28th Oct

Liverpool 1 - Arsenal 1

Top game for today as these two teams need to keep the points coming in to keep strong in the top 4. Liverpool had the upper hand with attempts with Gerrard almost scoring sending Almunia to palm ball away and kept in play, whilst still busy clea5ring the ball out of the area Arsenal gave away a free kick just out side the 18 yd area Gerrard took and sent the ball screaming through the wall (recorded at 68 mph) to take them ahead after 7 mins. Arsenal where lucky that the ref didnt notice a handball in the area which would have given Liverpool penalty. Gerrard was on target again with a strong shot this time pushed over the bar. Crouch let rip with a strong shot Almunia just managed to get a hand to it to clear for a corner, Fabregas missed an open goal from a rebound shot by sending the ball wide, but on the 80th min redeemed himself by scoring and bringing at all even, and then nearly scoring again.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Mascherano, Alonso (Arbeloa 68), Gerrard, Voronin (Benayoun 65), Kuyt, Torres (Crouch 46).
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Babel.

Booked: Voronin, Mascherano, Carragher.

Goals: Gerrard 7.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy (Silva 74), Eboue (Bendtner 74), Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Rosicky (Walcott 66), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Diarra.

Booked: Rosicky, Toure, Fabregas.

Goals: Fabregas 80.

Att: 44,122

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

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Bolton 1 - Aston Villa 1

New Bolton Manager Gary Megson keen to look for badly needed points today. Anelka opened the scoring from a brilliant free kick curving it in top left corner on 22nd min. This must be the weekend of blind ref,s and linesman as 2 claims for penalties for Bolton where rejected. Moore got an equaliser on 57th min, the Reebok was nt a full house and lots of empty seats so this point was very welcome to Bolton .


Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Nolan, Campo (Speed 65), McCann (Guthrie 71), Davies, Anelka (Samuel 79), Diouf. Subs Not Used: Walker, Giannakopoulos.

Booked: Anelka, Campo.

Goals: Anelka 22.

Aston Villa: Taylor, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Petrov, Osbourne (Berger 46), Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Maloney (Moore 46). Subs Not Used: Sorensen, Harewood, Davies.

Booked: Young.

Goals: Moore 57.

Att: 18,413

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

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Tottenham 1 - Blackburn 2

Spurs , another team trying to get away from the drop zone. And perhaps a new manager will change it all, well no. Ramos took charge but only to witness his first defeat. All square at half time 0 - 0 , it wasnt until Aaron Lennon was brought down in the area that gave Spurs a penalty, taken by Keane to go ahead. Benni McCarthy took an 18yd shot which deflected off Dawson and went in to go even after 60 mins. It was Samba's last minute strike that took Mark Hugh's men ahead and to go back up north with the 3 points in the bag, Blackburn are going to be a contender for the top 4 .

Tottenham: Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon, Huddlestone, Zokora, Malbranque (Bent 77), Berbatov (Defoe 89), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Tainio, Stalteri.

Booked: Huddlestone, Zokora, Lee, Defoe.

Goals: Keane 49 pen.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Bentley, Savage (Mokoena 45), Kerimoglu (Pedersen 60), Dunn (Derbyshire 83), Santa Cruz, McCarthy.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Nelsen.

Booked: Dunn, McCarthy, Santa Cruz.

Goals: McCarthy 60, Samba 90.

Att: 36,086

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
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Derby 0 - Everton 2

Another Team looking for anything to get out of the drop zone , Derby entertained Everton. Everton went ahead at Pride Park as Arteta on 26th min , keeping the lead through to the second half it was Yakubu who scored on the 63rd min . Derby , what can i say same old story cant contain play , cant keep the ball , passing is bad need more hard work on the training fields if they want to survive, Billy Davies is the only manager to still be there as Jol got the bullet as did Sammy Lee so Davies could be next that will make it 4 mangers gone (including the special one Jose).

Derby: Bywater, Mears, Davis, Moore, McEveley, Fagan (Howard 62), Oakley, Pearson, Lewis (Earnshaw 57), Miller (Jones 80), Barnes.
Subs Not Used: Price, Leacock.

