25 FEBRUARY 2001

Manchester United (5) 6 	(Yorke 2, 17, 22, Keane 25,
			Solskjaer 37, Sheringham 90)
Arsenal (1) 1 (Henry 15)

Man United sail 16 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the
Premiership after destroying their nearest rivals in a game that was
over by half time.

Dwight Yorke, in for the suspended Andrew Cole, got off to a
sensational start with a hat trick inside twenty minutes early in
the game. His first came at the far post after a neat one-two with
Paul Scholes. Then, after Thierry Henry levelled matters after a
lovely passing movement, culminating with his finish from Robert
Pires' cross, Yorke added a second, latching onto a Stam long ball
to slot home neatly. His hat trick goal was similar as he chased
Beckham's perfect pass before firing home. Even after that he wasn't
finish as he set up Roy Keane to fire home the fourth. On 37
minutes, Nicky Butt broke away down the right and crossed for Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer to tuck home goal number five. The second half was
a bit of a non-event, but a sixth goal did arrive when Teddy
Sheringham slotted home after Solskjaer had struck a shot against
the post.


24 FEBRUARY 2001

Bradford (0) 1 (Jess 62)
West Ham (1) 2 (Lampard 18, 75)

Bradford finally managed to score a goal after seven hours without
one, however it counted as a consolation thanks to a brace from
Frank Lampard that won the game for West Ham. The midfielder opened
the scoring thanks to a fine effort from the edge of the box after a
neat backheel from Joe Cole. There was hope for the basement club
when Eoin Jess equalised who headed home a cross from Ashley Ward.
It wasn't to be for Bradford though and with 15 minutes left,
Lampard struck again, drilling home from the edge of the area after
Joe Cole's run was brought to an end by the home defence.


Coventry (1) 2 (Bellamy 10, Hartson 66)
Charlton (1) 2 (Rufus 22, Johansson 46)

Coventry remain deep in the bottom three however they have now
managed to come from behind in their last two games to earn a point
in both. Today they actually took the lead when Craig Bellamy
pounced after keeper Sasa Ilic spilled an effort from Barry Quinn. A
strange goal put Charlton level when Richard Rufus showed how lethal
he is from one yard, bundling home after Jensen hit the bar
following Coventry's woeful attempts to clear a corner. The two
managers were barely sat in the dugout after their half time team
talks when Charlton took the lead. Jonaton Johansson, back after
injury, volleyed home off the post having been sent clear by
Kishishev. New signing John Hartson marked his home debut with the
equaliser midway through the second half, almost mis-kicking home
after Aloisi had missed Marcus Hall's cross.


Derby (1) 1 (Burton (pen) 42)
Aston Villa (0) 0

Villa's drab run continues as Derby ease their relegation worries in
an unimpressive game at Pride Park. The only goal came just before
half time when Gareth Barry flattened Deon Burton as the home
striker shaped to shoot. He dusted himself off and converted the
spot kick.


Ipswich (0) 2 (Holland 84, Armstrong 85)
Everton (0) 0
RED CARD : Nyarko (Everton) 70

Ipswich left it late against Everton and needed a rather unlucky red
card shown to Alex Nyarko before clinching the points with two goals
in as many minutes. Nyarko was shown a second yellow card for a foul
on Bramble and after that only one winner looked likely. Matt
Holland eventually broke the deadlock with six minutes to go, firing
home after Ball had headed Birchill's cross to the edge of the area.
The cheers had barely died down when Alun Armstrong doubled the
lead, thumping home a header again from a Birchill cross.


Leicester (1) 2 (Sturridge 29, Akinbiyi 65)
Sunderland (0) 0
RED CARD : Oster (Sunderland) 55

Fourth placed Sunderland are now just two points ahead of Leicester
who remain seventh after a bitty game at Filbert Street. Dean
Sturridge opened the scoring before the half hour mark, heading home
well from Frank Sinclair's cross. Sunderland's John Oster then
received a second yellow card for a foul on Robbie Savage, paving
the way for a winner ten minutes later when Ade Akinbiyi bundled
home after good work from the impressive Sturridge.


Mddlesbrough (0) 0
Southampton (0) 1 (Draper 50)

Middlesbrough lose for the first time in the league under Terry
Venables and suddenly get dragged back into the relegation mire. The
only goal, that pushed Southampton into the vertigo inducing heights
of the top half of the table, came shortly after half time when Mark
Draper fired home from the edge of the box after being set up by
Beattie.


Newcastle (0) 0
Manchester City (0) 1 (Goater 58)

Manchester City are now just one point from safety after their first
victory in eleven games put them within touching distance of
Middlesbrough. Shaun Goater scored the only goal and a fine one it
was as well, cooly slotting home after a fine through ball from
Andrei Kanchelskis.


Tottenham (1) 1 (Ferdinand (L) 33)
Leeds United (1) 2 (Harte (pen) 45, Bowyer 59)

Spurs lose at home in the league for the first time this season
after Leeds came from behind to complete an excellent week on the
road. Spurs went ahead when Les Ferdinand pounced on an error from
cousin Rio Ferdinand and, after a fine pass from Rebrov, rounded
Nigel Martyn and slotted home. The turning point came on half time
when Lee Bowyer made the most of a challenge from Gary Doherty,
leaving Ian Harte to level from the spot. Bowyer, never a big fave
at Spurs, angered the home fans further by firing home the winner on
the hour, his shot, after a dribble following a short corner, going
through a mass of players before finding the net.

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