PREMIERSHIP ROUND 15
 
24 NOVEMBER 2002

Spurs (2) 2 (Sheringham 12, Keane 41)
Leeds United (0) 0

Spurs end their barren run with a comfortable victory over Leeds, who have won
just once in the league since mid September. The hosts totally dominated the
first half and netted two superb goals before the break, firstly after former
Leeds striker Robbie Keane was tackled by Teddy Lucic, the ball fell to Teddy
Sheringham who cracked home a fine half volley from the edge of the area. The
lead was doubled just before half time when Gus Poyet played in Keane and the
Irishman curled home a beauty with the outside of his foot from a similar range
to the opening strike. Leeds improved after the break, but it would have been
difficult for them to have been worse, however they rarely threatened Kasey
Keller's goal and Spurs held on for a deserved win.


Charlton (0) 3 (Konchesky 59, Rufus 74, Euell 90)
Blackburn (0) 1 (Thompson 60)

More stunning goals at The Valley as Charlton beat Blackburn to ease their
relegation fears and go level on points with Leeds. The game burst into life
after a drab hour when Paul Konchesky curled a beauty of a free kick past the
wall and into the top corner, however it lasted just 38 seconds as Andy Cole
found David Thompson who blasted home a scorcher from 25 yards. Richard
Rufus restored the lead, looping in a header from a Konchesky corner and in
stoppage time, with Blackburn pressing, Kevin Lisbie's header found Jason
Euell who fizzed a shot into the net from long range.


23 NOVEMBER 2002

Aston Villa (1) 4 (Hendrie 29, Leonhardsen 59, Dublin 72, Vassell 80)
West Ham (0) 1 (Di Canio 70)

Goal shy Aston Villa went goal mad against West Ham, winning 4-1 and
condemned the Hammers to bottom spot. Lee Hendrie opened the scoring
after half an hour, battling his way through the fragile visiting defence to
fire home and the lead was doubled after half time when Oyvind Leonhardsen
shot in from a tricky angle after good work from Darius Vassell. Paolo
di Canio gave the London side brief hope when he stooped to head in
Trevor Sinclair's cross, however within two minutes, Dion Dublin grabbed
his 100th Premiership goal, heading home at the near post ahead of David
James. Vassell concluded the victory late on with a crisp shot from the edge
of the area.


Bolton (0) 1 (Pedersen 63)
Chelsea (0) 1 (Hasselbaink 90)
RED CARD : Babayaro (Chelsea) 80

Struggling Bolton were denied a vital victory thanks to a stoppage time
header from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as ten-man Chelsea scraped a point.
Henrik Pedersen, without a Prem goal in 15 months, has now scored three
in two games after heading in a corner just after the hour mark and Chelsea
looked out of it when Celestine Babayaro was sent off for an apparent elbow
on Youri Djorkaeff. However, late on, Gianfranco Zola's cross was met with
the tiniest touch from Hasselbaink to rescue a point.


Everton (1) 1 (Radzinski 35)
West Brom (0) 0

Everton are in their best run for 15 years after a narrow win over West Brom
took them into third place. The only goal came from Tomasz Radzinski, who
belted his shot home after being well found by Li Tie.


Fulham (2) 3 (Sava 5, 38, 68)
Liverpool (0) 2 (Hamann 62, Baros 86)
RED CARD : Goma (Fulham) 70

Second placed Liverpool's indifferent run continues after losing to Fulham for
the first time in over 35 years, courtesy of a Facundo Sava hat trick. The South
American opened the scoring early on, following up well to slot in after Sean
Davis's shot wasn't held by Jerzy Dudek, and then doubled the lead when
his huge deflection carried another shot by Davis into the net. Liverpool
looked to make a fight of it when Dietmar Hamann fizzed a free kick into
the top corner, however Sava completed his treble with a fierce shot from
25 yards after Liverpool failed to clear a cross from Steve Marlet. The only
black mark for Fulham was the dismissal of Alain Goma for a second
bookable offence, a late lunge on Michael Owen and although Milan Baros
pulled another goal back, controlling and finishing well from John Arne Riise's
cross, the hosts held on for a fine victory.


Middesbrough (0) 3 (Ehiogu 53, Boksic 62, Geremi 84)
Man City (0) 1 (Anelka 68)
RED CARD : Wright-Phillips (Man City) 74

Middlesbrough found their goal touch again as Manchester City were swept aside
in the second half at the Riverside. Ugo Ehiogu was the unlikely first
goalscorer when he nodded in a free kick and the lead was doubled ten minutes
later when Alen Boksic headed home at the far post. Nik Anelka gave City brief
hope when he bobbled an effort over the line after Boro failed to clear the
ball, however Shaun Wright-Phillips was then sent off for a late challenge on
Jonathon Greening and with him went City's hopes. Geremi wrapped up the
points late on after Massimo Maccarone's shot was blocked on the line.


Southampton (1) 3 (Beattie 45, (pen) 59, Delgado 67)
Arsenal (1) 2 (Bergkamp 36, Pires 80)
RED CARD : Campbell (Arsenal) 58

League leaders Arsenal also crashed to defeat in a game which turned on a
controversial second half decision. The scores were level when Sol Campbell was
judged to have fouled the goal-bound Augustin Delgado, resulting in a penalty,
well converted by James Beattie, and a red card for the centre-back. Earlier,
Dennis Bergkamp had given Arsenal the lead with a neat volley from the edge of
the area after he was found by Sylvain Wiltord, however on the stroke of half
time, Beattie levelled matters with a superbly struck free kick. With the
Gunners down to ten men, Saints made it 3-1 when Jason Dodd's free kick found
the net via Delgado and away defender Kolo Toure. Robert Pires pulled one
back, thumping home the rebound after his header was saved, but they
couldn't salvage a point.


Manchester United (3) 5 (Scholes 24, Van Nistelrooy 38, 45, 53, Solskjear 55)
Newcastle (1) 3 (Bernard 35, Shearer 51, Bellamy 74)

Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed a hat trick and Alan Shearer notched his 100th
league goal for Newcastle and Man United and the Magpies put on an eight
goal masterclass of how not to defend. The hosts ultimately won 5-3, however
such a scoreline looked unlikely after 24 drab opening minutes before Paul
Scholes opened the scoring, firing home an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cross after the
Norwegian showed brilliant control and skill. Newcastle equalised with their
first attempt on goal as Olivier Bernard's cross floated over Fabien Barthez
and went in off the far post. Parity lasted less than three minutes as Mikael
Silvestre found space on the left and his deflected cross was nodded in by
Van Nistelrooy from close range. In first half stoppage time, Silvestre again
did well on the left, his cut back found Diego Forlan whose half hit shot was
side-footed home by Van Nistelrooy again. The second half exploded with three
goals in five minutes, firstly when Shearer crashed home a bullet shot from 25
yards after a free kick had been tapped to him, and became the first person to
score a century of league goals for two different Premiership clubs. Any chance
of a comeback was dashed though when Forlan lost his marker on the left and
crossed for Van Nistelrooy to head his hat trick from close range again. The
fifth followed shortly afterwards as Solskjaer ran onto a long ball to slot
calmly past Shay Given, however Newcastle will point to a blatant foul by
Solskjear in the build up as he clattered into the back of Aaron Hughes. Craig
Bellamy snatched a late consolation, heading in from close range after Shearer's
header had found him, but it failed to paper over the cracks at the back which
cost them dear.


Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it
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