12 NOVEMBER 2000

Chelsea (0) 1 (Poyet 78)
Leeds United (0) 1 (Viduka 61)

Honours even at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea again came from behind,
this time hanging on for a draw, unlike last weekend. Goal machine
Mark Viduka made it five in two league games when he header home a
Bowyer corner just after the hour mark, however a corner from
Chelsea levelled things up when Leeds failed to clear and Gus Poyet
headed home from close range after a scramble.


Liverpool (1) 4 (McAllister 13, Gerrard 51, Heskey 82, 87)
Coventry (0) 1 (Thompson 56)

An old boys reunion at Anfield as players from both sides scored
against their former club. Gary McAllister started things off when
he jinked past his marker before firing home from the edge of the
area against the club that let him leave in the summer. England
international Steven Gerrard doubled the lead with a powerful near
post header from a McAllister free kick. David Thompson then put one
over on his old club with a fierce long range effort from 30 yards
before man of the moment Emile Heskey scored a late brace. His first
was an easy far post header after McAllister's corner was headed on
at the near post and the second, Liverpool's forth, was a delightful
lob from the edge of the area after Coventry failed to clear the
ball.


11 NOVEMBER 2000

Arsenal (0) 0
Derby (0) 0

Bottom club Derby battled out a goalless draw at second placed
Arsenal and could have actually won all three points, creating a
number of decent chances. Rory Delap was unlucky twice, striking a
shot off the bar and having a scrambled effort cleared off the line
by Silvinho. Arsenal came close late on when Bergkamp's effort was
tipped away by Poom, but winless Derby held on for their second
goalless game in a row.


Aston Villa (1) 2 (Taylor 22, 57)
Spurs (0) 0

"Spurs were awful" - so said a Spurs fan friend of mine after this
game and you can't really argue with that description. Villa move
into fourth (yet their fans still aren't happy!) thanks to a brace
from Ian Taylor, his first a fine header from an Alan Wright cross,
the second a tidy finish after Dio Dublin's back heel. Spurs have
just one point from their seven away games this season.


Bradford (0) 0
Everton (0) 1 (Naysmith 87)

Bradford's temporary boss Stuart McCall discovered all about the
harsh world of Premiership management as he saw his side dominate
against Everton, along to lose due to a late goal, much the same as
happened to Everton last weekend against Villa. The goal that sent
Bradford to the bottom of the league came from new signing Gary
Naysmith who fired home after Clarke had spilled an effort from Joe
Max Moore.


Ipswich (0) 2 (Holland 80, Stewart 84)
Charlton (0) 0

Ipswich continue their record of having scored in every league game
(the only top flight club to have done so), but they left things
late against fellow promoted club Charlton. Matty Holland broke the
deadlock with ten minutes left firing home after collecting a pass
from Hermann Hreidarsson, before Marcus Stewart decided matters four
minutes later. After running onto a Naylor flick, he beat his man
before shooting home off a defender.


Leicester (0) 1 (Gunnlauggson 62)
Newcastle (0) 1 (Speed 75)

Honours even at Filbert Street as both clubs continue to struggle to
find the net, despite their lofty league positions. Arnar
Gunnlauggson drilled Leicester ahead with a superbly struck free
kick, however Newcastle earned a point when Gary Speed latched onto
Domi's flick to score in off the post.


Man United (0) 2 (Butt 62, Sheringham 65)
Middlesbrough (1) 1 (Karembeu 32)

United pull clear at the top, however they were given an almighty
shock when struggling Boro took the lead. Thoughts of United's last
home defeat, also against Boro 23 months ago, were in the minds when
Christian Karembeu robbed Nicky Butt, played a neat one two with
Ricard, before prodding the ball over his compatriot Barthez in the
United goal. Butt made amends just after the hour mark when he
levelled things up with a tap in from Keane's cross. Three minutes
substitute Teddy Sheringham won the points, blasted home after
Yorke's effort was blocked. Boro have now lost their last six games.


Sunderland (1) 2 (Quinn 23, Hutchison 80)
Southampton (1) 2 (Beattie 12, Richards 89)

Highly exciting game at the Stadium of Light that saw both clubs
take the lead, then lose the lead, before settling for a draw. James
Beattie made it three goals in two games early on, firing home a
peach of a goal from all of 30 yards. Niall Quinn restored parity
when he prodded home at the far post after good work from Phillips
and Hutchison and it was the latter who put Sunderland ahead with
ten minutes to go with a shot that deflected in. However Saints
snatched victory away when Dean Richards thumped home a late header
to earn a point.


West Ham (0) 4 (Lomas 53, Sinclair 57, Pearce (I) 67, Di Canio (pen)
85)
Man City (1) 1 (Prior 32)

West Ham came from behind to record only their third win of the
season, destroying Man City in a lethal second half display. City
were ahead at the interval thanks to Spencer Prior who headed home a
Mark Kennedy corner, however two in four minutes from the Hammers
turned the game on its head. Firstly Steve Lomas levelled matters
from a Kanoute cross that should really have been converted by
Lampard and then Trevor Sinclair put the Hammers ahead, firing home
a Carrick cross through a crowd of players. Ten minutes later Ian
Pearce made it three with a header, again from a Kanoute cross,
before a disputed late penalty from Paulo Di Canio confirmed the
stunning comeback. Kanoute was again involved and was judged to have
been fouled by Dunne and Di Canio chipped home the spot kick, a la
Panenka 1976.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor - Soccerage (UK)
http://www.soccerage.com
garydowden@blueyonder.co.uk