24 MARCH 2002

Liverpool (0) 1 (Smicer 90)
Chelsea (0) 0

Liverpool got top of the Premiership after leaving it until stoppage time to
beat a resolute Chelsea side. The only goal came from sub Vladimir Smicer
who spectacularly volleyed home Emile Heskey's fine cross a minute into
injury time. In a game of few chances, Chelsea will point to golden
opportunities for both Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen
in the first half which went begging.


Fulham (0) 0
Spurs (2) 2 (Sheringham 28, Poyet 31)

After four goalless games, Spurs recorded a morale boosting victory to
condemn Fulham to their sixth defeat in a row. The opening goal was
a freak effort as Christian Ziege's free kick struck the wall and found the
net via a deflection off of the head of Teddy Sheringham. Within three
minutes, Ziege was again involved as his shot from a tight angle was
save by Van der Sar, only for Gus Poyet to fire home the rebound.


23 MARCH 2002

Charlton (0) 1 (Johansson 52)
Bolton (2) 2 (Djorkaeff 15, 39)
MISSED PENALTY: Euell (Charlton) 23


Bolton picked up a vital three points to move out of the bottom three after
Youri Djorkaeff's first goals for the club were enough to beat Charlton. The
Frenchman's first came early on, firing into the far corner from Bobic's cross,
and he doubled the lead and his tally, near half time when he, curled home a 25
yard free kick via a deflection. Between the goals, Jason Euell missed a penalty
for the hosts, shooting wide after Scott Parker was fouled by Paul Warhurst.
Early in the second half, Jonaton Johansson pulled a goal back when he headed
into an empty net after Euell had rounded the keeper and crossed well.


Derby (0) 3 (Strupar 57, 81, Morris 76)
Everton (1) 4 (Unsworth 38, Stubbs 52, Alexandersson 54, Ferguson 72)

A sensationally entertaining relegation clash at Pride Park as Everton remain
100% under new boss David Moyes. As he did last week, David Unsworth fired
home the opener from the edge of the box after being found by Gravseen and
in the second half the game looked over as they went into overdrive. Firstly
Stubbs scorched home a 20 yard free kick, before Nik Alexandersson made it
3-0, slotting in at the far post after Gemmill had miskicked Radzinksi's cross.
Almost straight away, Branko Strupar pulled one back, volleying a beauty into
the net from the edge of the area, however Duncan Ferguson restored the
 goal cushion, side footing into the top corner after good work from. Lee
Morris pulled one back when he crashed a Chris Riggott header into the roof
of the net and with nine minutes to go, Strupar added his second, a superb
header from a Rob Lee cross, but the equaliser wouldn't come.


Ipswich (0) 0
Aston Villa (0) 0

No goals at Portman Road as Ipswich move into the bottom three thanks to
Bolton's win at Charlton. Ipswich had the best chances when Marcus Stewart
somehow missed the target with the goal gaping, whilst Marcus Bent thudded
a shot against the post.


Leicester (0) 0
Leeds United (2) 2 (Viduka 18, Fowler 30)

Leicester edged nearer the first division as Leeds edged nearer a European
place with a comfortable win at Filbert Street. Leeds went ahead when
Mark Viduka headed home after Robbie Fowler's overhead kick was superbly
saved by Ian Walker, and on the half hour, Walker was again unlucky when
he saved from Viduka, helping his shot onto the bar, only for Fowler to head
home the rebound this time.


Manchester United (0) 0
Middlesbrough (1) 1 (Boksic 9)

Manchester United's title hopes took a severe dent thanks to Alan Boksic's early
goal which gave Middlesbrough all three points at Old Trafford. The solitary
goal came on nine minutes when the Croatian slotted in Beni Carbone's cross
after Veron was caught in possession. United remain top, but just a point clear
of Arsenal, who have two games in hand, and two points clear of Liverpool who
will go top if they beat Chelsea on Sunday.


Sunderland (0) 1 (McAteer 62)
Southampton (0) 1 (Tessem 88)

Sunderland were denied a rare victory thanks to a late equaliser by Jo Tessem
to earn Southampton a useful point. Jason McAteer opened the scoring just
after the hour mark, running across the edge of the area before drilling home
a long range effort, however with time running out, Tessem's header from
a left wing cross saw that the game would end level.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK
http://www.soccerage.com
gary@soccerage.com
garydowden@blueyonder.co.uk