6 SEPTEMBER 2000

Coventry 0
Newcastle 2 (Shearer (pen) 30, Gallacher 58)

Alan Shearer scored his 200th league goal from the penalty spot tonight, 
converting after Charvet had been fouled by Williams, although he did go down
very easily (so to speak!). Kevin Gallagher put the result beyond doubt with a
tap in after an attempted clearance by Williams struck Kieron Dyer and
Newcastle sit happily on top of the Premiership


Derby 3 (Christie 68, 88, Strupar 83)
Middlesbrough 3 (Boksic (pen) 12, Job 51, Deane 59)

Derby completed a sensational comeback from 3-0 down at home to
Middlesbrough to earn a 3-3 draw. Alen Boksic put Boro ahead with an early
penalty after he was brought down on the edge of the area. Joseph Desire Job
added a second with a tap in after Boksic couldn't convert a Karembeu through
ball and then Brian Deane should have put the result beyond doubt when he
slotted home Stamp's cross. The hosts rallied though and after Malcolm Christie
pulled a goal back with a close range header from Johnson's cross, Branko
Strupar gave them hope with a goal with seven minutes left when he headed
home a corner amid controvesy after Derby didn't give the ball back to Boro
after they kicked it out for Phil Stamp to get treatment and then sensationally
Christie earned the point tapping home after Johnson helped on a cross from
the left.


Leicester 2 (Akinbiyi 57, Elliott 73)
Ipswich 1 (Magilton (pen) 89)

Leicester go level on points with Man United after a deserved victory against
Ipswich. Ade Akinbiyi opened his Prem account just before the hour mark with
a close range finish from Eadie's cross. Matt Elliott made it two after an awful
error by keeper Richard Wright who somehow let his header loop in from
Guppy's cross. Jim Magilton's late penalty after  gave Ipswich hope after
Johnson was fouled by Elliott, but it was too little too late.


Charlton 1 (Johanssen 82)
Southampton 1 (Pahars 79)

RED CARD : Brown (59) Charlton

More late drama at Charlton who went a player down when Steve Brown was
sent off for a second bookable offence, a tackle on Uwe Rosler, although contact
was minimal, possibly non existant, and then a goal down with eleven minutes
left when Marion Pahars scored with a far post tap in from Kachloul's cross.
Enter summer signing Jonaton Johansson who levelled scores with a fine shot
on the turn from Kinsella's flick on.


Chelsea 2 (Hasselbaink 30, Zola 58)
Arsenal 2 (Henry 76, Silvinho 87)

A stunning Arsenal comeback for the second season in a row at Stamford Bridge
as they come from 2-0 down to earn a draw. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thumped
home the opener  after being found by Poyet and the Uruguayian then set up
Zola with a neat chested pass on the edge of the box, the Italian made no
mistake firing into the corner. Silvinho then took over as he sent Thierry Henry
through with 14 minutes left for the Frenchman to slot home inside the far post
and then after Hasselbaink had crashed an effort against the post, Silvinho
unleashed a stunning 25 yard shot was swerved with power and found the top
corner after Kanu couldn't break his way through.


Liverpool 3 (Owen 5, 14, 33)
Aston Villa 1 (Stone 81)

Micheal Owen scored a 28 minute hat trick to see off Aston Villa. His first was
a fine cross from the right that Owen slid in to power home. His second was a
far post header after David James came off his line and totally missed a Smicer
corner and the third was all his own work after chasing a clearance by Traore,
he nicked it past a defender and then James before slotting into an empty net.
Steve Stone pulled a late goal back after excellent work from Dublin and Nilis
but the result was never in doubt.


5 SEPTEMBER 2000

Leeds United (0) 1 (Bowyer 56)
Man City (2) 2 (Howey 35, Wiekens 40)

Leeds lost their 100% record thanks to a superb performance from Man City
who took all three points away from Elland Road. Steve Howey thumped home
the opening goal from close range after Wanchope headed against the crossbar
from a Kennedy corner. Deja Vu five minutes later when Kennedy's corner was
cleared by Radebe, however Gerard Wiekens thumped home the loose ball
from the edge of the area. Hope for Leeds came when Lee Bowyer headed
home a Bridges cross, but it all amounted to nothing for the Yorkshire side.


Man United (2) 6 (Cole 10, Fortune 24, 62, Sheringham 73, 82, Beckham 85)
Bradford (0) 0

United put eight goals past Bradford in two games last season, they managed
six in one game tonight. Andrew Cole opened the scoring from 25 yards, his
deflected shot looping over Clarke after Butt had sent him clear. Quinton
Fortune then netted twice, firstly smashing home Beckham's far post cross and
then in the second half drilling home from long range from Cole's lay off.
Captain Teddy Sheringham then emulated the South African with a quick fire
brace. His first was a cracking volley after a pin point pass from Beckham and
then nine minutes later he was at the far post to head home John Greening's
cross. The Coup De Grace was provided by Beckham late on with the goal of
the game, a brilliant drive from long range after holding off two defenders.


Sunderland (1) 1 (Arca 27)
West Ham (1) 1 (Suker 34)

Julio Arca opened his Sunderland account against West Ham with a neat far
post header from Kilbane's fine cross. Davor Suker earned the Hammers a
point after keeper Macho made a hash of a Carrick corner, the Croatian
hooked home at the far post.


Tottenham (1) 3 (Rebrov 45, (pen) 62, Ferdinand 64)
Everton (2) 2 (Jeffers 25, Nyarko 42)

Spurs came from 2-0 down to move into second place in the table after a
sensational comeback. Francis Jeffers put Everton ahead when he latched
onto an awfully underhit back pass from Thatcher to slot home under
Sullivan. Alex Nyarko opened his Goodison account with a wonderful weaving
solo run, culminating in a shot from the edge of the area. Enter Sergei
Rebrov who pulled a goal back by scoring from close range after Ferdinand
had hit the post. The Ukrainian grabbed the equaliser from the penalty spot
after Thomas Gravesen stupidly handled in the area. The comeback was
complete two minutes later when Les Ferdinand prodded home a loose ball
from Sherwood's header.


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