on target but blocked by Robinson. Boateng tried to curl ball in high left but just went over the bar. Arsenal corner taken Toure headed in Rbinson pushed away. Adabayor then struck a low shot in beating Robinson on the 48th min. Fabregas had a go from a long shot going well wide.Lennon delivered a good ball in for Keane who struck the ball hitting the cross bar and rattling the wood work. Berbatov managed to squeeze an amazing shot in at a very awkward angle on the 66th min to bring it even shooting in from the right very tight angle. Toure brought down Berbatov in the area penalty awardedto Spurs Keane took and Almunia saved. Bendtner was brought on as a sub and with in a minute of being on he scored as a corner was deliverd and he headed in taking the win for Arsenal.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Bendtner 74), Fabregas, Flamini, Rosicky, Hleb (Silva 82), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Senderos, Eduardo.

Booked: Gallas.

Goals: Adebayor 48, Bendtner 76.

Tottenham: Robinson, Tainio, Chimbonda, Kaboul, Lee (Taarabt 80), Lennon, O'Hara, Boateng (Huddlestone 60), Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane (Defoe 74).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Archibald-Henville.

Booked: Boateng, Berbatov, Tainio.

Goals: Berbatov 66.

Att: 60,087

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Bolton 3 - Birmingham 0

Nolan struck side the far post early to wake up the Birmingham keeper. Jerome took a free kick for Birmingham and headed away by Campo almost an own goal. Free kick to Bolton , Nolan got to the ball and scored but off side was given but replays showed that the play was not off side. Anelka got ball through to Diouf and scored on the 72nd minute. Anelka then got around Taylor to score again in the 78th min and in stoppage time 90 + 3 mins Anelka struck a low shot went in right.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Nolan, Campo (McCann 59), Guthrie, Davies (Samuel 79), Anelka, Diouf.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Speed, Giannakopoulos.

Booked: Hunt, Gardner, Diouf.

Goals: Diouf 72, Anelka 78, 90.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Jaidi, Schmitz, Sadler (Kapo 46), Larsson, Johnson, Djourou, Muamba, McSheffrey (O'Connor 74), Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Forssell, Nafti.

Booked: Jaidi, Johnson.

Att: 19,111

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday 16 December 2007

16th December

Liverpool 0 - Man Utd 1

a big Sunday as the top 4 play. Kewell almost took the lead early for Liverpool as he shot a good ball on target but Evra cleard off the line and Torres sent his header wide. They looked like they where locked until Utd got a corner just before half time Giggs took the corner low Rooney played onto tevez low and Tevez drove high from point blank range to take Utd in front. Babel had a shot go inches wide from a belting long shot. Rafa just isnt getting the results, Reading now Man utd It would be a strange twist of fate if Jose was holding out to take the position at Liverpool come the end of the Season. Contractually Jose is not allowed back into the Premier league this season but he could come back next season very easily.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise (Aurelio 80), Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell (Babel 65), Torres, Kuyt (Crouch 73).
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Lucas.

Booked: Gerrard, Mascherano.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson (O'Shea 90), Giggs, Rooney, Tevez (Carrick 83).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Saha, Fletcher.

Booked: Evra, Anderson, Brown.

Goals: Tevez 43.

Att: 44,459.

Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Arsenal 1 - Chelsea 0

A scrappy London derby saw John Terry was injured and lots of hand bags being thrown around. Arsenal beat Chelsea for the first since Jan 2004. Chealsea never lost to Arsenal whilst Jose was at the Bridge but Avram first encounter with the Gunner and he lost (pleb). Wright-Phillips and Schevchenko both put Almunia to work from long range efforts. Gallas got the winner a shot that Cech looked like he could have sved but error's where mnade and Gallas made it look all to easy on the 45th min.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Van Persie 69), Flamini, Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb (Silva 77), Adebayor (Bendtner 90).
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Senderos.

Booked: Adebayor, Eboue, Flamini, Toure, Fabregas.

Goals: Gallas 45.

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Terry (Ben-Haim 38), Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 75), Obi, Makelele (Pizarro 65), Lampard, Joe Cole, Shevchenko.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Belletti.

Booked: Terry, Lampard, Joe Cole, Ben-Haim, Obi.

Att: 60,139

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

15th December

Birmingham 1 - Reading 1

Forssell headed in from a corner ball hit the far post but he caught the ball with his right foot to tap in on 4th min putting the Blues ahead. Hahnemann managed to save two shot on the trot, Sonko looked like a statue. Harper forced a save just before half time with a low shot from the left. Hunt was taken down by Taylor as he went in for an attempt on goal Penalty awarded, Hunt took and scored to take it level on the 51st min. Jerome headed in a ball to try Hahnemann again but the American was good to save. McSheffrey took free kick hit high left wood work bounced back out for a deflected shot shot back into goal and saved off the line by Sonko who sent the ball high and almost scored an own goal as the ball hit the inside of the cross bar. Reading made an improvement as their away record has been very poor.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Sadler, Larsson, Johnson, Muamba, McSheffrey, Forssell (O'Connor 75), Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, De Ridder, Parnaby, Jaidi.

Booked: Johnson, Ridgewell.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson (Cisse 28), Convey (Long 84), Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Lita, Bikey.

Booked: Murty.

Att: 27,300

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Fulham 0 - Newcastle 1

Healy took early shot going high left but palmed away by keeper. Barton got a head to ball to send low at far post But Davies cut in to clear away for any rebounded attempts. Dempsey missed a good chance from Bouazza as he croosed a good ball into the area. Emre took a free kick Butt got a head to it to send it low at far post but Niemi made the save. Omuzusi toko down Smith in the arae in the dying minutes of the game and a penalty was awarded to Newcastle Barton tok and scored in extra time 90 + 2 mins, big Sams men take another win and the Toon look a bit more stable, as Fulham into the relegation zone they go.

Fulham: Niemi, Omozusi, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Davies, Murphy, Davis (Kuqi 75), Bouazza, Healy, Dempsey.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Ki-Hyeon, Smertin, Baird.

Newcastle: Given, N'Zogbia, Rozehnal, Cacapa, Beye, Geremi (Emre 59), Butt, Barton, Milner, Smith, Martins (Viduka 77).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Jose Enrique, Edgar.

Goals: Barton 90 pen.

Att: 24,959.

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sunderland 1 - Aston Villa 1

Gardner was very very lucky not to have been sent off in the first few mins for a really bad challenge in Yorke as he went high footed in to him sending Yorke onto the deck and Gardner getting away with a yellow. Danny Higgenbotham got the opening goal with a header from a corner on 10 mins. Carew tried a volley but hit the near post. Stokes was denied a goal as he got caught off side from taking advantage of a mistake by Carson. Maloney took a free kick Ward drifted the wrong way and the ball went in no problem on 73rd min to bring it all square. Sunderland had a last min corner Collins blocked Carson with his arm to cause an obstruction and the goal didnt stand, well the replay did show a foul.

Sunderland: Ward, Whitehead, McShane, Higginbotham, Collins, Wallace (Cole 83), Etuhu (Leadbitter 61), Yorke, Murphy, Jones, Stokes (Chopra 70).
Subs Not Used: Gordon, O'Donovan.

