6th March 2003

Manchester United (1) 2 (Radebe (og) 20, Silvestre 79)
Leeds United (0) 1 (Viduka 64)

Man United bounced back from their Worthington Cup disappointment with a
narrow win over Leeds to move to within five points of Arsenal. They needed
a stroke of luck to take the lead though as David Beckham's cross was met by
the head of Nicky Butt, only for Paul Robinson to make a fine save. However
the rebound struck the back-tracking Lucas Radebe and bobbled over the line.
Leeds levelled matters when Ian Harte's firmly struck free kick found Mark
Viduka unmarked and his header found the net via the far post. The hosts
secured the points late on when Beckham's quickly taken free kick was nodded
in by Mikael Silvestre.


Middlesbrough (0) 1 (Geremi 62)
Newcastle (0) 0

Newcastle, slip three points behind Man United after losing the North-East
derby against Middlesbrough. The only goal came just after the hour mark
when Franck Queudrue's cross was headed home superbly by Geremi.


3rd March 2003

Aston Villa (0) 0
Birmingham (0) 2 (Lazaridis 73, Horsfield 77)
RED CARDS : (Dublin 50, Gudjohnsson 80 (Both Villa)

Birmingham did the double over their city rivals of Aston Villa in an explosive
encounter which saw the hosts end the game with nine men. After a goalless first
half, the match burst into life early in the second half when Dion Dublin caught
Robbie Savage with a late tackle. Both players got up and exchanged words,
resulting in Dublin headbutting the Welshman, leaving the ref with no choice but
to brandish a red card. Things went from bad to worse to disastrous for Villa in
the final twenty minutes as the visitors netted twice in four minutes. Firstly
Stan Lazaridis headed in at the far post from Damien Johnson's cross and then
sub Geoff Horsfield latched onto a weak back header from J.Lloyd Samuel, just
beat keeper Peter Enckleman to the ball and tapped into an empty net. Tempers
flared again shortly afterwards when Joey Gudjohnsson launched into a leg
breaker of a two-footed challenge on Matthew Upson, resulting in a second yellow
card, although in truth, a straight red would not have been unjust. This sparked
a minor punch up on the pitch, as well as crowd problems off the field of play,
including at least two `fans` who ran onto the pitch to confront players.
Horsfield then spent the closing stages in goal after an injury to regular
keeper Nico Vaesen, Birmingham having used all their subs, however it didn't
detract from a fine victory. One thing for sure, we've not heard the last of
this game!


2nd March 2003

Arsenal (2) 2 (Jeffers 26, Pires 45)
Charlton (0) 0

Arsenal move eight points clear of Man United and Newcastle after a hard fought
victory at Highbury against sixth placed Charlton. Arsenal took a while to find
their feet, however it was Francis Jeffers who took advantage of a rare starting
place to break the deadlock. The provider was Thierry Henry who did well on the
left to find space to cross for an unmarked Jeffers to tap into a gaping net
from four yards. On the stroke of half time, the lead was doubled as the Gunners
broke swiftly after a Charlton attack broke down. Henry again used his pace on
the left to drive into the area and although his cross fell to visiting defender
Chris Powell, he only diverted the ball to Freddie Ljungberg, allowing the Swede
to prod against the post from a tight angle and for Robert Pires to head home
from practically on the line.


1st March 2003

Blackburn (1) 1 (Dunn 13)
Man City (0) 0

Blackburn continued their push for a European spot with a narrow win over a
mis-firing Man City side. The only goal came early on as David Dunn nodded into
an empty net after Carlo Nash had saved well from an Egil Ostenstad shot.


Fulham (0) 1 (Saha 85)
Sunderland (0) 0

Sunderland remain rock bottom despite having the better of things against
Fulham, yet losing to a late Louis Saha goal. The former Newcastle man struck
with five minutes to go, heading home firmly after a fine cross from Andrejs
Stolcers


Middlesbrough (0) 1 (Juninho 74)
Everton (1) 1 (Watson 23)

Juninho made a goalscoring return for Middlesbrough as he found the net in his
first competitive game since the World Cup Final. Everton took the lead after a
drab opening when Steve Watson found the bottom corner after Kevin Campbell had
touched back Tomasz Radzinski's deflected cross. Boro made three half times
changes, including the arrival of Juninho, and the Brazilian struck with a far
post tap in following a cross by Massimo Maccarone.


Southampton (1) 1 (Beattie 8)
West Brom (0) 0

West Brom continue to stare relegation in the face after losing narrowly against
Southampton. The only goal came early, although the Baggies claimed that the
ball had gone out for a throw-in during the build up. Eventually, Paul Telfer
found Brett Ormerod whose chested pass fell to James Beattie who cracked the
ball home from long range.


West Ham (1) 2 (Ferdinand (L) 31, Carrick 47)
Spurs (0) 0

West Ham moved level on points with Bolton as they won for the second time in
six days, hampering Spurs' UEFA Cup hopes in the process. Les Ferdinand, who
left Spurs for Upton park earlier this season, bit the hand that used to feed
him as he fired home from the edge of the area after excellent work from
Jermaine Defoe, although keeper Kasey Keller will be disappointed that the ball
squeezed under him. Early in the second half, the points were secured as Spurs
wasted three chances to clear a Michael Carrick cross and after Keller only half
palmed the ball away, the midfielder was on hand again to drill the ball into
the net.


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