Booked: Moore.

Everton: Howard, Jagielka, Lescott, Yobo, Baines (Stubbs 46), Arteta, Osman, Cahill (McFadden 86), Carsley, Pienaar, Yakubu (Anichebe 81).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Gravesen.

Booked: Jagielka.

Goals: Arteta 26, Yakubu 63.

Att: 33,048

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

27th Oct

Chelsea 6 - Man City 0

I wouldn't have put money on a win from Chelsea given the recent wins from City but city just couldn't get started. Petrov put Cech under pressure with a good on target shot but safely saved.Essien opened up after 16 mins. Next was the wizardry of Lampard and Drogba that took first blood with a great pass through to Drogba to finish on 31 mins. Drogba was brought down in the penalty area by Hamman was very lucky not to have been booked on the replay it showed a definite penalty. Ireland missed a good chance as City built up a good attack. Petrov just missed with a free kick by send the ball just over the cross bar. Lampard had a shot blocked by Hart which re bounded back out for Drogba to finish on 55 mins. Joe Cole took advantage of all the space the on the right wing and ran all the way to put away another on 60 mins. almost straight away city gave another chance for Joe Cole by giving him loads of room to almost doing the same move. Essien passed a brilliant ball through to Kalou to make it 5 on 75th min. The icing on the cake was put on by Schevchenko on the 90th min making it 6 nil.

Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Ferreira, Joe Cole (Shevchenko 67), Essien, Lampard, Obi, Kalou, Drogba (Pizarro 80).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Makelele, Ben-Haim.

Booked: Essien, Lampard.

Goals: Essien 16, Drogba 31, 56, Joe Cole 60, Kalou 75, Shevchenko 90.

Man City: Hart, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ireland (Vassell 63), Hamann (Ball 66), Johnson, Petrov, Elano (Bianchi 73), Samaras.
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Onuoha.

Booked: Richards, Johnson.

Att: 41,832

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
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Man Utd 4- Middlesbrough 1

Boro had a little bit of and early flare but this was soon put out by a long shot from Nani in 3 mins . Aliadiere then answered back in 6 mins for Boro with a header . Rooney took advantage of a poor pass from Downing to run on with the ball to score on 33rd min. Back heel from Rooney to Tevez went on to make it 3 on 55th min. Tevez again struck a shoot which took a deflection but spun in the air and fell in the goal giving it to Man Utd the 4th on 85th min.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand (Pique 73), Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Hargreaves (Fletcher 66), Anderson (Giggs 78), Nani, Rooney, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Simpson.

Goals: Nani 3, Rooney 33, Tevez 55, 85.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Taylor, O'Neil, Cattermole (Boateng 90), Rochemback, Downing, Aliadiere (Hutchinson 56), Sanli (Lee 80).
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Hines.

Booked: Cattermole, Rochemback.

Goals: Aliadiere 6.

Att: 75,720

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
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Reading 2- Newcastle 1

Royals looking for points again came out very strong and ruled most of the game. Lita missed an early chance from a good cross from Doyle. Owen had a chance but the ball was steered clear by Murty. Newcastle nearly scored an own goal as a poor pass back to Given. Hunt passed to Kitson for a brilliant shot on 53rd min to take the lead. A free kick to Newcastle resulted in Duberry chesting the ball into his own goal putting it even on 76th min. Long was brought on and scored the winner on the 84th min to beat his international team mate Given.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (Rosenior 86), Sonko, Duberry, Shorey, Lita (Long 83), Gunnarsson, Harper, Hunt, Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Ingimarsson, Convey.

Goals: Kitson 53, Long 84.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Faye (Milner 74), Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Barton, Butt (N'Zogbia 58), Emre, Martins (Smith 58), Owen.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Rozehnal.

Booked: Faye.

Goals: Duberry 76 og.

Att: 24,119

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
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Birmingham 3 - Wigan 2

The cloud of doubt was blown away if Steve Bruce will stay. Jerome had a good build up with play but the center player missed the chance. It was Marcus bent who opened the scoring on 23rd min for Wigan. Birmingham then won a penalty 3 mins later with Kapo putting it even. A defending mix up cost Birmingham a goal a Bent took advantage . Smith steered a good header in for Ridgewell to finish and once again all even 2 - 2 on 67th min . Kapo finish it for with a very cool turn an shoot on the 81st min .

