18 MARCH 2001

Arsenal (0) 0
Aston Villa (0) 0
RED CARD : Grimandi (Arsenal) 90

Awful drab and boring game that will be remembered for a late miss
and red card, both by Gilles Grimandi. With three minutes to go, the
Frenchman had a chance to win the game from close range, but his
powder-puff effort had all the power of a back pass and looped
easily for keeper David James. In stoppage time, Grimandi, having
already been booked, caught Darius Vassell near the touchline and
was harshly shown a second yellow card. Instantly forgetable fare.


Liverpool (0) 1 (Owen 52)
Derby (1) 1 (Burton 9)

Liverpool lose ground on the race for European places after coming
from behind to draw with Derby, whose relegation battle eased
further. Deon Burton scrambled the visitors ahead early on after he
knee-ed home a Chris Riggott corner that was flicked on at the near
post by Seth Johnson. Michael Owen struck the equaliser early in the
second half, firing the home a rebound after Andy Oakes has saved
his original effort from Litmanen's pass.


17 MARCH 2001

Bradford (0) 2 (Blake 53, Ward 60)
Manchester City (1) 2 (Wiekens 21, Goater 70)

Both City's lose ground in the fight against relegation after an
entertaining encounter at Valley Parade where both clubs gained and
then lost the lead. Gerard Wiekens gave City the lead with a tap in
after Steve Howey had headed an Andrei Kanchelskis free kick across
goal. They held the lead until early in the second half when a two
goal burst from Bradford turned the game around. Robbie Blake scored
the first, simply running at the City backline before his shot
arrowed into the corner. Seven minutes later, Ashley Ward thumped in
the second after both Whalley and Carbone had seen their efforts
blocked, however Shaun Goater earned Man City a  point when he beat
the offside trap to slot home past Walsh after latching onto
Whitley's through ball.


Charlton (1) 1 (Bartlett 18)
Leeds United (1) 2 (Viduka 11 secs, Smith 46)

A goal in the opening minute of each half was enough to win Leeds
United all three points and keep them on track for a European place
next season. Mark Viduka began the fun after just 11 seconds,
slotting home after Alan Smith had helped on Ian Harte's long ball.
South African Shaun Bartlett levelled matters after Nigel Martyn
totally misjudged a cross by Rufus, leaving the striker to head home
with ease. The game was decided shortly after half time when Smith
scored his first league goal since the clubs met in October,
finishing well after a fine run by Harry Kewell.


Chelsea (2) 2 (Desailly 13, Gudjohnsen 37)
Sunderland (1) 4 (Hutchison 26, 52, McCann 63, Phillips 79)

Chelsea lost at home for only the second time this season, severely
denting their European hopes, whilst boosting Sunderland's, who
twice came from behind. Marcel Desailly started the scoring off when
he headed home from close range after good work from Eidur
Gudjohnson and it was the Icelandic star who added the second later
in the half, firing home off the bar after Jokanovic's fine pass.
Between those efforts, Don Hutchison had put the Black Cats level,
hooking the ball home from Julio's Arca's fine ball into the area
and early in the second half, Hutchison equalised again, heading
home at the far post from Kevin Phillips cross. Gavin McCann then
stunned the home side, firing home after latching onto Hutchison's
lovely lofted pass, before Phillips added the icing to the cake
after an awful defensive cock up from keeper Carlo Cudicini. The
Italian miscontrolled a back pass from John Terry and as McCann
challenged for the loose ball, it looped to Phillips who scrambled
it in and made it 4-2.


Manchester United (0) 2 (Yorke 88, Silvestre 90)
Leicester (0) 0

Man United left it late against Leicester, but secured the points
with a late double to increase their lead at the top to seventeen
points. Dwight Yorke is likely to be creditted with the first after
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's shot appeared to strike him on the chest
before finding the net. Two minutes later, Mikeal Silvestre scored
his first ever goal for the Champions elect, firing home after a
fine run from deep.


Newcastle (0) 1 (Cort 60)
Middlesbrough (2) 2 (Boksic 28, 33)
RED CARD : Stamp (Middlesbrough) 45
MISSED PEN : Solano (Newcastle) 86

Boro have a four point cushion at the bottom after winning a
pulsating encounter at St James Park. A double from Alen Boksic gave
the visitors a half time lead, his first a fine header from a
Christian Karembeu cross, the second a superb free kick that he
curled around the wall giving the keeper no chance as it crashed in
off the bar. Phil Stamp was then red carded on half time for a
violent tackle on Rob Lee, the referee having no choice having
previously booked Stamp for dissent. Newcastle then pulled one back
on the hour when Carl Cort volleyed home well after Ameobi's shot
was blocked, however they could, and should, have levelled matters
when they were awarded a late penalty after Cort was brought down by
Vickers and Ince, however Nol Solano thumped the ball against the
bar to the delight on the Boro fans.


Southampton (0) 1 (Tessem 59)
Everton (0) 0

Southampton notch up their fifth successive Premiership victory and
move up to eighth place after a narrow win over struggling Everton.
The only goal came just before the hour mark when Jo Tessem produced
a fine individual run through the visiting backline and although
Paul Gerrard partially blocked his shot, he couldn't stop it from
rolling in.


Tottenham (2) 3 (Iversen 28, Ferdinand 34, Rebrov 59)
Coventry (0) 0

Spurs put their off field problems behind them after the shock
sacking of George Graham yesterday and walloped second from bottom
Coventry 3-0. Stefan Iversen began the mini goal rush, heading home
a Stephen Clemence corner and six minutes later Les Ferdinand
doubled the lead after keeper Chris Kirkland had denied Iversen his
second. Sergei Rebrov completed the rout on the hour, slotting home
from a tight angle after excellent work by Ledley King. George
who...???


West Ham (0) 0
Ipswich (0) 1 (Reuser 60)

Ipswich continue to defy the critics and stay in third place after a
tight victory at Upton Park against a West Ham team whose season is
fading into obscurity. Martijn Reuser scored the only goal, curling
home a free kick after Stuart Pearce had brought down Marcus
Stewart, although contact appeared to be inside the area.


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