Booked: Whitehead, Yorke.

Goals: Higginbotham 10.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma, Gardner (Maloney 67), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Harewood, Berger, Osbourne.

Booked: Gardner, Young.

Goals: Maloney 73.

Att: 43,248

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Derby 0 - Middlesbrough 1
O'Neil ahd early shot on target saved by Bywater. McEveley had a good shot on target low shot making Schwarzer work to save the shot. Tuncay made a good volley from a cross in from Downing to score on the 38th min. Kenny Miller had a good go with a turn and shoot but hit the far post. Barnes took a gopod shot as he chested down the bal and drove the ball on target but Schwarzer saved. Right in the last minutes Aliadiere had a goal dis allowed for being off side.

Derby: Bywater, Mears, Davis, Moore, Griffin (McEveley 29), Teale (Howard 56), Oakley, Leacock, Pearson, Barnes, Miller (Earnshaw 74).
Subs Not Used: Price, Lewis.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Wheater, Woodgate, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing (Johnson 89), Aliadiere, Tuncay.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Huth, Lee, Cattermole.

Goals: Tuncay 38.

Att: 32,676

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Portmouth 0 - Tottenham 1

Bent tried to curl shot around to go high right but went just over the bar. Boateng took shot rebounded off kepper back out for Malbranque to shot and score but off side. Kranjcar almost got a head to a cross from Johnson but Robinson was big and saved the ball. Muntari sent a rocket through the wall from a free kick but Robinson once agian on the ball and saved no problem. Lennon crossed a brilliant ball over to Bent but James managed to get the slightest of touches to the ball to keep away from Bent, then only minutes later once again Lennon sailed the ball in from the right took a deflection off Hreidarsson and over to Berbatov to sink in the back of the net and picked up a yellow for his celebration. Defoe took a shot hit the wood work high right in added time , Spurs kept the foot to the floor and out classed Pompey .

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot (Hreidarsson 74), Utaka, Diop, Pedro Mendes (Davis 46), Muntari (Nugent 65), Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Taylor.

Booked: Pedro Mendes, Kranjcar, Distin.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Zokora, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon (Tainio 86), Jenas, Boateng (O'Hara 78), Malbranque, Berbatov, Bent (Defoe 74).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri.

Booked: Malbranque, Berbatov.

Goal: Berbatov 81.

Att: 20,520

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

West Ham 0 - Everton 2

Ljungberg had an early chance but Howard kept ball out. Ashton tried to lolley a shot in high in over Howard but just went wide, good attempt. Parker tried to flick the ball high just over Howard but ended going wide. West Hams steam ran out and the Yak managed to score with a headed on 45 + 1 min.
Osman had a good run with a chance but sent the ball high. Yakubu again with a header steering the ball into the low right but Green saved. west ham threw everything forward in a bid to get something back and it failed as there where no defenders and Andy Johnson (sub 87th min) just ran through no defence as they where all forward and Green came out off his line (fatalmove) Johnson flicked the ball went in over Green for goal no.2 in added time 90 +3 mins. Everton deserved the win.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Noble 59), Parker, Mullins (Reid 79), Ljungberg, Ashton, Cole (Camara 46).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Spector.

Booked: Ljungberg.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Osman, Carsley, Pienaar, Cahill, Yakubu (Johnson 87).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Gravesen, McFadden.

Booked: Yakubu, Johnson.

Goals: Yakubu 45, Johnson 90.

Att: 34,430

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Wigan 5 - Blackburn 3

Now here's a scoreline you probably wont see again this season. Mark Hugh's was raging as he watched his men claw they way back and the get beaten . Blackburn made a n early error which cost them dearly as Landzaat took the ball ,ran and drove a low shot in right in 10th min. Bent beat Warnock to shot and score low shot in from right in 12th min. Penalty awarded against Heskey (couldt really see what for even on the replay, Mccarthy took the penalty and he was so slow my mum could have done better needless to say the shot was saved. Taylor took freekick from just out side the area (should have been a penalty Wigans way as was hand ball) Scharner headed in on the 37th min leaving Blackburn trailing 3 goals down, wow. Heskey was stretchered off with a ankle problem on the 39th min. Santa Cruz managed to claw back the hope as he chested down the ball turned and shot a brilliant ball to score on the 48th min, and again on the 50th min from close range. Emerton got his second yellow so an early shower for him. Warnock delivered a good ball into the area for santa cruz to score his hat trick as he headed in on the 61st min. Valencia then crossed a good ball through to Bent who headed away on the 66th min , just a Mark Hugh's thought he'd got a point it all Bent wrong. Agahower crossed a brilliant ball through for Bent on the 81st min and Wigan wrapped it up , fare play to them I know they dont always win but Steve Bruce is certainly doing something right.

Wigan: Kirkland, Taylor (Olembe 89), Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Scharner, Landzaat, Bent, Heskey (Aghahowa 40), Aghahowa (Granqvist 90).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Koumas.

Booked: Heskey, Taylor, Aghahowa, Brown.

Goals: Landzaat 10, Bent 12, Scharner 37, Bent 66, 81.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Savage, Pedersen, McCarthy (Derbyshire 74), Santa Cruz (Dunn 90). Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena, Olsson.

Sent Off: Emerton (57).

Booked: Samba, Emerton, Warnock, Savage.

Goals: Santa Cruz 45, 50, 61.

Att: 16,489

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Man City 4 - Bolton 2

Anelka had an early shot . Vassel's shot on target rebounded back out for Bianchi to score on the 7th min. Anelka then caught the faced to the far post ,so close. Nolan put ball through to Diouf who shot the the ball high right on target beating the keeper on the 31st min. Gardner crossed into middle for Nolan to to shoot low right on the 40th min. Hamann took a free kick which came off Michalik to count as an own goal on the 48th min. johnson took a shot from a Vassell pass hitting the far post. Petrov delivered a good ball through to Vassell to score on the 77th min. Etuhu wrapped it all up on the 90th min.

Man City: Isaksson, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Gelson (Etuhu 46), Hamann, Johnson, Petrov (Garrido 83), Bianchi (Mpenza 87), Vassell.
Subs Not Used: Hart, Geovanni.

Booked: Etuhu.

Goals: Bianchi 7, Michalik 48 og, Vassell 77, Etuhu 90.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt (McCann 85), Meite, Michalik, Gardner, Nolan, Campo (Giannakopoulos 86), Guthrie, Diouf, Davies, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Samuel, Speed.

Booked: Nolan.

Goals: Diouf 31, Nolan 40.

Att: 40,506

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday 9 December 2007

9th December

Middlesbrough 2 - Arsenal 1

Boro searching for any point and this was an unlikely fixture to look for points. Arsenal have been on top form this season. The first goal came from a Downing as a penalty was awarded for Toure bringing down Aliadiere in the area in the first 4 mins. Both Adabayoy and Tuncay missed chances by a whisker but Tuncay Sanli was on target on the 74th min as he blasted a high shot in the back of the net. Arsenal only consolation came in the dying minutes as Rosicky managed to score.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Young, Wheater, Woodgate (Huth 73), Pogatetz, O'Neil, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Sanli (Johnson 90), Aliadiere (Arca 81).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Lee.

Booked: O'Neil, Rochemback.

