13 MAY 2001

Leeds United (5) 6 (Viduka 14, Harte 19, Bakke 27, Smith 38, Kewell 43,
Bowyer 84)
Bradford (1) 1 (Ward 22)

Leeds United kept their Champions League hopes alive as they
destroyed bottom club Bradford at Elland Rd this afternoon in the
West Yorkshire derby. Mark Viduka started the rout, heading home at
the near post from Ian Harte's cross and it was Harte who doubled
the lead with a trademark 25 yard free kick. Ashley Ward pulled one
back when he fired home from 12 yards past Martyn. Eirik Bakke
restored the two goal lead shortly after when he found the top
corner with a beauty after Smith's pass had picked him out and it
was Smith who scored the fourth, shooting home after a Viduka knock
down. Harry Kewell made it 5-1 before half time when he collected a
Martyn kick, nipped past Ian Nolan and shot home past a bewildered
Davidson. The rout was completed late on when Lee Bowyer added a
sixth, scoring from close range after Jacobs failed to clear a Harte
cross.


Southampton (2) 2 (Brown (og) 11, Pahars 15)
Manchester United (0) 1 (Giggs 71)

Southampton collected their first victory under new stand in boss
Stuart Gray against a Manchester United side that had more than it's
fair share of squad and youth players. Saints took the lead when Wes
Brown crashed a diving header past his own keeper Andy Goram,
courtesy of a fine cross from Marion Pahars and within four minutes
the lead was doubled when Kachloul found Pahars who took advantage
of poor marking to fire home. Ryan Giggs pulled a goal back, driving
home after good interplay with Dwight Yorke.


8 MAY 2001

Liverpool (1) 2 (Owen 8, 60)
Chelsea (1) 2 (Hasselbaink 13, 66)

Honours even at Anfield as Liverpool and Chelsea inch towards their
respective European hopes. Liverpool got off to a superb start and
were ahead on eight minutes when Michael Owen collected a through
ball from Patrik Berger, courtesy of a fine dummy by Gary
McAllister, and clipped the ball over Cudicini and in. The lead
lasted just five minutes when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink levelled
matters with a half hit shot from 25 yards that found the bottom
corner, although Westerveld will feel that he should have done
better. Owen grabbed his second on the hour mark as Chelsea failed
to clear a corner, the striker latched onto a header by Hyypia to
volley into the roof of the net from close range. The lead this time
lasted slightly longer - but only just - as six minutes later,
Hasselbaink latched onto a header by Gudjohnsen to fire home a cross
shot that tore into the bottom corner. Both clubs had chances to win
it with Gerrard and Owen firing inches over for Liverpool, whilst
Dalla Bonna was denied by a brilliant late reaction save by
Westerveld.


7 MAY 2001

Ipswich Town (0) 2 (Holland 78, Reuser 85)
Manchester City (0) 1 (Goater 74)

Manchester City are relegated after Ipswich came from behind to beat
them at Portman Roda this evening. Ipswich had the better of the
first half which was largely devoid of clear cut chances and
dominated possession for the opening 15 minutes of the second half,
however on the hour mark City came desperatly close when a Paulo
Wanchope overhead kick struck the foot of the post. It was a warning
for Ipswich who continued to look the better side, as City took the
lead with sixteen minutes left. Wanchope's fierce shot from the edge
of the area was fumbled by Richard Wright, allowing Shaun Goater to
sneak in and slot the loose ball into the bottom corner. The lead
lasted four minutes as a long ball was headed on by Scowcroft,
allowing Naylor to flick into the past of Matt Holland who crashed
home from 15 yards. With five minutes to go, City's fate was sealed
as Alun Armstrong's fine cross was headed powerfully home by Martijn
Reuser.


5 MAY 2001

Arsenal (1) 2 (Ljungberg 17, Wiltord 56)
Leeds United (0) 1 (Harte 58)

Arsenal will play in the Champions League next season after victory
over Leeds which almost certainly resigns the Yorkshire side to a
UEFA Cup place. Frederik Ljungberg opened the scoring, rounding
Martyn and slotting home after a neat one-two with Henry and Sylvain
Wiltord doubled matters early in the second half, turning to shoot
home after Vieira's pass. An Ian Harte free kick gave Leeds hope but
they are left to concentrate on a CL SF 2nd leg against Valencia on
Tuesday.


