7 April 2003
Fulham (0) 0
Blackburn (2) 4 (Dunn (pen) 36, Sukur 42, 54, Duff 52)
Blackburn kept up their quest for a UEFA Cup spot by crushing Fulham 4-0 in
West London tonight. Fulham edged the opening half an hour, but were then
caught by a double-blow before half time when Rovers netted twice. The first
goal came from David Dunn who sent Maik Taylor the wrong way from the
penalty spot after Lee Clark had handled a cross and the lead was doubled
shortly afterwards when Hakan Sukur controlled a long ball in by Lucas
Neill, turned his marker and prodded the ball over the line. The second half
began as the first had ended, with two more goals for the visitors, both
made by Andy Cole. Firstly he played the ball inside for Damien Duff to run
onto and shoot hard and low under the body of Taylor in the home goal and
then Cole's neat touch allowed Sukur to side-step his marker to grab his
second, and Rover's fourth, of the game.
6 April 2003
Everton (1) 2 (Rooney 18, Unsworth (pen) 65)
Newcastle (1) 1 (Robert 40)
Everton moved above Liverpool into fifth place after a pulsating victory
over Newcastle who remain six points behind the joint leaders at the top.
The hosts took the lead when Thomas Gravesen's cross was flicked on by David
Weir and headed in, via the post, by Wayne Rooney, however just before half
time, Laurent Robert equalised with a stinging drive from the left edge of
the area having been found well by Jonathon Woodgate. The winner arrived in
controversial style although there was little doubt that a penalty was the
correct decision after Woodgate had tripped Kevin Campbell in the area.
Newcastle though were livid as play was allowed to continue in the build up
to the incident after Gravesen had caught Olivier Bernard with a dangerous
thigh high, studs first, challenge. David Unsworth made no mistake from the
spot, drilling the kick straight down the middle.
5 April 2003
Aston Villa (0) 1 (Toure (og) 71)
Arsenal (0) 1 (Ljungberg 56)
Arsenal remain in top spot but only on goal difference after drawing at
Aston Villa. The Champions took the lead when Freddie Ljungberg netted after
Peter Enckleman had saved an effort from Gilberto. The hosts equalised when
a Thomas Hitzlsperger corner wasnt dealt with by Pascal Cygan or Kolo Toure,
the latter ultimately blasting the ball into his own net as he attempted to
clear.
Bolton (1) 2 (Pedersen 32, Campo 52)
Man City (0) 0
MISSED PEN: Okocha (Bolton) 22
Bolton eased away from the relegation zone with a comfortable win against
Man City. Jay-Jay Okocha blew a golden chance midway through the first half
when he fired wide from the penalty spot after Peter Schmeichal had brought
down Youri Djorkaeff, however the Nigerian made amends when, ten minutes
later, he crossed for Henrik Pedersen to score at the far post. The win was
secured early in the second half when Ivan Campo headed home a Djorkaeff
corner.
Charlton (1) 1 (Euell (pen) 45)
Leeds (3) 6 (Kewell 12, 76. Harte (pen) 34, Viduka 42, 53, (pen) 56)
Mark Viduka scored a hat trick as Leeds eased their relegation worries (and
those of their fans!) with a crushing victory at the Valley against
Charlton. Despite Viduka's three goals, Alan Smith was the star of the show
for the visitors as he set up the first five goals, starting with a neat
cross to the far post for Harry Kewell to tap home. Ian Harte netted the
second from the penalty spot after Smith was tripped by Richard Rufus and
then Viduka scored the first of his trio with a shot from the edge of the
area after Smith's header set him up. The hosts pulled a goal back on half
time when Scott Parker was fouled by Lucas Radebe, allowing Jason Euell to
convert the penalty, however Leeds scored twice in the early stages of the
second half to end any comeback. Viduka scored the fourth, and his second,
after more good work from Smith and then completed his hat trick from the
penalty spot following Luke Young's trip on Smith. Kewell completed the rout
as he latched onto a weak header by Tahir El-Khalej to fire inside Dean
Kiely's near post.
Man United (1) 4 (Van Nistelrooy (pens) 5, 65, Giggs 78, Solskjaer 90)
Liverpool (0) 0
RED CARD: Hyypia (Liverpool) 4
Man United go level on points with leaders Arsenal with their biggest win
over Liverpool since 1953. The game was effectively over after just five
minutes when Sami Hyypia was red carded for hauling back Ruud Van Nistelrooy
in the area. The Dutchman made no mistake from the spot and against ten men,
United rarely looked in any danger. In the second half, Paul Scholes was
caught by Igor Biscan and again Van Nistelrooy converted the penalty and
then Ryan Giggs added a third as he slid in to score from David Beckham's
cross. In stoppage time, OIe Gunnar Solskjaer made in four with a shot
inside the near post after being sent through by Giggs.
Middlesbrough (1) 3 (Christie 36, Greening 76, Nemeth 87)
West Brom (0) 0
West Brom took a step nearer an instant return to division one as they were
swept aside by Middlesbrough. Malcolm Christie opened the scoring, jinking
past two men before firing home following a cross from Joseph Desire-Job and
in the second half, Jonathon Greening doubled the lead, slotting in well
after a one-two with Juninho, who himself cracked the bar early in the game
with a stunning overhead kick. Late on, Szilard Nemeth added a third,
bursting through to beat the keeper with ease.
Southampton (1) 1 (Beattie 44)
West Ham (0) 1 (Defoe 83)
West Ham remain in the bottom three, although they did salvage a point as
they came from behind at Southampton. Man of the moment, unless you're the
England boss, James Beattie opened the scoring as ge bundled in a cross from
Chris Marsden at the far post, however the Hammers levelled matters late on
when Jermaine Defoe hooked the ball in after the home defence failed to deal
with a long throw from Glenn Johnson.
Sunderland (1) 1 (Thornton 12)
Chelsea (0) 2 (Zola 52, Cole 85)
Sunderland need a miracle to escape the drop after losing at home to Chelsea
who came from behind to concrete that fourth Champions League spot. Sean
Thornton gave the hosts a shock lead when he fired home from 25 yards after
Kevin Kyle's cross was half cleared, however early in the second half,
Gianfranco Zola equalised with a deflected shot after Carlton Cole had set
him up with a header from a William Gallas cross. Cole grabbed the winner
himself with neat turn and shot after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had found him.
Spurs (1) 2 (Keane 7, Poyet 88)
Birmingham (0) 1 (Devlin (pen) 77)
Birmingham remain in the relegation scrap as Spurs left it late to keep
their European hopes alive. Veteran keeper Andy Marriott was making his
Birmingham debut and after seven minutes he promptly wrote himself in
football folklore as he collected the ball, then prepared to launch it
forward without checking what was behind him and as he released it from his
grasp, in nipped Robbie Keane to roll the ball into a gaping net. Think
Given-Dublin a few years back and you'll have an almost carbon copy. The
visitors levelled matters when Gus Poyet bundled Christophe Dugarry over in
the area, allowing Paul Devlin to drill home the resulting penalty, however
Poyet made amends with a late winner as he latched onto a long clearance
from Kasey Keller to volley home from the edge of the area.
Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it
http://www.topica.com/lists/premier-L
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