Goals: Downing 4 pen, Sanli 74.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Walcott 61), Diarra (Denilson 60), Silva, Rosicky, Eduardo (Bendtner 46), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Senderos.

Booked: Toure, Clichy.

Goals: Rosicky 90.

Att: 26,428

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Tottenham 2 - Man City 1

Sven is losing his touch and when asked all he says is " well eh ". Tipped for finninshing in top 4 well perhaps top 6. Spurs had there first goal on the 45th min and a very controversial decision as it came off Chimbonda's arm in an offside position but some how the goal stood. Petrov delivered a good ball in from a corner as Bianchi headed it away to bring it all level on the 61st min. Ireland earned himself a red as he lunged at Young-Pyo Lee, Defoe managed to smash home the winner in the 83rd min after a chance had hit the cross bar , Defoe had 2 more chances but they held the lead and took the well earned 3 points.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon (Boateng 67), Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque, Berbatov (Tainio 90), Bent (Defoe 77).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, O'Hara.

Booked: Defoe, Jenas.

Goals: Chimbonda 45, Defoe 83.

Man City: Isaksson, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Ireland, Johnson, Etuhu (Bianchi 58), Gelson, Petrov, Vassell (Geovanni 84).
Subs Not Used: Hart, Jihai, Onuoha.

Sent Off: Ireland (82).

Booked: Garrido, Dunne, Gelson.

Goals: Bianchi 61.

Att: 35,646.

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Bolton 4 - Wigan 1

Bolton fans will be wondering and hoping that Anelka dosnt go in January amid rumours. An own goal from Scharner gave Bolton the lead in just 2 mins, but Landzaat put thing level after 14 mins. Anelka sent a penalty shot high but redeemed himself by sending a brilliant cross to Nolan who back heeled in on the 37th min. Davies took advantage of rubbish defeding from Wigan and scored on the 70th min, and Anelka sealed the deal with a goal looking so simple on the 89th min. Hopefully Bolton have found their confidence again, Wigan ,well what can I say.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Nolan (Giannakopoulos 90), Campo (Speed 90), Guthrie, Davies, Anelka, Diouf (McCann 77).
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Michalik.

Booked: Andrew O'Brien, Guthrie.

Goals: Scharner 3 og, Nolan 37, Davies 70, Anelka 89.

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Bent, Heskey (Brown 72).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor, Skoko, Cotterill.

Booked: Valencia.

Goals: Landzaat 14.

Att: 20,309

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Blackburn 0 - West Ham 1

Tough game this one, and if you picked west Ham honestly well done. Blackburn been a bit unstable latley. Aston got the only goal on the 52nd min, Santa Cruz was off target with 2 attempts, West Ham looking very confident and comtable in mid table.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Dunn, Mokoena (Savage 46), Kerimoglu, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Reid, Derbyshire, Roberts.

Booked: Ooijer.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Solano, Parker, Mullins, Etherington (Ashton 46), Cole, Boa Morte.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Noble, Spector, Camara.

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

8th December

Reading 3 - Liverpool 1

Torres struck an early shot on goal from 8 yds out to be blocked by Hahnemman. Carraher fouled Gunnerson and was debated if it was in the area on replay's it showed the call was right and a penalty awarded, Hunt took and scored on the 17th min. Moments later Convey sent a rocket shot just over the bar. Gerrard Got through the Reading defence to make a goal look easy and put away on 28th min. Gerrard was then booked for a foul on Hunt free kick given and Shorey took good ball on target helped in by Doyle with just the slightest flick on the 60th min. Gerrard took a shot hit the woodwork high left, Harper got a break away ball and ran the length to get around Riena and score ( very Henry like goal)on the 67th min. Harry Kewell sent a ball across the goal mouth but no one there to finish, Crouch took a long low shot hitting the wood work on the far post
Reading got a deserved win and where the underdogs in this match, not many teams can beat the top 4 , Bolton beat Man Utd , Reading beat Liverpool keeps thing interesting.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (Cisse 90), Sonko (Bikey 81), Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson, Convey (Lita 88), Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Long.

Goals: Hunt 17 pen, Doyle 60, Harper 67.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher (Hyypia 82), Hobbs, Riise, Gerrard (Babel 71), Mascherano, Sissoko, Voronin, Torres (Kewell 61), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Kuyt.

Booked: Gerrard.

Goals: Gerrard 28.

Att: 24,022

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Aston Villa 1 - Portsmouth 3

Pompey looking stronger and stronger all the time and today was no exception. Benjani struck the ball Gardener tried to clear it and sent it in the back of the net earning him an own goal on the 10th min. Laursen sent the ball wide with a glancing header. Muntari scored with a rocket low shot from 25yds out on the 40th min, and then again low shot in on the 61st min. Villa where arwarded a penalty Barry took and scored on the 72nd min.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma (Berger 54), Gardner (Harewood 70), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Davies, Maloney.

Booked: Carew, Berger.

Goals: Barry 72 pen.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka (Kanu 64), Diop, Pedro Mendes, Muntari, Kranjcar (Taylor 88), Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Hreidarsson, Nugent.

Booked: Pedro Mendes, James, Pamarot, Kranjcar.

Goals: Gardner 10 og, Muntari 40, 61.

Att: 35,790.

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Newcastle 2 - Birmingham 1

Jerome opened the scoring in the 9th minute as Newcasle made an error which gave the ball away and jerome jinked around the keeper and scored. Taylor did very well today first free kick kept out just on the line. Martins was brought down by Sadler and awarded a penalty Martins took and scored on the 37th min. Newcastle freekick taken Taylor just managed to keep out sending the ball over the bar, Newcastle hit the woodwork with another attempt. Birmingham lucky to have not given away another penalty as Jerome stuck his arm out to block the ball from a freekick. Beye was the hero of the day as he charged in to the near post to head in a corner on the 91st min for the winner.

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Man Utd 4 - Derby 1

Bywater kept an early shot out which would have put Derby on the back foot straight away. Ronaldo then took a rocket shot , low deflected off Bywater for Giggs to finish and score his 100th league goal on the 40th min. Rooney then looked set to score as he sent Bywater the wrong way and sent the ball low towards the far opst and hitting the post and not the net. Ronaldo then took a free kick the trick didnt work first time , a slow shot Tevez didnt make contact 1st time but did the 2nd time and scored sending the ball high right on the 45th min. Tevez scored again on the 60th min as he struck a low shot from a pass through ball from Brown. Howard managed to claim a goal a scrappy goal but they all count on the 76th min. Utd then wrapped it up when Ronaldo was brought down in the area giving them a penalty , Ronaldo took and scored on the 92nd min.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand (O'Shea 71), Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Anderson (Fletcher 62), Giggs (Saha 64), Rooney, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Nani.

Goals: Giggs 40, Tevez 45, 60, Ronaldo 90 pen.

Derby: Bywater, Griffin, Moore, Davis, McEveley (Howard 46), Leacock, Fagan (Mears 46), Oakley, Pearson, Barnes (Teale 61), Miller.
Subs Not Used: Price, Earnshaw.

Booked: Davis, Griffin.

Goals: Howard 76.