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Queudrue, De Ridder (McSheffrey 90), Muamba (O'Connor 62), Nafti, Palacios (Larsson 78), Kapo, Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Kingson, Danns.

Goals: Kapo 26 pen, Ridgewell 67, Kapo 81.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Sibierski (Aghahowa 84), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor, Boyce, Skoko.

Booked: Scharner.

Goals: Bent 23, 59.

Att: 27,661

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

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Portsmouth 0 - West Ham 0

West Ham missed chances galore in this game and Bellamy threw his teddy in the corner. Green made a stunning save on the 90th min from a penalty shot taken by Benjani, Bellamy was moaning all through the match and him and Hreidarsson where both booked for for throwing wobblers at one another. Solano missed the chance of the season with an open goal.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Kanu 77), Diop, Pedro Mendes, Muntari, Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Lauren, Taylor, Pamarot.

Booked: Hreidarsson, Diop.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Spector 78), Noble, Mullins, Boa Morte, Bellamy (Etherington 46), Cole (Ferdinand 90).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Camara.

Booked: Bellamy, Noble, Solano, Cole.

Att: 20,525

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

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Sunderland 1 - Fulham 1

Not the most exciting of games. Davies sored from a good free kick to beat Gordon. Halford was shown his second yellow as he got caught pulling Healy's shirt taking Sunderland down to 10 men. Jones scored a late goal with a well aimed header on the 86th min to take it all even.

Sunderland: Gordon, Halford, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Collins, Leadbitter, Etuhu (Stokes 61), Miller, Wallace (Harte 71), Jones, Chopra (Murphy 61).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Connolly.

Sent Off: Halford (67).

Booked: Halford.

Goals: Jones 86.

Fulham: Niemi, Omozusi, Hughes, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Davies, Davis, Murphy, Dempsey, Kamara (Ki-Hyeon 82), Healy (Kuqi 69).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Smertin, Ashton.

Booked: Dempsey, Davies, Stefanovic, Bocanegra.

Goals: Davies 32.

Att: 39,392

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

22nd Oct

Newcastle 3 - Tottenham 1
Another wave of fresh doubt about Martin Jol washed over Spurs after another defeat. Poor defending from spurs allowed big Sam's men to rule the play. Faye was denied by the post with a good early attempt with a header, but it wasnt until just before half time with a goal from Martins on 45th min, Cacapa then gave Newcastle a cushion on 51st min , Keane managed to get one back for Spurs on 57th min but shame the rest of the team wasnt working as hard as him, Milner then sunk spurs on 73rd min. All the press was full of will Jol survive, well to be honest I hope he does. Looking at what he has done for the club not just the recent poor results but the long term record it shows he can get the team to perform, I wouldnt put money on them going down but I think they'll join Reading mid table (I hope).

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Faye, Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Geremi, Butt, Emre (Barton 71), N'Zogbia (Milner 46), Martins, Owen (Rozehnal 79).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Ameobi.

Booked: Beye, Butt.

Goals: Martins 45, Cacapa 51, Milner 73.

Tottenham: Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Malbranque (Berbatov 58), Jenas, Zokora, Bale (Tainio 19), Keane, Bent (Lennon 78).
Subs Not Used: Forecast, Gardner.

Booked: Bale, Chimbonda.

Goals: Keane 57.

Att: 51,411

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

21st Oct

WestHam 3 - Sunderland 1
Only the one game today, Cole opened the scoring with a header after a cross from McCartney. Kenwyne Jones put the pressure on through out the game. It wasn't until after half time 52nd min Jones got the equaliser, Leadbitter had a god game and a very good chance on goal, Substitute Solano came on and his brilliant shot hit the near post to back out and rebound off Gordon,s foot to go in the net and earn Gordon an own goal. Hammer Keeper Green did very well to keep out a wonderful 20 yd strike from Jones, Luis Boa Morte delivered a good ball to Bellamy on the 90th min with Bellamy wrapping it up.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Bowyer, Noble (Solano 73), Mullins, Etherington (Boa Morte 74), Cole (Ferdinand 84), Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Wright, Camara.

