4 DECEMBER 2000

Sunderland (1) 2 (Rae 45, Phillips 64)
Everton (0) 0

A comprehensive victory for Sunderland that turned on a goal just
before half time after a tight first half. A long ball forward was
helped on by Quinn, both Williams and Phillips got touches before
Alex Rae latched onto it on the edge of the box and blasted the ball
into the back of the net with a powerful half volley. Sunderland
dominated the second half and put the points beyond doubt when
Phillips got in the way of Arca's shot and was left with a gaping
net to slot into past Gerrard. Everton's appeals for offside were
unfounded as TV replays proved. Overall a totally deserved victory
in a game that also saw Phillips hit the post twice on seperate
occasions, whilst Quinn hit the bar.


3 DECEMBER 2000

Chelsea (2) 2 (Zola 28, Hasselbaink 44)
Man City (0) 1 (Dickov 82)

A sixth defeat on the bounce for City as Chelsea ease some of the
pressure at the club, although their primary problem is away from
Stamford Bridge. Gianfranco Zola opened the scoring, latching onto a
loose ball following poor control from Alfie Haaland. The Italian
then curled a terrific shot past Weaver. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
doubled the lead on half time, flashing home a volley from
Melchoit's cross. Paul Dickov pulled a late goal back for City,
pouncing after De Goey made a hash of Kevin Horlock's shot and City
could count themselves a little unlucky not a grab a late equaliser.


2 DECEMBER 2000

Arsenal (0) 1 (Vieira 85)
Southampton (0) 0

Arsenal remained eight points behind Man United but left it late
against a resolute Southampton team to record their first goal, and
victory, in four games. Patrik Vieira grabbed the all important goal
to end a fairly crummy week for the Frenchman as he headed home
Luhzny's corner through a crowd of players. It was Arsenal's first
headed league goal of the season!


Aston Villa (1) 1 (Dublin 4)
Newcastle (0) 1 (Solano 82)

A late Nol Solano goal cancelled out Dio Dublin's early opener and
denied Villa a vital victory. Dublin put the hosts ahead with a
downward header from Ginola's cross after Given had saved well from
Hendrie. However despite leading for well over an hour, Villa let it
slip when Solano lobbed over David James after Gary Speed's flick
on.


Bradford (0) 2 (Collymore 80, Beagrie 82)
Coventry (0) 1 (Aloisi 64)

Superb victory for bottom club Bradford, only their second of the
season, as they came from behind to score two late goals and send
fellow strugglers Coventry home empty handed. John Aloisi put the
visitors ahead, chipping home neatly having been sent clear by
Hadji. Come the hour, come the man as Stan The Man Collymore, who
had earlier missed a sitter, popped up looking suspiciously offside
and tapped home the equaliser at the far post from Windass's drilled
cross. Less than three minutes later Peter Beagrie fired home having
seen his two earlier efforts blocked as he tried to bulldoze through
the entire Coventry defence.


Ipswich (0) 0
Derby (1) 1 (Delap 28)

A day of firsts at Portman Road as Derby recorded their first away
win of the season, whilst Ipswich failed to score for the first time
this campaign. Rory Delap grabbed the only goal of the game, a fine
solo effort as he cut in from the left before firing home courtesy
of a deflection off Jermaine Wright.


Leicester (3) 3 (Savage 7, Akinbiyi 17, Taggart 29)
Leeds United (0) 1 (Viduka 75)
RED CARD : Radebe (Leeds) 65

Leeds United, complete with £18m Rio Ferdinand at the back, were
torn to shreads inside the first half an hour as they 3-5-2
formation was horribly exposed to allow Leicester into a three goal
lead. Robbie Savage opened the scoring, capitalising to head home
after Eadie's shot was parried by Robinson. Ade Akinbiyi also netted
with a header ten minutes later after a fine far post cross from
Sinclair and things went from bad to worse for Leeds when Gerry
Taggart thundered in a header (surprise!) from Davison cross. Leeds
pressed forward after the break but it all looked dead and buried
when Lucas Radebe was sent off at Leicester for the second time in a
year for a second bookable offence, a tackle on Izzet. The visitors
pulled one back when Viduka thumped home after Smith's shot was
saved, but the destination of the points was never in doubt after
that first half an hour.


Liverpool (1) 3 (Fish (og) 5, Heskey 78, Babbel 90)
Charlton (0) 0

Not a comfortable performance from Liverpool but an emphatic enough
result to see off Charlton who are beginning to plummet down the
table. A Mark Fish own goal put Liverpool ahead early on, turning
the ball into his own net after Ziege's shot appeared to be heading
wide. It took the Anfield side until 12 minutes from time to put the
result beyond Charlton when Emile Heskey headed home Smicer's cross.
Babbel did finally find the net under his own steam in stoppage
time, heading home Gerrard's cross.


Man United (1) 2 (Scholes 40, Solsjkaer 84)
Spurs (0) 0

Comfortable victory for United who stay well clear of the chasing
pack. Spurs held out until five minutes from half time when Paul
Scholes broke the resistance. He controlled Sheringham's long pass
perfectly, cut past Carr and drilled the ball past Sullivan.
Substitute Ole Gunnar Solksjear doubled the lead and secured the
points late on when he latched onto a pass from Scholes to make no
mistake, sliding the through ball home.


West Ham (1) 1 (Di Canio 43)
Middlesbrough (0) 0
RED CARD : Ehigou (Boro) 89

More problems for Middlesbrough and boss Bryan Robson after defeat
at Upton Park, although it needed a special goal to win the points.
The Italian collected a pass from Frank Lampard, beat his man and
crashed the ball past Schwarzer, giving the keeper no chance. Boro's
misery was complete late on when Ugo Ehigou was dismissed for a
second bookable offence as he pulled down Di Canio.


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