Att: 75,725

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Everton 3 - Fulham 0

Arteta worked the keeper with an early free kick on target. Cahill had a shot block but deflected out for Yakubu to score with the ball dribbling over the line on the 51st min. Murphy had a good shot on target but Howard took care of it. Arteta then delivered a corner for Yakubu to score again with a header near post on the 61st min. Yakubu then wrapped it all up on the 79th min as he got through the Fulham defence taking advantage of a good pass from Pienaar and curling the ball in.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Lescott, Yobo, Baines (Jagielka 23), Osman, Arteta, Cahill (Johnson 82), Carsley, Pienaar, Yakubu (McFadden 82).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Anichebe.

Goals: Yakubu 51, 61, 79.

Fulham: Niemi, Omozusi, Hughes, Stefanovic, Konchesky, Davies, Davis, Murphy (Ki-Hyeon 74), Kamara, Kuqi, Dempsey (Healy 64).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Bocanegra, Baird.

Booked: Kamara, Omozusi.

Att: 32,743

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chelsea 2 - Sunderland 0

Drogba out for the time bieng whilst he has an operation on his knee, so enter Shevchenko. Cole took a corner with Kalou hitting the underside of the cross bar in the opening minutes. Shevchenko headed in a goal on the 23rd min taking Chelsea in front. Free kick to Chelsea Lampard took and a penalty awarded for shirt pulling in the area (stupid mistake). Lampard tok the penalty and scored on the 75th min. Liam Miller thre his toys out of the pram as he pushed Pizzaro in the face and earned himself a straight red. Wood work saved Sunderland from a 3rd as Lampard struck the postin the final minutes.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Belletti, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips, Obi, Lampard, Joe Cole (Sidwell 85), Kalou (Pizarro 66), Shevchenko.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Bridge, Ben-Haim.

Goals: Shevchenko 23, Lampard 75 pen.

Sunderland: Ward, Halford, McShane, Higginbotham, Collins, Miller, Leadbitter (Stokes 70), Etuhu, Whitehead, Wallace, Jones (Murphy 67).
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Yorke, Cole.

Sent Off: Miller (88).

Booked: Wallace.

Att: 41,707

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday 6 December 2007

5th Dec

Newcaslte 1 - Arsenal 1

Just the 1 game tonight . Newcastle went down in the 1st 4 mins as Adebayor with a great volley. Geremi's shot went inches wide trying the keeper. Well all the papers said that Big Sam is under pressure but the pressure was relaxed as Taylor managed a goal on the 60th min scrappy goal but non the less it counted and Newcastle held their own right to the end. Joey Barton was booked for a body check (the man is a fool).

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Taylor, Rozehnal, N'Zogbia, Milner, Barton, Butt, Geremi (Viduka 77), Martins, Smith.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Jose Enrique, Emre, Edgar.

Booked: Barton, Given, Beye.

Goals: Taylor 60.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Diarra, Silva, Rosicky, Adebayor, Eduardo (Bendtner 68).
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Denilson, Song Billong, Walcott.

Booked: Diarra, Sagna.

Goals: Adebayor 4.

Att: 50,305

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Tuesday 4 December 2007

3rd December

Man Utd 2 - Fulham 0

It was Tevez who looked like the first to score but Ronaldo finished a brilliant volley to sink the first goal on the 10th min, Danny Murphy had two very good shots but blocked. It was Ronaldo again who headed in O'Shea;s cross to seal the deal. Utd keep the pressure on for he title race as Fulham look for points to remain safe.


Last Updated: Monday, 3 December 2007, 21:51 GMT
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Man Utd 2-0 Fulham
By Chris Bevan

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after putting Man Utd ahead
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to help Manchester United see off Fulham and move second, closing the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to three points.

Carlos Tevez went close twice before Ronaldo netted with a superb volley after Steve Davis failed to clear.

Fulham threatened with two Danny Murphy efforts but Ronaldo headed home John O'Shea's cross to seal United's win.

Ronaldo also felt he should have had a penalty but instead he was booked for diving after tumbling over Antti Niemi.

Interview: Man Utd assistant boss Carlos Queiroz
Interview: Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez

Lawrie Sanchez's side have not won an away league game since September 2006 and never seriously looked like ending that awful run here.

However, despite the ease of United's victory, they were strangely out of sorts for long periods and their lack of cohesion in the final third will be a concern for boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson must be grateful that Ronaldo is in such sublime form - the Portuguese winger has now notched 13 goals this season and scored in each of his last five games.

But the rest of United's strikeforce, including the returning Wayne Rooney, were unable to capitalise on their side's bright start.

United's first chance came and went when Anderson's inswinging cross was just too long for Tevez, who failed to direct his header.


606: DEBATE
Fulham looked dangerous in the Man U half but didn't have the quality in the final third

CITYROB
And Fulham keeper Niemi made his first save of what was to be a busy night when he kept out a stinging shot from the Argentine soon after.

Such was the pressure on the visitors' defence a goal looked inevitable and it duly arrived in the 10th minute.

Davis only succeeded in heading a Ryan Giggs corner back into the danger zone and Nemanja Vidic headed on for Ronaldo to find the top corner with a sublime volley.

Tevez was unlucky not to extend that lead when he met another Giggs cross but saw his shot hit Niemi, who knew little about it.

But from then on Ferguson's men seemed to lose their way, and they were almost punished.

First Murphy forced a fine save from Edwin van der Sar after a neat build-up and then, from the resulting corner, the former Liverpool midfielder curled his shot inches wide.

Referee Rob Styles books Cristiano Ronaldo for diving
Referee Rob Styles booked Cristiano Ronaldo for diving

That should have been a wake-up call for United but Fulham continued to come forward and could have been level at the break if Shefki Kuqi had done better with Simon Davies' cross.

It took Ronaldo's second goal to lift United out of their lethargy, and it was another clinical finish.

Substitute John O'Shea curled in a cross from the left and Ronaldo leapt above Dejan Stefanovic to head home.

That was the cue for United to belatedly rediscover their free-flowing football from earlier in the game.

But further goals failed to materialise, with Rooney screwing his shot wide after being fed by Giggs and Louis Saha being denied by another fine Niemi save.

Ronaldo was undoubtedly the star of the show but he was unable to finish the game with a flourish - his final act of note seeing him harshly booked after he raced on to a Giggs pass and fell as he tried to hurdle Niemi.

Niemi immediately gestured that there had been no contact and referee Rob Styles showed Ronaldo a yellow card.

#
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on Ronaldo's booking:
"There is no question Niemi conned the referee. His action forced the referee to book Cristiano.

"Why would he go down? He was on a hat-trick, he had gone round the keeper and he was brought down. It was a ridiculous decision.

"There is this perceived idea of Cristiano that he is going to dive. It is quite unfair because he is nothing like that now.

"He is more mature and a magnificent footballer. He was one on one and he could not get out of the way."

#
Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez:
"Antti was trying to tell the referee he had not touched Ronaldo - and he hadn't.

"Maybe if Ronaldo had dragged his feet, he would have got a penalty but he didn't, he sprawled over him. Is that a penalty or not? I don't know.

"But if he had gone straight over the top, he probably would have scored."

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand (Carrick 75), Vidic, Evra (O'Shea 46), Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney (Saha 71).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Fletcher.