Booked: Cole, Bellamy, Bowyer.

Goals: Cole 9, Gordon 78 og, Bellamy 90.

Sunderland: Gordon, Halford, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Collins (Harte 80), O'Donovan (Chopra 46), Leadbitter, Miller, Etuhu, Wallace (Stokes 46), Jones. Subs Not Used: Ward, Connolly.

Booked: Leadbitter, Halford.

Goal: Jones 52.

Att: 34,913.

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

20th Oct

Everton 1 - Liverpool 2

A good derby game in the north west brought lots of entertainment, Everton had a lot of possession in the first 30 mins Hyypia scored an own goal on 38 mins to give Everton the lead as he tried to clear the ball but hit it in the back of the net. Hibbert was awarded a red card for bringing down Gerrard in the box giving Liverpool a penalty put away by Kuyt on 54 mins. Lescott had a chance but was held back the foul wasn't seen and play went on. Riise struck a cracking shot just over the bar. Kuyt was booked for a two footed fling challenge, this should have been a straight red as both feet where off the ground but he was lucky and got a yellow. Fans where stunned as Gerrard was subbed and Lucas brought on but no one more stunned than Gerrard himself. In the last minutes Liverpool had a good attack with Everton scrambling about defending, a shot from Lucas on target was stopped by Phil Neville cleared with his hand earning a red card and a penalty again Kuyt on 90 min .

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Arteta, Jagielka, Neville, Osman, Yakubu (McFadden 77), Anichebe (Baines 84).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Pienaar, Carsley.

Sent Off: Hibbert (53), Neville (90).

Booked: McFadden.

Goals: Hyypia 38 og.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard (Lucas 71), Mascherano, Sissoko (Pennant 88), Benayoun (Babel 68), Voronin, Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Crouch.

Booked: Kuyt, Carragher.

Goals: Kuyt 54 pen, 90 pen.

Att: 40,049

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

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Aston Villa 1 - Man Utd 4

Villa had the best of the match to begin with with Gardner putting in a brilliant early cross but no one to meet it , but another attempt with Young delivering a cross Agbonlahor to finish with a header in 13 mins. Rooney and Tevez then went through the Villa defense for and excellent attempt on goal. Knight let ball go pass him for Rooney to pick up and score on 36 mins. Rooney then scored again straight down the middle on 44 mins. Ferdinand claimed a goal from a corner as Villa tried to clear off the line but hit it in their own net the goal went to Rio on 45 + 2 mins.
Second half saw Reo Coker get sent off for a late challenge on Anderson. Rooney delivered a excellent ball for Tevez who was brought down by Carson who got a red card and another Villa player was sent off, reserve keeper Taylor came on as Rooney took the penalty stopped by taylor and excellent way to start. Rooney then stuck another shot denied by the cross bar. Tevez had another shot stopped by Taylor. Giggs then jinked around the Villa players in a very skillful way to shoot deflected off a Villa player but went in none the less.

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight (Taylor 67), Laursen, Bouma, Gardner (Maloney 53), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Agbonlahor, Moore (Osbourne 54).
Subs Not Used: Davies, Petrov.

Sent Off: Reo-Coker (60), Carson (66).

Booked: Reo-Coker, Young.

Goals: Agbonlahor 13.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Pique, Brown, Ferdinand, Evra, Nani, Anderson, Scholes (O'Shea 77), Giggs (Ronaldo 76), Tevez (Fletcher 73), Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Simpson.

Booked: Scholes, Nani.

Goals: Rooney 36, 44, Ferdinand 45, Giggs 75.

