PREMIERSHIP ROUND 35
 
22 APRIL 2001

Liverpool (1) 3 (Heskey 6, McAllister (pen) 72, Fowler 88)
Spurs (1) 1 (Korsten 22)

Liverpool kept up their push for a Champions League position with a
comfortable victory over faltering Tottenham. Emile Heskey gave the
hosts a dream start after just six minutes when he fired home having
been sent clear by Patrik Berger, however midway through the first
half, Spurs were level when Willem Korsten shot home after good work
by Doherty and Leonhardsen. Eighteen minutes from time when the
visitors resistance was finally broken. Owen's sharp shot appeared
to strike the hand of Alton Thelwell and the referee pointed to the
spot leaving Gary McAllister to score his second penalty in as many
games. Robbie Fowler confirmed victory with two minutes to go when
he headed Markus Babbel's cross firmly home.


21 APRIL 2001

Man United (0) 1 (Sheringham (pen) 71)
Man City (0) 1 (Howey 85)
MISSED PENALTY : Scholes (Man Utd) 61
RED CARD : Keane (Man United) 86

Honours even in the Manchester derby after an incident packed last
half an hour at Old Trafford. After a fairly mundane opening hour,
United had a golden chance to take the lead when Paul Dickov caught
Wes Brown in the area, however Paul Scholes sent the penalty wide.
Ten minute later, it happened again! This time Richard Dunne clipped
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and up stepped Teddy Sheringham to score from
the spot, although keeper Carlo Nash was close to saving it. City
levelled matters six minutes from time when Dickov's cross was
headed on by David Beckham and Steve Howey tapped in at the far
post. The game will be remembered though for a disfraceful tackle by
Roy Keane on Alfie Haaland - the knee high, studs first challenged
rightly earning the United captain a straight red card.


Arsenal (1) 4 (Ljungberg 21, Grimandi 55, Wiltord 67, Henry 87)
Everton (1) 1 (Campbell 24)
RED CARD : Xavier (Everton) 78

Arsenal stay second after a convincing victory over Everton who are
still not assured of Premiership survival this season. Freddie
Ljungberg opening the scoring when his shot found the net having
been put through by Thierry Henry, however with three minutes
Everton were level when Kevin Campbell scored after Seaman had saved
his original effort.  Gilles Grimandi restored the lead after half
time, heading home a Robert Pires corner and midway through the half
Sylvain Wiltord put the game out of reach, crashing home a shot off
the bar after good work from Vieira and then late on, Henry added
the fourth, slotting home after rounding the keeper following a
through ball from Vieira. Two other notable incidents. Firstly
Everton's Abel Xavier was red carded for a second bookable offence
and with twenty minutes to go, Everton's Alex Nyarko asked to be
substituted after a fan ran on and offered to exchange shirts,
apparently claiming that the Ghanian wasn't giving his all for the
club. Nyarko has said that he is quitting football after the
incident.


Aston Villa (0) 0
Southampton (0) 0

No goals but a first point for stand in Saints boss Stuart Gray at
Villa Park. The hosts had the best chances, notably through Dion
Dublin who somehow shot wide from ten yards having been sent clean
through by Merson, although Southampton will point to an early James
Beattie header that found the net but was ruled out for offside.


Bradford (1) 2 (Ward 16, 90)
Derby (0) 0
RED CARD : Johnson (Derby) 58

Bradford remain in the Prem, at least for another week, with their
second victory in a row in the league, against a Derby side who are
only five points above the drop zone. Ashley Ward scored both goals,
the first a tap in after McCall had sent Eoin Jess away down the
flank. His second, late on, came again from Jess who shot deflected
off of Ward and into the net. Like the Manc derby, the game will be
remembered for a red card, an awful two footed challenge by Seth
Johnson on Stuart McCall.


Chelsea (0) 0
Charlton (1) 1 (Bartlett 35)

Charlton produced a superb performance to end Chelsea's five match
winning run thanks to the first away goal from loan signing Shaun
Bartlett. The South African put a dent in Chelsea's CL hopes when he
netted ten minutes from half time, his close range shot giving
Cudicini no chance after the Italian keeper had saved from Claus
Jensen.


Ipswich (1) 2 (Reuser 20, Wright (J) 55)
Coventry (0) 0

Ipswich are almost assured European football next season and remain
in a CL position after beating Coventry, who themselves are five
points from Premiership safety. Martijn Reuser opened the scoring in
a largely one sided first half, firing home Jermaine Wright's cross
after Matt Holland had fired an air shot. Wright scored the second
himself, drilling home powerfully after Breen's poor clearance, the
shot taking a deflection off the Coventry defender.


Leicester (0) 0
Middlesbrough (1) 3 (Ricard 13, Boksic 50, Ince 52)

Boro are five points above the drop zone after condeming Leicester
to their seventh league defeat in a row and eighth over all.
Hamilton Ricard opened the scoring early on, heading home after
Karembeu's short corner was crossed in by Dean Gordon. A wonderful
goal by Alen Boksic doubled the lead, the Croatian robbed Taggart in
the middle of the pitch and after a fine run, his delightful chipped
effort found the roof of the net. Two minutes later, the points were
confirmed when Paul Ince crashed home a corner after Leicester
failed to clear.


West Ham (0) 0
Leeds United (1) 2 (Keane 8, Ferdinand 47)
RED CARD : Batty (Leeds) 49

Leeds stay four and are unbeaten in the league for three months
after a comfortable win at Upton Park. Robbie Keane gave Leeds an
early lead, hammering home after Hislop had saved Ian Harte's
header. Former Hammer Rio Ferdinand doubled the lead with a fine
header from Harte's free kick that was helped over the line by
Bakke. Two minutes later David Batty was red carded for an elbow
into the face of Joe Cole, but the Yorkshire side were rarely in
serious danger.


Sunderland (0) 1 (Carteron 67)
Newcastle (0) 1 (O'Brien 77)

Honours even in the Tyne-Wear derby as two unlikely goalscorers
found their names on the scoresheet. Firstly right back Partice
Carteron was sent away down the right by Don Hutchison and his shot
from a tight angle beat the impressive Given and found the back of
the net. Ten minutes later, Andy O'Brien stabbed home after Carl
Cort had helped Griffin's cross back across goal.


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