Booked: Vidic, Ronaldo.

Goals: Ronaldo 10, 58.

Fulham: Niemi, Omozusi, Hughes, Stefanovic, Konchesky, Davies, Davis, Murphy, Bouazza (Ki-Hyeon 71), Dempsey (Healy 64), Kuqi.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Bocanegra, Baird.

Booked: Davies.

Att: 75,055

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

Sunday 2 December 2007

2nd December

Liverpool 4 - Bolton 0


Bolton where taken apart at Anfield, not the same Bolton that beat Man Utd last weekend. Gerrard provided assist for the 2 goals before half time with Hyypia heading in the first goal on the 17th min , Anelka missed an open goal shot , Gerrard passed a ball through to Torres to score on the 45th min. Back out for the second half and Gerrard scored on the 56th min with a penalty Meite fouled Crouch in the area, Babel made light work of the 4th on the 86th min. Bolton had nothing going forward and look so weak. The worries continue for Bolton as Anelka is expected to leave the club in January and there isnt much to replace him. On the other hand Liverpool are going from strength to strength maybe this will pursued the owners to release some funding for new signing come the transfer window (would they buy Anelka?).

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher (Hobbs 51), Riise, Benayoun, Gerrard, Lucas, Kewell (Babel 67), Torres (Kuyt 76), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Mascherano.

Goals: Hyypia 17, Torres 45, Gerrard 56 pen, Babel 86. Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Meite, Michalik, Gardner, McCann, Campo, Speed, Davies, Anelka, Diouf (Giannakopoulos 66).
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Wilhelmsson, Teymourian, Alonso.

Booked: Diouf, Campo, Michalik.

Att: 43,270

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Tottenham 2 - Birmingham 3

Alex McLeish's debut game and a win at White Hart Lane, cant really ask for much more. McSheffrey took the Blues ahead on the 24th min from a Penalty that Kaboul had given away. The next goal didnt come until the second half as Berbetov was fouled in the area given Spurs a penalty Keane scored on the 50th min. 3 mins later Keane scored again. Jerome got through the Spurs defence like they where statues and blasted a shot past Robinson taking it even 2-2 on the 62nd min. Keane was shown a straight red for a late tackle on Muamba a very bad call from the ref as the replay showed no foul and not justified at all (ref's must be on xmas bonus for dishing out cards). Larsson finished it on the 90th min with a cracking 25yd shot went high right brilliant shot a well deserved win for Birmingham, unlucky for Spurs but the ref's bad call made the difference.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul (Huddlestone 46), Bale (Lee 75), Lennon, Zokora, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov, Bent (Defoe 46).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Boateng.

Sent Off: Keane (68).

Goals: Keane 50 pen, 53.

Birmingham: Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz (Parnaby 63), Ridgewell, Djourou, De Ridder (Forssell 66), Larsson, Nafti, Muamba, McSheffrey (Kapo 77), Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, O'Connor.

Booked: Schmitz.

Goals: McSheffrey 24 pen, Jerome 62, Larsson 90.

Att: 35,635

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

1st December

Aston Villa 1 - Arsenal 2

Gardener opened up the scoring for Villa after 14 mins with a side footed shot after 14 mins. Flamini's cracking shot beat Carson to bring it all level after 23 mins. Adabayor finished it all on 36 mins with a header taking Arsenal in front. Carew came very close to bringing things level but his header hit the cross bar.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma (Berger 76), Gardner, Petrov (Maloney 32), Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Harewood, Davies.

Booked: Bouma, Carew, Young.

Goals: Gardner 14.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Diarra, Flamini, Rosicky (Silva 74), Hleb (Walcott 60), Adebayor (Bendtner 90).
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Senderos.

Booked: Adebayor, Gallas.

Goals: Flamini 23, Adebayor 36.

Att: 42,018

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

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Blackburn 3 - Newcastle 1

Blackburn looking for a win after recent games lost and where else to do it but St James Park. Both sides played very well in the first half and held their own not giving an inch finishing 0 - 0 at half time. The half time talks must have had some effect on each side as they came out like 2 different teams. Martins scored for Newcastle on 47th min with a header from Martins from Geremi's free kick. Bentley took it level as he shot a brilliant free kick from 22 yds out on the 54th min. Bentley then scored again with a long shot 25yds out on the 67th min. Tugay scored a last minute goal to give Blackburn 3 on the 90th minute.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Kerimoglu, Mokoena (Reid 66), Dunn (Pedersen 58), Santa Cruz, McCarthy (Roberts 61).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Savage.

Booked: Bentley, Kerimoglu.

Goals: Bentley 54, 67, Tugay 90.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Rozehnal, Faye (Carr 24), N'Zogbia, Geremi, Butt, Barton, Martins, Smith, Milner, Carr (Viduka 72).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Jose Enrique, Emre.

Booked: Butt, Barton, Milner.

Goals: Martins 47.

Att: 27,477

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chelsea 1 - West Ham 0
West ham did an excellent job holding Chelsea back through the game. In saying that it was a very scrappy game, 7 bookings in all and the worse of it was Boa Morte and Terry started a set to earning a card each. The first half was tarnished with scrappy foul play and the first goal dindt come until the 76th minute from Joe Cole with a header.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Belletti, Alex, Terry, Bridge, Sidwell (Wright-Phillips 66), Obi, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Joe Cole (Makelele 89).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Ben-Haim.

Booked: Obi, Kalou, Belletti, Lampard, Terry.

Goals: Joe Cole 76.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Ljungberg 74), Parker (Spector 79), Mullins, Etherington (Ashton 79), Boa Morte, Cole.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Collins.

Booked: Etherington, Solano, Boa Morte.

Att: 41,830

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

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Portsmouth 0 - Everton 0

Two teams looking to make sure they finish in a decent position to qualify for European football, Everton of course achieving this last season but Pompey keen to get there at the end of this season as only managing to finish 9th. Muntari had 2 attempts close to goal but went wide, David Moyes tried to inject some spark into the game and brought on Andy Johnson but still no goals.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka (Kanu 57), Diop, Pedro Mendes, Muntari, Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Taylor.

Booked: Muntari.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Arteta, Osman, Carsley, Cahill, Pienaar (Johnson 53), Yakubu (Anichebe 67).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Jagielka.

Booked: Pienaar, Cahill.

Att: 20,102

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

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Reading 1 - Middlesbrough 1

Reading looking for some points to go into December with a bit more confidence, alas Boro also looking for any thing to them away from the drop zone. The first half was really pretty awful and it wasnt until the second half that Dave Kitson managed to make use of a ball flicked on from Doyle to flick the ball over the keeper and in for a goal on the 54th minute. Sonko and Hahnemann had a bit of a ding dong due to some poor defending from Sonko, Tuncay managed a goal as Reading once again just sat there and didnt try after they scored their goal, Boro just went in behind the Reading defence and Tuncay put the ball away all looked to easy and put Reading to shame real de ja vue from last week at Man City.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson (Long 86), Convey (Bikey 77), Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Cisse, Rosenior.

Booked: Murty, Gunnarsson.

Goals: Kitson 54.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Young, Woodgate (Huth 69), Wheater, Pogatetz, Johnson (Cattermole 89), Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Aliadiere, Lee (Sanli 70).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hutchinson.