Att: 42,640

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

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Arsenal 2 - Bolton 0

Arsenal continue there strong as they entertained Bolton. Arsenal had most the posesion in the 1st half but Bolton did a good job keeping it 0 - 0. It wasn't until the 68th min when Toure got a shot on target as Walcott delivered a good ball to beat Jaaskelainen from 25 yds out , Toure's 1st goal. Adebayor had a good chance as he got around the keeper but went to far and ended up falling over. Rosicky then picked up another Walcott through ball to make it 2 on 80 mins. Bolton have had a n awful start this season and I dont care what any one says big Sam's leaving to Newcastle has had such an impact on Bolton, they need to get it together.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Rosicky 62), Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb (Diaby 89), Eduardo (Walcott 62), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Silva.

Booked: Fabregas.

Goals: Toure 68, Rosicky 80.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Meite, Andrew O'Brien, Gardner, Nolan, Campo, McCann, Guthrie (Giannakopoulos 77), Diouf (Braaten 68), Davies.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Cid.

Booked: McCann, Diouf, Nolan, Davies, Campo.

Att: 59,442

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

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Blackburn 4 - Reading 2

Reading again on the receiving end of a beating but not as bad as their visit to Portsmouth, Reading have never won at Ewood Park and their luck wasn't to change.
Benni McCarthy opened the scoring for Blackburn after 18 mins. Santa Cruz then scored again for Blackburn on 22 mins. Tugay then struck a long shot to beat Hahnemann on 32nd min. Coppell brought on Lita for the second half who had a 20 yd strike pushed way by Friedel. Duberry had a good attempt on goal with a header hitting the underside of the cross bar to be deflected. Doyle got a header on target and scored in 80th min, but 2 mins later Sonko brought down McCarthy in the penalty area to give away a penalty McCarthy put away another 82nd min. Shorey delivered a good cross for Doyle to header in again. Not a bad performance from Reading but still looking for that away win, Blackburn looking very strong so far this season.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock (Khizanishvili 54), Bentley, Savage, Kerimoglu, Dunn (Pedersen 66), Santa Cruz (Derbyshire 77), McCarthy.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena.

Goals: McCarthy 18, Santa Cruz 22, Kerimoglu 32, McCarthy 82 pen.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Duberry, Shorey, Bikey (Lita 46), Harper, Fae (Doyle 64), Rosenior (Gunnarsson 46), Kitson, Hunt.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Ingimarsson.

Goals: Doyle 80, 90.

Att: 19,425

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

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Wigan 0 - Portsmouth 2

Wigan had an early chance from a free kick but ended up being heded into the far post and out of play. Muntari shaved the outside of the far post from a free kick. It wasn't until 81st minute that Portsmouth opened up the scoring with a goal from Benjani delivered by Muntari. Johnson then got around the Wigan Defense as Wigan looked at one another and poor communication cost them as Johnson scored.
wigan manager Chris Hutchings put their poor play down to injuries , where as Tony Adams said that Portsmouth are just dealing with hitting that 40 points

Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Scharner, Brown, Landzaat, Koumas, Sibierski (Aghahowa 52), Bent

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Hall, Olembe, Skoko

Booked: Aghahowa, Bramble

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis (Pedro Mendes 77), Diop, Kranjcar, Muntari, Mwaruwari

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Nugent, Taylor, Pamarot

Booked: Campbell, Davis, Muntari

Goals: Mwaruwari 81, Johnson 86

Att: 17,695

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

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Fulham 0 - Derby 0

Derby came out very strong early in the game with an early shot on target from Miller. then Lewis had good shot cleared. Seol Ki-Hyeon had a good chance but sent it wide. derby had another excellent shot on target just caught and stopped on the line by Niemi. Derby on target agian as Barnes struck yet another shot which was stopped by Niemi, then again by Miller, Griffith delivered an excellent ball but the forward s couldnt get on it, Miller again with another shot but just wide this time , nil - nil games can be boring but this was farly entertaining and they proved very evenly matched.

Fulham: Niemi, Baird, Stefanovic, Hughes, Konchesky, Bouazza, Davis (Davies 69), Murphy, Ki-Hyeon (Bocanegra 46), Kamara (Healy 87), Dempsey.
Subs Not Used: Warner, Smertin.

Sent Off: Konchesky (45).

