16 March 2003

Man City (0) 1 (Fowler 71)
Birmingham (0) 0
RED CARD: Jensen (Man City) 78

Robbie Fowler's first goal in Man City colours was enough to help his team
to a narrow victory over relegation threatened Birmingham. The former
Liverpool and Leeds striker was having a poor game before he found a superb
volley to bury a cross from Ali Benarbia into the far corner. The hosts were
reduced to ten men when Niclas Jensen was shown a second yellow card for a
foul on Stan Lazaridis and Birmingham also took advantage late on when sug
Geoff Horsfield broke clear, rounded Peter Schmeichal and then totally
missed his kick with the goal gaping.


West Brom (0) 0
Chelsea (1) 2 (Stanic 38, Zola 55)

Chelsea moved into fourth place with a comfortable win against West Brom,
who remain just one place off the bottom. Mario Stanic gave the visitors the
lead with a powerful near post header from a Graeme Le Saux corner and the
lead was doubled when Gianfranco Zola played a neat one-two with Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink before slotting the ball neatly into the bottom corner.


Spurs (0) 2 (Taricco 49, Sheringham 87)
Liverpool (0) 3 (Owen 51, Heskey 72, Gerrard 82)

Steven Gerrard had a hand in all three Liverpool goals as the Anfield side
came from behind to win at Spurs. After a goalless first half, Spurs took
the lead when Mauricio Taricco's long range effort bobbled under Jerzy Dudek
and dribbled so slowly over the line, however within two minutes Liverpool
were level when Gerrard's cross found MIchael Owen to tap in at the far
post. Gerrard then found space in the area and aimed a chip at the far post
for Emile Heskey to nod in and with time running out, the midfielder ran
half the length of the pitch to drill home past the keeper from the edge of
the area. Late on, Teddy Sheringham pulled one back after Liverpool failed
to clear a Stephen Carr corner, but the equaliser wouldnt come.


15 March 2003

Aston Villa (0) 0
Man United (1) 1 (Beckham 12)

Man United kept the pressure on league leaders Arsenal with a narrow, hard
fought, victory at Villa Park against Aston Villa. United began well and
should have taken a second minute lead when Villa's defence left David
Beckham unmarked three yards from goal, the England captain only managed to
shoot straight at home keeper Stefan Postma. He didnt make the same mistake
ten minutes later though as he beat Alan Wright to Ryan Giggs' cross to tap
the ball into the net. Villa battled back well and were unlucky not to
equalise before half time as Mustappa Hadji in particular came within inches
of a goal on three seperate occasions. Dion Dublin had a header just over
the bar whilst Darius Vassell was denied by a fine save from Fabien Barthez
as he broke clear on goal. The second half began as the first ended, with
Villa creating chances as Lee Hendrie blazed over after Barthez flapped at a
cross and Dublin's header was pushed away from danger by the French keeper.
United however also made some decent chances as Giggs thudded a free kick
against the post, Ruud van Nistelrooy had an effort blocked by J.Lloyd
Samuel and John O'Shea's header was cleared off the line by Hadji. The game
fizzled out over the final half an hour though, leaving United within two
points of Arsenal because...


Blackburn (1) 2 (Duff 22, Tugay 52)
Arsenal (0) 0

The Gunners slipped up at Ewood Park against a Blackburn side still pushing
hard for a European spot. The hosts took the lead when Tugay's fierce shot
struck Dwight Yorke, rebounding well for Damien Duff who volleyed past
Stuart Taylor. The lead was doubled early in the second half when Tugay
found the net himself with a fine shot from the edge of the area after being
found by Duff. The victory confirmed the double for Rovers over the reigning
Champions.


Charlton (0) 0
Newcastle (1) 2 (Shearer (pen) 33, Solano 49)

Newcastle remain on course for a Champions League spot after a comfortable
win at Charlton. Alan Shearer netted the first from the penalty spot after
the superb Craig Bellamy was held back by Jason Euell. Bellamy was also
heavily involved in the second, breaking clear to cross for Nol Solano to
tap home.


Everton (0) 0
West Ham (0) 0

No goals and little action at Goodison as West Ham earned a vital point in
their battle against relegation. David James was the busier goalkeeper and
he made a fine save in stoppage time to deny Thomas Gravesen a late winner.


Fulham (1) 2 (Saha 43, Svensson (M) (og) 52)
Southampton (0) 2 (Beattie 81, Svensson (M) 90)

Fun and games at Loftus Road as Southampton came from two down to draw
against Fulham. The hosts took the lead just before half time when Steed
Malbranque's cross was expertly volleyed into the bottom corner by Louis
Saha and it was doubled early in the second half when the unlucky Michael
Svensson could only turn a Saha cross into his own net. Saints launched a
late comeback, initiated by James Beattie who headed in a corner from Matt
Oakley and they earned a point in the final seconds when keeper Antti Niemi
came up for a corner and after Fulham failed to clear, his shot struck the
bar, rebounding perfectly for Svensson to nod home, cancelling out his
earlier error.


Leeds (1) 2 (Viduka 24, 76)
Middlesborough (2) 3 (Maccarone (pen) 36, Juninho 45, Geremi 64)

Another defeat for Leeds as Middlesborough record only their third away win
of the season. The hosts took the lead when Ugo Ehigou and keeper Mark
Schwarzer collided in the area, allowing Mark Viduka to sneak in and tap the
ball home. Boro then took command and levelled matters through a Massimo
Maccarone penalty after he'd been brought down by Lucas Radebe, the South
African lucky to escape with only a yellow card. Juninho then crashed home a
superb 25 yard shot on the stroke of half time to put the visitors ahead and
in the second half, Geremi added a third with a wonderful chip over Paul
Robinson. Viduka pulled a goal back late on when Schwarzer spilled a shot
from James Milner, but it still leaves Leeds looking anxiously over their
shoulders at the bottom five.


Sunderland (0) 0
Bolton (0) 2 (Okocha 50, Pedersen 55)

Mick McCarthy's reign as Sunderland boss began with defeat against Bolton in
a relegation six-pointer. Jay-Jay Okocha showed superb skill to beat his man
on the left wing early in the second half, before swinging in a cross-shot
with keeper Thomas Sorensen could only help into the net. Five minutes
later, Sorensen made a fine save by Mendy's shot, however as Bjorkland
appeared to freeze, in nipped Henrik Pedersen to double the lead and clinch
the points.


8 March 2003

Liverpool (1) 2 (Diouf 44, Owen 67)
Bolton (0) 0

Liverpool kept up their push for a Champions League position with a
comfortable 2-0 win over reelgation threatened Bolton at Anfield. The hosts
broke the deadlock just before half time when Michael Owen crossed for
El-Hadji Diouf to head home from close range, his first league goal since
August. Roles were reversed midway through the second half when Diouf set up
Owen to bundle in the second and decisive goal.


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