14 APRIL 2001

Arsenal (0) 0
Middlesbrough (2) 3 (Edu (og) 34, Silvinho (og) 38, Ricard 57)

Middlesbrough move five points clear of the drop zone after Arsenal
went Brazil nuts and handed Manchester United the title, courtesy
largely of two first half own goals in five crazy minutes from their
Brazilian imports. Passport and injury problem Edu was the first to
find his own net, deflecting Dean Windass' wayward volley past
Seaman and to prove that he wasn't the only one who could do it,
Silvinho then did the same shortly afterwards, this time crashing
Dean Gordon's cross into the roof of the net. Boro scored the third
themselves from much maligned Colombian Hamilton Ricard who fired
home after Boksic's neat backheel.


Aston Villa (1) 2 (Dublin 2, Taylor 81)
Everton (1) 1 (Unsworth 21)

The season is effectively over for both these clubs, although Villa
will still harbour hopes of a European spot. Dion Dublin put them
ahead inside two minutes, latching onto Alan Wright's pass, courtesy
of a fine dummy by Taylor, and fired into the corner. David Unsworth
levelled matters midway through the half, volleying home after
Southgate could only help on Gravesen's long throw. However the
points were secured late on when Ian Taylor headed neatly home from
Ginola's fine cross.


Chelsea (1) 1 (Poyet 43)
Southampton (0) 0

Chelsea may have had a poor season, but remarkably they are up to
fifth after a victory over a Southampton team still looking for
their first goal and point since the departure of Glenn Hoddle. Gus
Poyet decided matters shortly before half time, thumping an effort
into the ground, over keeper Paul Jones and in off the bar after
Melchoit had headed Le Saux's throw across goal.


Ipswich (0) 1 (Stewart (pen) 76)
Newcastle (0) 0
RED CARD : Solano (Newcastle) 75

A dire match that ultimately saw Ipswich regain third place from
Leeds. The game was settled on an incident that saw Nol Solano red
carded for handling Hermann Hreidarsson's header on the line. Marcus
Stewart scored from the spot to continue Newcastle's recent poor
run.


Leicester (1) 1 (Akinbiyi 41)
Manchester City (1) 2 (Goater 17, Wanchope 67)

Six defeats on the bounce for Leicester, however Man City gave
themselves hope of avoiding the drop but remain five points from
safety after Middlesbrough's win. Shaun Goater put the visitors
ahead, although it had more than an element of luck. Kennedy's cross
was headed goalwards by Wanchope and as Tim Flowers punched the ball
clear, it bounced against Goater's head and in. Ade Akinbiyi
levelled the scores just before half time, bundling home Steve
Guppy's cross at the nearpost. Man City won the points through sheer
cheek midway through the second half when Paulo Wanchope backheeled
Danny Granville's cross past Flowers.


Manchester United (2) 4 (Yorke 13, 27, Giggs 81, Scholes 87)
Coventry (2) 2 (Hartson 11, 33)

An early kick off for United but coupled with the result at
Highbury, they were crowned Champions later in the day, although
relegation probables Coventry put up one hell of a fight. John
Hartson put the visitors ahead after collecting Telfer's pass and
slotting past Goram after the veteran debutant had saved his first
effort. Two minutes later Dwight Yorke capitalised on a loose pass
in midfield, ran at the defence and took advantage of not being
closed down to drive low into the corner. Yorke added a second when
he collected a cross from Keane to slot home whilst Coventry
appealed for offside. Six minutes later and it was 2-2 when Hartson
rose powerfully above Brown at the far post to head home Telfer's
cross. Coventry kept it level until nine minutes from time when Gary
Neville's long cross found Giggs unmarked on the edge of the area
and his header looped over Kirkland and in. The win, and ultimately
the title, was clinched when Beckham found Scholes who fired home
sweetly from 25 yards.


Sunderland (2) 2 (Kilbane 3, Quinn 12)
Spurs (0) 3 (Clemence 53, Doherty 75, 88)

WOW! If this is what Glenn Hoddle can do for Spurs, then next season
cannot come quickly enough as they became only the third club to win
in the league at Sunderland having been outplayed in the first half.
Sunderland had gone two up inside twelve minutes, firstly when Kevin
Kilbane smashed home a Carteron cross and then Niall Quinn doubled
the lead when he fired home after Sullivan had saved a Schwarz free
kick. The second half was different and Spurs were given hope when
Stephen Clemence pulled a goal back, volleying home a Simon Davies
cross. Then enter Gary Doherty who can play at the back or up front.
With 15 minutes to go, he equalised when he collected the loose ball
after a Tim Sherwood tackle and toe-poked the ball agonisingly over
the line. Worse followed for the Black Cats when he did it again
with two minutes to go, this time tapping a Korsten cross home,
although Craddock and Thome had the chance to clear.


West Ham (3) 3 (Kanoute 5, Lampard 7, Cole 45)
Derby (0) 1 (Gudjonssen 83)

Survival assured surely for West Ham after they crushed Derby in the
first half, however the visitors are now only five points above the
drop zone after their third successive defeat. The game was over
after seven minutes, by which time Frederik Kanoute had seen Poom
parry Joe Cole's shot against him and into the net, before Frank
Lampard made it 2-0 with a well placed shot after good work by
Carrick. On half time Cole found the net himself, shooting high into
the net after Di Canio's cross. Thordar Gudjonsson pulled a late
consolation back, firing home a Burton cross, but it was much too
little, much too late.


13 APRIL 2001

Liverpool (0) 1 (Gerrard 54)
Leeds United (2) 2 (Ferdinand 4, Bowyer 32)
RED CARD : Gerrard (Liverpool) 70

Leeds move six points clear of Liverpool who still have two games in
hand after sweeping them aside with a first half blitz. Rio
Ferdinand headed Leeds in front early on when he found space at the
far post to convert Ian Harte's corner and the lead was doubled just
after the half hour mark when Harry Kewell slotted Lee Bowyer in and
although his first effort was saved at point blank range by
Westerveld, he regained his balance and tapped the loose ball into
an empty net. Liverpool were much better in the second half and
pulled a goal back when Michael Owen's cross was met by Steven
Gerrard with a sweet half volley that found the net via Harte on the
line. Gerrard was then unluckily dismissed for a second bookable
offence, a late tackle on David Batty who even got to his feet
sharply to try and disuade the referee from brandishing the red
card.


Bradford (0) 2 (Blake (pen) 72, Carbone 80)
Charlton (0) 0

Stat Attack! Only Bradford's fourth win of the season, their first
since New Years Day and their first clean sheet since August! No
surprise that they remain eleven points from safety despite this
victory. Robbie Blake broke the deadlock with a well struck penalty
after Sasa Ilic was judged to have fouled Gunnar Halle. Minutes
later, Ilic came out of his area to head a long ball clear and
having done so, collided with Gareth Whalley, leaving Benito Carbone
to volley the ball into the gaping net.


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