Derby: Bywater, Mears, Moore, Davis (Barnes 43), McEveley (Griffin 71), Pearson, Oakley, Leacock (Howard 78), Lewis, Fagan, Miller.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Earnshaw.

Booked: Leacock, Fagan.

Att: 22,576

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

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Middlesbrough 0 - Chelsea 2

Chelsea looking for some confidence after Drogba annouced he wants to leave, and it took them only 8 mins for Chelsea to do that as Lampard got a good through ball to Drogba to score. Mido had a header on target but Cech got to it. Alex had his first goal on 57th minute from a cracking shot 30 yds out to make it 2 nil. O'niel missed a good chance in the last minute, but it was Chelsea who held the upper hand through the game.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate, Riggott, Taylor, O'Neil, Boateng (Cattermole 67), Rochemback, Downing, Sanli (Craddock 84), Mido.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Lee, Wheater.

Booked: Boateng.

Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Ferreira, Obi, Essien (Sidwell 81), Lampard, Joe Cole, Drogba (Shevchenko 85), Malouda (Wright-Phillips 75).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ben-Haim.

Booked: Malouda.

Goals: Drogba 8, Alex 57.

Att: 27,699.

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

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Man City 1 - Birmingham 0

City had early attempt on target and kept the tempo up. Elano put the pressure on and was brought down for a free kick, taken by Elano deflected and out for a corner. Muamba got slightly caught and went down but on the replay it showed Johnson had played the ball and when Johnson went down he caught Muuamba, no foul, play went on and Elano scored on the 37th minute. Petrov had a long shot on target but saved then Elano hit the far post, Richards managed to clear the ball with a header off the line to keep a clean sheet for City in the last minute and keeping them in the top 4 .

Man City: Hart, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Ireland (Ball 80), Johnson, Hamann, Petrov, Mpenza (Samaras 65), Elano (Gelson 89).
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Geovanni.

Booked: Corluka, Garrido, Johnson.

Goals: Elano 37.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz (Danns 87), Ridgewell, Queudrue, McSheffrey (De Ridder 58), Palacios, Muamba, Nafti (O'Connor 76), Kapo, Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Kingson, Sadler.

Booked: Palacios, Ridgewell.

Att: 45,688

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Saturday 6th

Man Utd 4 - Wigan 0
Wigan Managed to hold their own for the for the first half even though man Utd had most of the posesion. But Utd came out for the second half like a bullet. Tevez opened up with a goal on 54 mins 5 ,mins later followed by Ronaldo and another from Ronaldo on 76 mins , all one way traffic then wrapped up on the 82nd min by Rooney. Utd got closer to top spot but Arsenal are the biggest competition for them this season. Wigan defense fell to bits in the second half and couldn't manage to deal with a slight formation change from Utd.
Attendance:75,300

Aston Villa 1 - West Ham 0
Didn't see this one coming , West Ham have been very solid this season and so they should be after investing over summer, but they just couldn't cut it at Villa Park, Gardner too advantage by scoring in the 23rd minute from a deflected free kick, but a goals a goal and Villa walk away with 3 points, I think they could be contenders for a European place.
Attendance:40,842

Sunday 7th

Reading 1 - Derby 0

Reading had a good start with most of the chances, but couldn't finish, Hunt having one of the best opportunities with a header but going over the cross bar. Bywater was the worked of the 2 keepers, Reading should have been awarded a penalty when Murty's shot hit a stretched arm of McEveley, what can I say 23,000 people cant be wrong and right in sight of lines man and ref was very close, even I who was way up in the rafters of the south stand could see that was penalty. Readings efforts where being tried very hard by a rigid Derby formation and it seemed impossible for any space to be created. Derby made some good attempts on goal but to be honest I lost count after 4 times of how many times Derby fell into the Reading off side trap . It was Murty's assist to Doyle who put a header away to beat Bywater and Doyle's first goal of the season on 63rd min. Not a really exciting game very boring in points, Kitson did'nt even have a go and Lita should have been brought on but there you go. I couldn't help but almost cringe when someone decided to pipe up and sing to the Derby fans "that's why you,re going down" I didn't join in in that song because that could so easily have been Reading as they haven't had a really strong start.
Attendance:23,901