Booked: Johnson.

Goals: Sanli 83

Att: 22,262

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
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Sunderland 1 - Derby 0

Roy Keane was very happy to get a point today after a bit of a battering they've had lately. Paul Jewell back in the driving seat of management in the Premier League. Jones had a good on target header saved by Bywater. Miller tried the skill of Ward with a strong shot. But the winning goal wasnt scored until the game was deep into injury time by Stokes.

Sunderland: Ward, Halford, McShane, Higginbotham, Collins, Edwards (Stokes 78), Leadbitter (Miller 83), Whitehead, Wallace, Jones, Cole (Chopra 64).
Subs Not Used: Gordon, Harte.

Booked: Stokes.

Goals: Stokes 90.

Derby: Bywater, Griffin, Davis, Moore, McEveley, Teale (Leacock 84), Oakley, Pearson, Barnes (Fagan 70), Howard, Miller (Earnshaw 86).
Subs Not Used: Price, Mears.

Booked: McEveley.

Att: 42,380

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

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Wigan 1 - Man City 1

It only took City 30 sec to score from an error from Titus Bramble Giovanni took advantage and scored. Wigan came back with a powerful header from Scharner on the 25th min . Melchiot was sent off on the 88th minute for a 2 footed challenge on Ireland.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Bent, Heskey (Taylor 53).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Granqvist, Cotterill, Skoko.

Sent Off: Melchiot (88).

Booked: Bramble, Scharner.

Goals: Scharner 25.

Man City: Isaksson, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Garrido (Ball 36), Ireland, Hamann, Gelson, Geovanni (Etuhu 69), Petrov, Samaras (Bianchi 78).
Subs Not Used: Hart, Jihai.

Booked: Hamann, Ball.

Goals: Geovanni 1.

Att: 18,614

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Sunday 25 November 2007

25th Nov

West Ham 1 - Tottenham 1

The first of todays 2 games being played, a London Derby from Upton Park. Loads of action and shots on goal. Boa Morte took advantage of a bad ball from Kaboul and stole the ball to pass to Solano who crossed for Cole to make a brilliant finish on the 20th min. Spurs where angry as they appealed for a penalty but on the replay it showed the play off side show a good call from Mike Riley. Dawson brought it all level with a header from a free kick on the 67th min. Jenas played well to keep the ball off the line from a West ham corner and defended well. Spurs where awarded a penalty as Defoe was brought down in the area , Defoe took the penalty and a bad penalty it was . You could read the shot through and thats exactly what Green did and saved the shot no problem. A good London derby game.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Spector 82), Mullins, Noble (Parker 63), Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte (Ashton 72).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Collins.

Booked: Cole, Gabbidon, Etherington.

Goals: Cole 20.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul (Bent 54), Bale, Lennon, Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane (Defoe 78).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Lee, Boateng.

Booked: Zokora, Chimbonda, Dawson, Defoe.

Goals: Dawson 67.

Att: 34,966
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Fulham 2 - Blackburn 2

A very boring game in the first half and even Andy Gray was begging for a goal to break the boredom, Benni McCarthy was injured very early in the game and was subbed, thank goodness things picked up in the second half. Fulham had a penalty taken by Murphy on the 51st min struck the ball low right throwing Freidel off to the left taking them in front. Emerton brought it level as Blackburn scored on the 57th min, Kamara took Fulham in front again scoring from 4 yds sliding the ball in on the 63rd min , Warnock tapped in the draw goal on the 79th min for Blackburn.

Fulham: Niemi, Konchesky, Stefanovic, Hughes, Baird, Davies, Davis, Murphy, Bouazza, Kamara, Dempsey. Subs: Warner, Bocanegra, Ki-Hyeon, Healy, Kuqi.

Blackburn: Friedel, Ooijer, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Mokoena, Kerimoglu, Emerton, Pedersen, McCarthy. Subs: Brown, Savage, Khizanishvili, Reid, Roberts.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Saturday 24 November 2007

24thNov

After a 2 week break for international games and England getting knocked out of Euro 2008 , oh well, back to what really matters, the Premier League.

Newcastle 0 - Liverpool 3

Big Sam's men just could get started today, Gerrard sunk a 30 yd shot to open the scoring at St James. Gerrard was getting booed by the crowd for his poor performance in the England game. Torres almost scored but hit the woodwork and there was a call for hand ball as Given was out of his area and the ball struck his upper arm just before half time. Second half and Kuyt wasted no time to sore no.2 in within 45th min, Babel then played a good ball through to Gerrard for a brilliant 1 -2 straight back in for Babel to make a simple but brilliant finish, then another shot just going wide shot from Babel , Viduka had a late attempt but off side. 3 goals and the Toon where in bits not 1 shot on target from Newcastle. I am really surprised at Newcastle, specially the likes of Viduka and martins who couldn't get their act together.

Newcastle: Given, Geremi, Beye, Rozehnal, Jose Enrique (Carr 78), Smith, Butt, Emre (Barton 51), N'Zogbia (Milner 59), Viduka, Martins.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Edgar.

Booked: Butt, Beye, Smith.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Gerrard (Crouch 80), Lucas, Sissoko, Kewell (Babel 58), Torres, Kuyt (Riise 76).
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Mascherano.

Booked: Sissoko.

Goals: Gerrard 28, Kuyt 46, Babel 66.

Att: 52,307

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
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Arsenal 2 - Wigan 0

Well you know where to put the save money dont you. But you would have biting your nails as Wigan really held their own looking good to hold the Gunner's to a 0-0 draw. Steve Bruce had his first game to manage today for Wigan. Adabyor almost scored with in the first few mins as Walcott help set up a very good chance but wide it went. Walcott had a shot blocked and still looking for that goal. Rosicky sent a shot high over the goal . Gallas and Heskey booked for a bit of a ding dong and both picked up a yellow, Adabayor with another shot taken high and over the bar. Walcott was stretchered off with an injury. Gallas then managed to score on the 83rd min with a header from a cross from Sagna, it was Rosicky who had all the space in the world on the right and took advantage of it and scored on the 85th min. The gunners keep a very safe lead and even more safe thanks to Bolton.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Eduardo 68), Denilson, Diarra, Rosicky, Adebayor, Walcott (Bendtner 79).
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Senderos, Song Billong.

Booked: Gallas.

Goals: Gallas 83, Rosicky 85.

Wigan: Pollitt, Boyce, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Brown, Scharner (Skoko 90), Landzaat, Olembe (Heskey 68), Koumas, Bent (Sibierski 84).
Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Hall.

Booked: Brown, Granqvist, Bent, Heskey.

Att: 60,126

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
______________________________________________________________________________________

Birmingham 0 - Portsmouth 2

Birmingham under a care taker manager due to Steve Bruce moving to Wigan. Muntari opened the scoring after 34 mins to put Portsmouth in front. Ridgewell was taken down in the area and Birmingham appealed for the penalty but not given a very poor call from the ref. Kranjcar took a bullet free kick brilliant shot and sunk goal no.2 on the 82nd min.