Aston Villa (0) 3 (Vassell 61, Angel 81, Merson 86)
Coventry (2) 2 (Hadji 18, 26)

Coventry are relegated after losing a two goal lead against local
rivals Aston Villa. A brace from Mustapha Hadji gave Coventry the
perfect half time lead, the first a fine header after a John Eustace
cross and the second a stunning volley having been sent through by
Williams. Villa however came storming back and after Darius Vassell
prodded home on the hour after Kirkland failed to collect a near
post cross from Delaney, Coventry held firm until the final ten
minutes. It was then that Juan Pablo Angel found his first goal for
Villa when he showed good control to crash home Gareth Southgate's
far post cross, before Paul Merson scored with a 25 yard curler that
hammered the final nail into Coventry's coffin after 34 unbroken
years in the top flight after they failed to clear a Ginola free
kick.


Bradford (1) 1 (Jacobs 38)
Middlesbrough (0) 1 (Karembeu 82)

Middlesbrough are still not safe from the drop after a late
Christian Karembeu goal earned them a priceless draw at already
doomed Bradford. The Frenchman struck eight minutes from time,
crashing a shot into the top corner after the hosts had failed to
clear a corner. Wayne Jacobs had earlier given the hosts the lead,
chipping home after excellent work from Jamie Lawrence. If Man City
fail to beat Ipswich on Monday, the City will go down leaving Boro
safe.


Chelsea (2) 2 (Hasselbaink 32, 35)
Everton (1) 1 (Campbell 3)

Chelsea continued their late UEFA Cup surge thanks to a double from
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The Dutchman struck twice in four minutes
after Kevin Campbell had given Everton the lead with a header from
Steve Watson's cross. Firstly Hasselbaink collected Poyet's pass
before turning well to prod home and then found a delightful lob to
settle the points.


Leicester (1) 4 (Rowett 42, Sturridge 56, Guppy 82, Savage (pen) 90)
Spurs (0) 2 (Davies 54, Carr 61)

Leicester ended their nine game losing streak with a fine victory
over Spurs in a game that the phrase 'meaningless end of season
encounter' was made for. Gary Rowett opening the scoring just before
half time when he slotted home from a Steve Guppy corner, however
Simon Davies equalised with a fierce shot having been sent through
by Stephen Carr. Within two minutes Dean Sturridge restored the lead
before, back heeling in at the near post from Andy Impey's cross,
however Stephen Carr again brought the visitors back level with a
fine free kick into the top corner. Steve Guppy made it 3-2 late on,
tapping home Akinbiyi's pass from close range, before Robbie Savage
confirmed the victory with a late spot kick after Callum Davidson
was fouled by a combination of Carr and Thelwell.


Liverpool (1) 3 (Owen 25, 72, 81)
Newcastle (0) 0

A Michael Owen hat trick, not his first against Newcastle, leaves
Liverpool within one more victory of a Champions League place. His
first was a neat finish having been sent clear by Babbel and two in
ten minutes late on sealed the points. Firstly when he converted
Berger's pass with a fine clip over Given and then a shot off the
post from Robbie Fowler's long ball.


Man United (0) 0
Derby (1) 1 (Christie 34)

Derby are safe from the drop after a sensational victory at Old
Trafford against Man United, who were presented with the Premiership
trophy after the game. Malcolm Christie scored the only goal of the
match when he collected a pass from Eranio, twisted in the area and
fired a shot into the top corner.


Sunderland (2) 3 (Kilbane 11, Quinn 20, Phillips 50)
Charlton (1) 2 (Svensson 18, Jensen 60)

Sunderland keep their UEFA Cup hopes alive after a topsy-turvy
encounter against Charlton. Kevin Kilbane followed up his overhead
goal last week with a slightly less spectacular effort on 11
minutes, breaking from midfield to fire into the top corner, however
Matt Svensson equalised with a close range volley from Chris
Powell's cross. Niall Quinn restored the lead almost straight away,
heading home a Schwarz cross, before Kevin Phillips made it 3-1
early in the second half, crashing home Hutchison's cross from close
range. Claus Jensen pulled one back on the hour, slotting home after
good work by Graham Stuart, but it wasn't quite enough.


West Ham (0) 3 (Cole 59, Di Canio 70, Kanoute 90)
Southampton (0) 0

West Ham confirmed their Premiership safety with a crushing victory
over Southampton who are still without a win under caretaker boss
Stuart Gray. Joe Cole opened the scoring, firing home after
Todorov's back heel found him in space before the lead was doubled
by Paolo Di Canio's fine solo effort. Frederik Kanoute supplied the
third in stoppage time, heading home Di Canio's free kick.


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