PREMIERSHIP ROUND 25
 
31 JANUARY 2001

Chelsea (1) 3 (Zola 35, Poyet 61, Gronkjaer 78)
Newcastle (1) 1 (Bassesdas 21)

Chelsea came from behind to beat Newcastle and increase the pressure
on the top clubs, extending Newcastle's London jinx to 23 games -
they have not won in the capital since November 1997! It all looked
so different however when Christian Bassesdas opened the scoring,
shooting home after Kieron Dyer's clipped cross. Gianfranco Zola
produced some superb close control and skill on the edge area and
found the net brilliantly from Sam Dalla Bonna's pass to level
matters. On the hour mark, Hasselbaink's cross found Poyet who slid
in to make it 2-1. The points were put beyond doubt when Jesper
Gronkjaer continued his good start in a Chelsea shirt by firing home
after Newcastle failed to clear Dennis Wise's corner.


Everton (0) 2 (Naysmith 48, Tal 76)
Middlesbrough (1) 2 (Ricard 12, Cooper 62)

Everton twice came from behind to earn a point against
Middlesbrough, a result that will not ease the relegation worries of
either club. Hamilton Ricard scored the opener, a simple head in
after Boksic headed on Karembeu's cross. It was level early in the
second half when Gary Naysmith took advantage of an error of
judgement from visiting keeper Mark Schwarzer to head home at the
far post from Watson's cross, although Boro felt that their keeper
was fouled by Kevin Campbell. A similar error at the other end by
Myhre let in Colin Cooper to lob a header over the keeper for the
second for Boro, however a strange goal levelled the scores for a
second time. As Idan Tal went over to take a corner, he realised
that it was actually to be taken from the other side and as it was
swung in, Tal ghosted in at the far post to power home the
equaliser, just a minute after coming on as sub.


Leeds United (0) 1 (Keane 68)
Coventry (0) 0

Leeds third league win in four games was a drab affair decided by
Robbie Keane against the club he left in the summer for Inter. Keane
pounced to fire home with an overhead kick after Mark Viduka's
effort was cleared off the line by Thompson.


Manchester City (0) 1 (Tiatto 47)
Liverpool (1) 1 (Heskey 44)

Goals either side of half time gave Man City and Liverpool a point
each, however both clubs would have wanted more for their varying
causes. The visitors took the lead when Jari Litmanen's cross found
Emile Heskey to head home powerfully. City gained a vital point
thanks to Australian Danny Tiatto who crashed the ball home from 12
yards after Goater cut the ball back.


Southampton (0) 1 (Petrescu 78)
Leicester (0) 0

Leicester are still without a league win in 2001 thanks to a late
winner from recent Southampton signing Dan Petrescu. The Romanian
found space to head home a free kick from Wayne Bridge and confirm
the destination of the points.


Sunderland (0) 0
Manchester United (0) 1 (Cole 46)
RED CARDS : Gray (Sunderland) 47, Rae (Sunderland) 57, Cole (Man Utd) 57

United go 15 points clear after an explosive evening at the Stadium
of Light that saw three men sent off in a ten minute spell at the
start of the second half. After a goalless first half, the second
exploded into life inside a minute as Andrew Cole latched onto an
error by Jody Craddock and scored with ease, however Michael Gray
felt that Cole had handled in the build up and protested so strongly
that he was shown a straight red card. Ten minutes later, goalscorer
Cole and Alex Rae were also dismissed after a mini fight in the area
after Sorensen dropped a cross, the pair went head to head after
what seemed to be nothing obvious to argue over.


West Ham (0) 0
Spurs (0) 0

No goals as both clubs remain firmly in midtable and Spurs remain
without an away win. New loan signing for the visitors, Andy Booth,
came as close as anyone when he headed home a Darren Anderton cross
only to be denied by the offside flag, although Oyvind Leonhardsen
was equally unlucky to see his effort cleared brilliantly off the
line by Hannu Tihinen who somehow scooped the ball over his own bar.
West Ham's nearest moment came when Frank Lampard crashed his header
against the bar from Sebastian Schemmel's cross.


30 JANUARY 2001

Arsenal (2) 2 (Parlour 18, Lauren 26)
Bradford (0) 0

Arsenal condemned bottom club Bradford to yet another defeat and
moved into second place themselves after what can best be called a
2-0 thrashing in a game that could have ended up 7 or 8-0. Ray
Parlour opened the scoring with a scorching drive from 30 yards that
found the bottom corner after being found by Bergkamp, and eight
minutes later Lauren headed home a Lee Dixon cross to wrap up the
points.


Charlton (1) 2 (Svensson 8, Parker 67)
Derby (1) 1 (Burley 35)
MISS PEN : Burley (Derby) 44

Derby's relegation worries continues after a defeat at Charlton that
sees the hosts move into eighth place. Matt Svensson headed home the
opener from a Jensen corner, although it did take a slight
deflection to send the ball past Poom. Craig Burley equalised with a
quickly taken free kick that caught Kiely off guard and on the
stroke of half time should have made it 2-1, however he penalty was
well saved after Kiely had clattered into Christie on the edge of
the area. The winner came after a brilliant 50 yard run from Jensen
who saw his shot saved by Poom only for Scott Parker to pounce and
bobble home the winner.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor - Soccerage (UK)
http://www.soccerage.com
gary@soccerage.com