9 DECEMBER 2002

Sunderland (0) 0
Man City (1) 3 (Foe 44, Jihai 62, Goater 87)

A home horror show from Sunderland as they crashed heavily against a Man City
side who move up to twelfth. A drab first half was brought to life late on when
a long ball from Sun Jihai found home keeper Jurgen Macho a little slow off his
line, allowing Marc Vivien Foe in to lob over him and then tap into an empty
net. Jihai then turned from provider to scorer as Macho was again at fault,
pushing a cross from Sylvain Distin straight to the Chinese defender who thumped
home. City added a third late on when Nik Anelka's chip found the head of Eyal
Berkovic, who in turn found Shaun Goater to turn and crash the ball into the
bottom corner.


8 DECEMBER 2002

Tottenham (2) 3 (Ziege 3, Keane 30, Poyet 80)
West Brom (0) 1 (Dobie 73)

Spurs continued their up and down season with a hard fought home victory over
struggling West Brom. The game looked to be over by half time after Christian
Ziege curled a low free kick past an unorganised wall and into the bottom corner
to give the hosts an early lead, and then Robbie Keane doubled the score,
running onto a through ball from Gus Poyet to clip over the keeper. Scott Dobie
pulled one back for the Baggies with a fierce shot from the edge of the area,
however the points were secured when Poyet scrambled in an untidy goal after
a long throw from Simon Davies wasn't cleared.


7 DECEMBER 2002

Man United (1) 2 (Veron 21, Scholes 73)
Arsenal (0) 0

Manchester United have split the title race wide open with a victory over
current Champions, and league leaders, Arsenal, ending the Gunners 55-game
goalscoring run in the process. The visitors had the better of the early chances
with Fabien Barthez saving from Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, however the die
was cast when United took the lead midway through the half. Ruud Van
Nistelrooy appeared to control the ball with his arm on the edge of the area,
however he played in Paul Scholes whose cut back from the by-line was tapped
in from close range by Juan Veron. Scholes may have been marginally offside
in the build-up, but it's the sort of decision that we've been pleading for the
attackers to get the benefit of. The Gunners dominated second half possession,
but failed to work Barthez at all and it was no surprise to see the game wrapped
up by Scholes. Van Nistelrooy was again involved as he found the midfielder
on the edge of the area and as he nipped past Martin Keown, his fierce shot
took a deflection off the veteran defender and found the net. Arsenal's lead over
United is now down to just three points and with two games against Liverpool
ahead of them in the next seven weeks, they may now be nervously looking
over their shoulders at the Old Trafford side.


Aston Villa (0) 0
Newcastle (0) 1 (Shearer 82)

A rare away win for Newcastle keeps them in the top six and keeps Villa
struggling at the bottom. The only goal came late on when Alan Shearer headed
home a fine cross from Laurent Robert.


Bolton (1) 1 (Okocha 8)
Blackburn (0) 1 (Short 90)

Bolton were denied three vital points as their Lancashire rivals Blackburn
snatched an equaliser with the last touch of the game. Jay-Jay Okocha opened
the scoring early on, firing a low volley into the bottom corner from the edge of
the area, however with time almost up, auxiliary attacker Craig Short headed in
from close range after Dwight Yorke had crossed from the goal-line.


Charlton (1) 2 (Euell 36, Konchesky 78)
Liverpool (0) 0

Four defeats in five games for Liverpool as their title hopes take another
bashing after Charlton recorded their fourth successive win. A drab first half
was lit up by Jason Euell who blasted into the roof of the net after his header
was blocked by Stephane Henchoz following Gary Rowett's cross. Liverpool
battled back after the break but couldn't find the equaliser before Paul Konchesky
wrapped up the points with a delicate lob after Kevin Lisbie had played the ball
back.


Everton (1) 1 (Naysmith 43)
Chelsea (2) 3 (Stanic 5, Hasselbaink 28, Gronkjaer 90)
RED CARD: Unsworth (Everton)

Controversy marred the end of a pulsating game at Goodison as Chelsea beat
Everton for the second time in four days. The visitors burst into a two goal
lead inside half an hour as Mario Stanic headed in a Graeme Le Saux corner at
the far post and then Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink found the net after Frank
Lampard' s shot was only parried by Richard Wright. Gary Naysmith pulled
one back before half time, slotting into the corner after good work from Kevin
Campbell, but the equaliser wouldn't come despite heavy second half pressure.
Late on, David Unsworth was red carded after a scuffle with Jesper Gronkjaer,
however the Everton man appeared to do very little wrong and even Gronkjaer
appeared to stunned by the dismissal. However, to rub salt in the open wound,
Gronkjaer took advantage of the space left by Unsworth to add a third, a
simple tap in after Gianfranco Zola's run and pass.


Fulham (1) 1 (Djetou 10)
Leeds United (0) 0

Four straight defeats now for Leeds who find themselves well and truly in a
relegation battle after a narrow loss at Fulham. The only goal came early on
when Martin Djetou thumped in a near post header from a corner. Leeds have
now lost ten of their last fourteen league games.


Middlesbrough (0) 2 (Nemeth 58, Ehiogu 88)
West Ham (0) 2 (Cole 46, Pearce 76)

Middlesbrough twice came from behind to earn a point against bottom club West
Ham in a dramatic second half. After a goalless first half, the visitors took
the lead inside a minute of the re-start, Joe Cole firing in off the far post
after being found by Jermaine Defoe. Szilard Nemeth then equalised, latching
onto a backheel from Alen Boksic to fire home, however makeshift attacker Ian
Pearce restored the lead after Defoe's shot was blocked. With time almost up,
Ugo Ehiogu earned a point for the hosts as he headed in from a corner.


Southampton (0) 2 (Beattie (pen) 60, 83)
Birmingham (0) 0

Eleven goals in eight games now for James Beattie as his brace saw off the
challenge of Birmingham. The deadlock was broken on the hour when Beattie
converted from the penalty spot after Darren Purse was judged to have handled
a cross. Then, with seven minutes left, he doubled his tally and the lead with a
far post tap in after a fine cross from Brett Ormerod.


Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it
http://www.topica.com/lists/premier-L