Newcastle 3 - Everton 2

Everton looking to increase there good performance to ensure a Europe slot for next season. Nicky Butt put the Toon ahead 3 mins before half time. Johnson answered back for Everton on 53rd min, Emre was the next scorer for Newcastle on 86th minute Owen got a 90th minute goal but Arteta had an amazing left wing cross deflected and Given could only help it in to count as an own goal.
Attendance:50,152

Man City 3 - Middlesbrough 1

City showed the strength as Boro made it difficult for themselves as Riggot scored an own goal in 10 mins. Elano then scored for City on 33 mins 25 yd shot into bottom corner , then again on 69th min Hutchinson managed a goal for Boro on the 89th min but City had the possession and could have easily been 4 -0 city, another likely contender for a European place.
Attendance:40,438

Liverpool 2 - Tottenham 2

Martin Jol still looking for wins as the board are threatening him with the sack . But Benitez was left frustrated as all they could scape was a draw. Liverpool
went ahead when Robinson (he should be calamity) spilt Gerrard's free kick for Voronin to snatch a shot and score in 12 mins. Keane got an equaliser before half time and also put Spurs ahead just into the second half. Liverpool looked very disjointed, Torres managed a header pass Robinson to make it all even, Benitez didn't even put Crouch on the bench, I think Crouch may move if not January the certainly summer, come on an England striker not being used and left to waste, hope he comes to Reading, only joking, John Madejski is so tight he wouldn't give a door a bang.
Attendance:43,986

Fulham 0 - Portsmouth 2

Pompey continue winning ways by beating Fulham at Craven Cottage.the scoring didn't open until the second half , Mwaruwari scoring on 50mins then Hreidarsson on 52 mins with a helpful deflection off Chris Baird, Fulham still don't look very convincing going forward.
Attendance:20,774

Bolton 0 - Chelsea 1

Avram Grant will happy with this performance as this was Chelsea's first Premier league goal in 460 mins, Kalou was the only man on the score board after a 41st min goal , Bolton's Keeper made great saves from Lampard and Malouda, it could have easily been 3 or 4 to Chelsea. Bolton really need to do something as they remain 19th 1 above Derby, low attendance at the Reebok for a capacity of 28,723, Sammy Lee's future is now very shaky.
Attendance:20,059

Blackburn 2 - Birmingham 1

Blackburn looking strong again and I put them as another European contender, even though they've had their chance with Europe this season they'll be keen to get back there again. Bentley opened up after 15 mins after beating Taylor. Second half saw Djourou give away a penalty for his challenge on Santa Cruz, McCarthy making no mistake and putting away the penalty to take it to 2 on 56th min, McSheffrey had a goal dis aloud as it seemed to be level with the last defender, 50/50 that call its high time for video eagle eye replays. Jerome managed to get 1 back for the visitors.
Attendance:19,316

Arsenal 3 - Sunderland 2

Sunderland did a very good job of hold Arsenal back and giving them a run for their money. Van Persie scored in 7th min , Senderos then put them up 2 as he scored in 14th mins. Wallace got 1 for Sunderland on the 25th min ti finish 2 - 1 at half time , Sunderland then came out to score on 48th with a goal from Jones , but Van Persie managed to get on the end of a great pass from Walcott to take them to 3 on the 80th min

Mon 1st

Tottenham 4 - Aston Villa 4

Just the 1 Monday night game and what a game. Spurs celebrated 125th anniversary, Berbatov got the 1st goal in 20 mins but was soon answered back by Laursen on 22 mins , Laursen then scored again on the 33 min mark , Agbonlahor got a goal on 40 mins finishing 1 - 3 at half time, Villa then scored again as Gardner scored on 59 mins taking to 1 - 4 for Villa, Chimbonda then got 1 back for Spurs on 69 mins , then Spurs Where awarded a penalty Keane put that away nice and easy 82nd min then in added time Kaboul Scored to bring it all level, Martin Jol must be very happy and he deserves to be , the other Martin ( O'Neil) must feel robbed.
Attendance:36,094