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Bolton 1 - Man Utd 0

This was another fixture that you would have put you're money on the Utd to win and so wrong you would have been. Kampo took a free kick into the area and Anelka trned and shot the ball in keeper stood no chance just after 11 mins. Boltons defence where solid and thats how you have to be with Utd or you'll pay the price. Davies pick up a yellow for a late tackle then being taken aside for a talk with the ref. Hargreaves had a shot but went wide. Evra got away without a booking just before half time. Hargreaves took a free kick on target but saved and pushed away by Jaaskelainen. Utd then had another chance on goal but wasted it. A late free kick taken by hargreaves again went just over and landed on the roof of the net, just 1st time in 30 years that Bolton at home have beaten Man Utd, a really good game and a well desearved 3 point to Bolton who climb out of the relegation zone.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Campo, Nolan (McCann 83), Guthrie (Wilhelmsson 74), Davies (Speed 70), Anelka, Diouf.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Michalik.

Booked: Davies, Nolan, Hunt.

Goals: Anelka 11.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown (O'Shea 88), Pique (Anderson 59), Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Hargreaves, Giggs, Saha, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Fletcher, Eagles.

Att: 25,028

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Derby 0 - Chelsea 2

The smart money on Chelsea would have won as it was a giant slaying a minnow. Derby cannot get started. Derby giving Chelsea so much space and they paid for it with a goal from kalou after 17 mins. Kalou could have made it 2 with a bad header from the defence but in a freak shot he hit it high over the bar at point blank range. Kenny Miller had a flick on goal high and over the keeper and went in but was called off side on the re play showed he was on side ( high time we bring in video ref) Wright Phillips took advantage of a rebounded shot to make it 2 on the 73rd min. Essien was sent off for hitting Kenny Miller in the face as Essien raised his arm and caught Miller in the face twice near the end of the game.

Derby: Bywater, Griffin, Davis, Moore, Leacock, McEveley, Fagan (Earnshaw 86), Oakley (Feilhaber 84), Jones, Miller, Barnes (Howard 75).
Subs Not Used: Price, Mears.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Belletti, Terry, Ben-Haim, Ashley Cole, Obi, Lampard (Pizarro 90), Sidwell (Essien 75), Wright-Phillips, Shevchenko, Kalou.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Joe Cole, Alex.

Sent Off: Essien (90).

Booked: Ashley Cole.

Goals: Kalou 17, Wright-Phillips 73.

Att: 32,789

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).


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Everton 7 - Sunderland 1

Wow, what a game the magnificent 7. Cahill almost scored within the first few mins but it was Yakubu managed to flick the ball over the keeper as he cane out to far and score after 12 mins , Cahill scored no.2 from neville's cross on the 17th min. Leadbitter had a go with a header but went into the side netting. Pienaar scored no.3 with brilliant play on the 43rd min, York managed a goal right on 45th min from a pass from Jones. Cahill scored no.4 on the 62nd min , and Chopra missed an open goal very stupid mistake. Yakubu scred Evertons 5th goal with a little flick from a rebound from the keeper 73rd min. Johnson came on an a man with excellent pace he ran and ran and scored no.6 on the 80th min beating Gordon. Osman walked through Sunderlands defence like they wernt there at all and scored no 7 on the 85th min.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo (Jagielka 81), Lescott, Nuno Valente, Arteta, Carsley, Osman, Pienaar, Cahill (Anichebe 74), Yakubu (Johnson 74).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Gravesen.

Goals: Yakubu 12, Cahill 17, Pienaar 43, Cahill 62, Yakubu 73, Johnson 80, Osman 85.

Sunderland: Gordon, Whitehead, McShane, Higginbotham, Harte, Edwards, Etuhu (Wallace 46), Yorke (Collins 46), Leadbitter, Chopra (Cole 67), Jones.
Subs Not Used: Ward, O'Donovan.

Booked: McShane.

Goals: Yorke 45.

Att: 38,594

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Man City 2 - Reading 1

Royals still cant find that win away this season and today was no exception. Sven side is looking very strong and still today they looked strong. Petrov managed to score on the 11th min from a ball which rebounded and smashed the ball in due to very scrapy defence from Reading. Harper took advantage of a pass into the middle and slotted away a goal to take it all level just before half time on the 43rd min. Giovanni missed a chance but it was his pass to Ireland deep into injury time that made it no. 2 shot high right.

Man City: Isaksson, Corluka (Jihai 43), Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Gelson, Hamann, Ireland, Petrov, Elano (Geovanni 58), Mpenza (Samaras 46).
Subs Not Used: Hart, Ball.

Goals: Petrov 11, Ireland 90.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey, Doyle (Long 85), Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Oster, Fae, Bikey.

Booked: Hunt, Long.

Goals: Harper 43.

Att: 43,813.

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).




Middlesbrough 0 - Aston Villa 3

The Riverside looking very empty for this game.
Downing had an early shot on goal from left but blocked well. Carew scored for Villa just before half time on the 45th min. But it was Boro's mistake from Cattermol who couldnt clear the ball and sent the ball back in the area for Mellberg to score on the 48th min. Agbonlahor scored the 3rd goal on the 58th min , Villa looked very strong , Boro are struggling.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Cattermole (Rochemback 53), Boateng, Johnson, Aliadiere (Hutchinson 75), Downing.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Sanli, Taylor.

Booked: Cattermole, Downing.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen (Davies 84), Bouma, Petrov (Gardner 79), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew (Maloney 74), Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Moore.

Booked: Reo-Coker.

Goals: Carew 45, Mellberg 48, Agbonlahor 58.

Att: 23,900

Ref: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday 11 November 2007

11thNov

Birmingham 1 -Aston Villa 2

Birmingham played a very good game but the ref missed some important fouls . Petrovs low shot hit Ridgewell and went in to take Villa ahead on on 11 mins to count as an own goal. De Ridder was tripped in the area very clear but the ref didnt call it. Forssell came on and scored a brilliant header on 62nd min to take it level. Agbonlahor nodded in a cross from Young to take villa ahead on the 7th min. Very unfair reffing against Birmingham , a brilliant performance from Young and man of the match.

Birmingham: Taylor, Kelly, Djourou, Ridgewell, Schmitz, De Ridder, Muamba, Nafti (Larsson 72), Palacios (Forssell 46), Jerome (O'Connor 75), Kapo.
Subs Not Used: Kingson, McSheffrey.

Booked: De Ridder, Muamba, Kelly.

Goals: Forssell 62.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew (Moore 68), Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Davies, Gardner, Maloney.

Booked: Barry, Agbonlahor.

Goals: Ridgewell 11 og, Agbonlahor 87.

Att: 26,539

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

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Bolton 0 - Middlesbrough 0

Speed sent a shot into the side netting early into the game followed by Davies just sending a shot wide , Bolton had the better of play. Speed was unlucky with a free kick later in the game and Davies had a 20 yd drive go wide, Downing had a shot denied from 20yds out on target. Bolton happy to take the point as it gets them closer to getting out of the drop zone, Boro just keeping their heads above water in 17th.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, McCann, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Cid, Guthrie, Nolan (Giannakopoulos 64), Campo, Speed (Teymourian 80), Gardner, Davies.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Braaten, Michalik.

