24th February 2003

Spurs (1) 1 (Sheringham (pen) 40)
Fulham (1) 1 (King (og) 15)
RED CARDS: Taylor (Fulham) 38, Anderton (Spurs) 73

Two goals, two red cards and a miss of the season contender at White Hart Lane
as Spurs and Fulham shared the spoils of a pulsating London derby. The visitors
took an early lead when Steve Marlet sent Luis Boa Morte in down the left, his
shot-come-cross was deflected into his own net by Ledley King. The real
controversy came shortly before half time when Simon Davies broke clear only to
be brought down by keeper Maik Taylor. Replays showed that the Fulham keeper got
a touch on the ball as Davies fell over his body, however the referee wasted no
time in awarding a penalty and sending Taylor off. Facundo Sava was sacrificed
for reserve keeper Martin Herrera to make his debut, however his first job was
to pick the ball out of the net when he was beaten by Teddy Sheringham's
penalty. After the break, Milenko Acimovic scuffed an effort against the top of
the bar with the goal gaping from three yards out before the numerical advantage
enjoyed by Spurs was levelled out when Darren Anderton was sent off for his
second bookable offence, both fouls on Louis Saha. Indeed, the Fulham striker
came closest to winning the match with a fierce shot which crashed against the
crossbar.


23rd February 2003

Birmingham (1) 2 (Clemence 34, Morrison 68)
Liverpool (0) 1 (Owen 77)

Liverpool face an end of season battle for a European spot after losing against
Birmingham, who in turn eased their own relegation fears. Stephen Clemence gave
the hosts the lead, heading home a cross from Robbie Savage and the lead was
doubled when Clinton Morrison buried his close range effort from Stan Lazaridis'
cross. Michael Owen pulled a goal back when he slotted in having been sent clear
by Danny Murphy, however a face saving equaliser wouldn't arrive.


West Brom (0) 1 (Dichio 50)
West Ham (1) 2 (Sinclair 45, 67)

Two goals from Trevor Sinclair lifted West Ham above their opponents - West
Brom - although both still remain in the relegation zone. The former QPR man
struck in first half stoppage time, volleying in a fine cross by Steve Lomas.
The Baggies levelled matters when Danny Dichio headed in a cross from Jason
Koumas, however Sinclair grabbed a vital winner when he headed in after Les
Ferdinand had hit the bar.


22nd February 2003

Bolton (0) 1 (N'Gotty 61)
Man United (0) 1 (Solskjaer 90)

Man United's Championship hopes took a dent at the Reebok against relegation
threatened Bolton, although things could have been even worse had the title
chasers not grabbed a last minute equaliser. The hosts took the lead when Bruno
N'Gotty got onto the end of a Youri Djorkaeff free kick, his header dribbling in
off the post, however in the final seconds, David Beckham's cross was crashed in
at the near post by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to salvage a point for the visitors.


Charlton (0) 3 (Euell 51, Johansson 87, 90)
Aston Villa (0) 0

Charlton's unlikely surge towards a UEFA Cup place continued with a comfortable
win over Aston Villa. Jason Euell netted the first, latching onto a chip from
Scott Parker to control well and fire in. Parker also made the second for
Jonathon Johansson, cutting back from the goal-line for the striker to tap home
his first of the season. His second came three minutes later when his header was
deflected in by J.Lloyd Samuel.


Chelsea (0) 1 (Hasselbaink 90)
Blackburn (0) 2 (Yorke 86, Dunn 89)

Chelsea's hopes of a Champions League spot were dented by Blackburn who grabbed
two late goals to win at Stamford Bridge. David Dunn was the hero as firstly his
corner was headed in by an unmarked Dwight Yorke and three minutes later, he
latched onto a pass from Egil Ostenstad to shoot home inside the near post.
Chelsea snatched a late consolation when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink blasted in a 20
yard free kick, but the damage had been done.


Everton (0) 2 (Radzinski 83, 90)
Southampton (1) 1 (Beattie 33)

The `late goals` theme was also in evidence at Goodison as two late strikes from
Tomasz Radzinski completed an Everton comeback against Southampton. The visitors
went ahead through James Beattie, although his lob was delayed entering the net
from the hands of keeper Richard Wright. Radzinski then took over, firstly with
a fine header from a Wayne Rooney cross and then he drilled a shot inside the
near post having been found by Thomas Gravesen.


Leeds (0) 0
Newcastle (1) 3 (Dyer 17, 48, Shearer 54)

No late efforts at Elland Road although by then, Newcastle had already swept
Leeds United away. Kieron Dyer netted for the first time this season early on
after Alan Shearer's prodded pass had put him in and then doubled his tally this
time with a low shot having been found by Craig Bellamy. Shearer added a third
himself, heading in a Laurent Robert free kick, to keep the Magpies in the top
three.


Man City (0) 1 (Anelka 87)
Arsenal (4) 5 (Bergkamp 4, Pires 12, Henry 15, Campbell 19, Vieira 54)

Just an hour after Man United drew at Bolton, Arsenal began a personal
demolition of Man City at Maine Road, scoring four times in the opening nineteen
minutes. City defender Richard Dunne took the brunt of the Gunners fury as he
was one of two players to allow a pass from Lauren to reach Dennis Bergkamp, the
Dutchman slotting in easily. Dunne then gave the ball away to Thierry Henry who
skinned his man and cut back from the goal-line for Robert Pires to tap in.
Martin Keown then lofted a long ball over the head of Dunne for Henry to volley
into the far corner before Henry's corner was headed in by Sol Campbell to leave
the city of Manchester stunned. Early in the second half, Patrick Vieira played
a one-two with Bergkamp to slot in the fifth and although former Gunner Nik
Anelka scored from close range from Robbie Fowler's cross, it was far too
little, far too late.


Sunderland (0) 1 (Phillips 56)
Middlesbrough (2) 3 (Riggott 21, 28, Christie 59)

The North-East derby at the Stadium of Light was won by Middlesbrough, largely
due to their two recent signings from Derby. The pair combined for the opener as
Malcolm Christie's header was saved for Chris Riggott to blast in the rebound.
Defender Riggott was also on hand shortly afterwards to again smash in after
Gareth Southgate had hit the post. Kevin Phillips pulled one back with a fine 25
yard shot, however when Kevin Kilbane's horribly underhit backpass was
intercepted by Christie, you feared the worst for the hosts as the striker
slotted coolly home.


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