Booked: Nolan.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Riggott, Wheater, Taylor (Pogatetz 30), O'Neil, Boateng, Cattermole, Downing, Aliadiere, Sanli (Hutchinson 68).
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Shawky, Lee.

Booked: Wheater, Young.

Att: 17,624

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chelsea 1 - Everton 1

Pienaar missed a chance frm Osman across the goal, but they held their own against Chelsea. The first goal didnt come unitil the 70th min from Drogba headed in the ball from a good corner delivered by Kalou, But Cahill stunned the croud with his 90th min overhead kick to bring it even.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho (Ben-Haim 29), Bridge, Essien, Wright-Phillips (Kalou 64), Obi, Lampard, Joe Cole, Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Shevchenko, Pizarro.

Booked: Belletti, Essien.

Goals: Drogba 70.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Pienaar, Carsley (Gravesen 76), Neville (McFadden 46), Osman, Cahill, Yakubu (Anichebe 46).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Jagielka.

Booked: Neville, Pienaar.

Goals: Cahill 90.

Att: 41,683

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

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Man Utd 2 - Blackburn 0

I wouldnt have put money on this scoreline or the scorer to be honest. Blackburn have been very strong and keen to finish top 4, Ronaldo hasnt been firing on all 4 cylinders this season and has still relied on help from Rooney, but today he proved his worth with 2 goals. With his 1st goal coming in on the 34th min with a header and then another on 35th min side footed in , Dunn was sent off after a second yellow for tripping Saha and his first offense for a foul on Tevez, all hope of a come back for Blackburn vanished.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Anderson, Hargreaves (Carrick 77), Giggs, Tevez, Saha (Nani 68).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Fletcher.

Booked: Ronaldo.

Goals: Ronaldo 34, 35.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Mokoena, Pedersen, Santa Cruz (Derbyshire 78), McCarthy.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Ooijer, Kerimoglu, Berner.

Sent Off: Dunn (53).

Booked: Dunn, Mokoena, Nelsen, Samba.

Att: 75,710.

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

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Portsmouth 0 - Man City 0

2 sides looking to finish in a Europe slot this season. Hart was kept busy early in the game and Johnson had an early shot. It was very even play and both evenly matched teams, one of the best shots but unfortunate came from Nugent who hit a rocket shot which took a slight deflection and hit the inside of the far post and rebounded across the goal very unlucky, well deserved point for both sides.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka (Taylor 46), Davis, Muntari, Kranjcar, Kanu (Nugent 63), Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Pedro Mendes, Hreidarsson.

Booked: Distin.

Man City: Hart, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Ireland, Hamann, Gelson, Petrov, Elano (Geovanni 90), Vassell (Bianchi 89).
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Ball, Samaras.

Booked: Garrido.

Att: 19,529

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Tottenham 4 - Wigan 0

Spurs and turned around under the new management Ramos, Jenas scored after 13 mins to take the lead , Jenas scored again as he got through a sleeping defence to score again on the 26th min, Lennon drove a 25 yd shot that killed the Wigan spirit on the 34th min, Wigan only had 1 shot on target. Bent picked up a through ball for Jenas to slam it home to make it 4 on the 72nd min. Wigan just had no spark and I have nothing to say abouth eir performance as they just lay down to die.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Kaboul, Dawson, Lee, Lennon (Defoe 80), Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque (Tainio 53), Berbatov, Keane (Bent 67).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Archibald-Henville.

Goals: Jenas 13, 26, Lennon 34, Bent 72.

Wigan: Kirkland, Taylor, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Granqvist, Skoko (Brown 64), Kilbane, Landzaat, Cotterill (Sibierski 39), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Hall, Olembe.

Booked: Skoko, Scharner.

Att: 35,504

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

10th Nov

Derby 0 - West Ham

West Ham had the upper hand with and early attempt but Bywater blocked well. Derby gave away a free kick just outside the area Salano struck a good ball just clipping the underside of the cross bar , it Bowyer who managed to make good of some scrappy defense and control the ball with his arm (not seen by the ref and score on the 42nd min. Etherington made it 2 on 51 mins with and excellent 1 -2 . Spector picked out a shot low right , Lewis blocked but dragged the ball over the line to count as an own goal on 55 mins. Bowyer made it look easy with goal no for precision shot 59th min, Derby gave away another free kick for a Solano on target strike scoring on 69th min, Derby in trouble and had only 1 shot on target and look very weak not a Premier league club and not good enough for the championship, if they play like that they will certainly go down but just stay at the bottom. Billy Davies will be sacked befor Christmas if he isnt then theyve signed their own death warrant.

Derby: Bywater, Mears, Moore, Edworthy, Griffin, Barnes, Oakley, Pearson, Teale (Howard 52), Miller (Fagan 75), Lewis (Earnshaw 58).
Subs Not Used: McEveley, Jones.

Booked: Oakley, Fagan.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney (Pantsil 14), Solano, Spector, Bowyer (Collins 72), Etherington, Cole, Boa Morte.
Subs Not Used: Wright, Ljungberg, Camara.

Booked: Pantsil, Bowyer.

Goals: Bowyer 42, Etherington 51, Lewis 55 og, Bowyer 59, Solano 69.

Att: 32,440

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

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Liverpool 2 - Fulham 0

Hyypia had an Early shot on target and pushed away by Niemi. Gerard was next to make a shot top left but just over the cross bar it went. Fulham gave away a free kick with a brilliant ball delivered to Crouch he headed in just smacking the woodwork and keeping 0-0 up to half time. Niemi saved the day again with a good save and the ball being cleared Benayoun almost getting to it but could only send the ball high over the cross bar. But Benayoun then had another go on target saved by Niemi. Torres quick turn and shoot on the 81st min a low right shot beating Niemi. Fulham defenders where clumsy to give away a penalty as Geraard was brought down but the offense looked like it was out of the area , penalty given and Gerrard scored on 85th min.
Niemi keeping was first class but let down by some poor defending.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Aurelio, Benayoun, Mascherano (Lucas 81), Gerrard, Riise (Babel 62), Voronin (Torres 70), Crouch.
Subs Not Used: Martin, Finnan.

Goals: Torres 81, Gerrard 85 pen.

Fulham: Niemi, Baird, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Davies, Davis, Murphy, Dempsey (Kamara 69), Kuqi, Healy (Bouazza 60).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Smertin, Leijer.

Booked: Murphy, Dempsey.

Att: 43,073

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

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Sunderland 1 - Newcastle 1

Big Sam looking for some point here and something to stop the fans booing. But they booed .
Wallace missed an early chance but sent the ball well wide. Leadbitter missed another chance as Sunderland had the leading tempo. Barton up to usual rubbish play by going into Dickson Etuhu he is insistent on playing like a foll and its only a shame the ref didn't see it as it was a straight red offence, Premier league is no place for this kind of rubbish play. Leadbitter wasting another chance sending a good cross away with a poor header. Chopra had a good shot on target but Given blocked and ball kept in play for Newcastle to get the ball away 0 - 0 at half time. Kenwyn Jones had a brilliant run to force the Newcastle defence to send the ball out for a corner quickly taken put into the area for Higginbotham to steer in to the net high right with a header on the 52nd min . But the Toon came back with a goal on 65th min with a good goal from Milner . Sunderland should have had all 3 points