PREMIERSHIP ROUND 35
 
24 April 2003

Bolton (0) 1 (Okocha (pen) 90)
Spurs (0) 0

Bolton move out of the bottom three after a Jay-Jay Okocha penalty in
stoppage time gave them a deserved victory against Spurs. The visitors came
closest when Goran Bunjevceic had his shot blocked on the line by Per
Frandsen, however as the match wore on, Bolton battered their opponents into
eventually submission as Kasey Keller made a string of saves and Gudni
Bergsson headed against the post. But, with time almost up, Youri Djorkaeff
was brought down in the area by Gary Doherty and Okocha kept his cool to
slot home a crucial winner in the relegation battle.


21 April 2003

Birmingham (0) 3 (Dugarry 75, 82, Hughes 79)
Southampton (1) 2 (Svensson (A) 26, Omerod 77)

Birmingham are a point away from Premiership football next season after a
late goal blitz beat Southampton at St Andrews. The Saints took the lead
against the run of play when Anders Svensson clipped the ball past the
keeper after James Beattie hdea headed on and they stayed ahead before a
remarkable late spell of four goals in seven minutes. Firstly Christophe
Dugarry equalised with a 25 yard free kick before Brett Ormerod restored the
visitors lead by crashing home after a MIchael Svensson header set him up.
Birmingham equalised again with two minutes when Bryan Hughes volleyed in a
Geoff Horsfield cross and then netted the winner when Dugarry scored his
fourth in three games with a firm header from a Stern John cross.


Blackburn (0) 0
Bolton (0) 0

Bolton are four points above the drop zone after a hard fough goalless draw
at UEFA Cup chasing Blackburn. The hosts had the better chances, however
Andy Cole was denied by Jussi Jaaskelainen whilst clean through and Damien
Duff had an effort blocked on the line by Bernard Mendy.


Chelsea (1) 4 (Gudjohnsen 25, Hasselbaink 48, Gronkjaer 61, Zola 90)
Everton (0) 1 (Carsley 77)

Chelsea move into third after a comfortable victory against Everton, who
still hold hopes of grabbing a Champions League spot themselves. After a
drab opening, Eidur Gudjohnsen took advantage of a David Weir slip to latch
onto Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's pass and fire clinically home. Hasselbaink
doubled the lead just after half time with a looping header from Jesper
Gronkjaer's cross and then the Dane netted the third himself with a fine
finish from John Terry's long through ball. Everton threatened a late
revival when Lee Carsley fired in off the post from Scott Gemmill's pass,
however in stoppage time, sub Gianfranco Zola provided the coup-de-grace
with a lovely lob from the left edge of the area with nestled sweetly into
the far corner of the net.


Liverpool (0) 2 (Hyypia 86, Gerrard 89)
Charlton (0) 1 (Bartlett 47)

Liverpool moved to within a point of fourth placed Newcastle after a late
revival won them the game against Charlton. The visitors took a shock lead
when Djimi Traore lost his footing on the edge of his own area, allowing
Shaun Bartlett to nip in and fire inside the far post via the hands of Jerzy
Dudek. Liverpool equalised with four minutes remaining when Sami Hyypia
volleyed in a John Arne Riise, although again the keeper - Dean Kiely - got
hands to it and then with time almost up. Michael Owen found Steven Gerrard
wide on the left, he cut inside and fired a shot inside the far post to keep
their Champions League hopes alive.


Man City (2) 3 (Foe 36, 80, Fowler 38)
Sunderland (0) 0

Already relegated Sunderland were well beaten at Manchester City, notching
up their 12th successive loss in the process. Marc Vivien Foe netted twice,
the first a neat slot into the net after Nik Anelka set him up and then a
tap in from an Ali Benarbia cross. Between those two goals, Robbie Fowler
also got in on the act with a fine lob from Benarbia's through ball.


Newcastle (1) 1 (Solano 37)
Aston Villa (0) 1 (Dublin 69)

Newcastle drop to four - a point behind Chelsea - after losing a lead at
home to Aston Villa. Nol Solano opened the scoring with a brilliant curling
free kick from all of 25 yards, however after both Alan Shearer and Jonathon
Woodgate went off injured, Dion Dublin levelled matters with a far post
header from Steve Staunton's free kick. From being title hopefuls two weeks
ago, Newcastle could well end up without even a Champions League spot,
especially as they have a local derby against Sunderland next.


West Brom (1) 2 (Dichio 24, Clement 61)
Spurs (1) 3 (Keane 45, 85, Sheringham 63)

Spurs twice came from behind to win at relegated West Brom to keep their
UEFA Cup hopes alive. Danny Dichio gave the hosts the lead when he headed
home a Jason Koumas cross, however Robbie Keane - jeered throughout the game
due to his Wolves connections - silenced the home fans when he clip the ball
in after a one-two with Teddy Sheringham. On the hour, Neil Clement restored
the Baggies lead with a bullet of a free kick, however within two minutes,
Sheringham equalised from close range after Goran Bunjevcevic had hit the
post. The scene was set for a late winner and it came courtesy of Keane who
latched onto a long ball from Ledley King to finish well.


West Ham (0) 1 (Sinclair 77)
Middlesbrough (0) 0

West Ham moved to within three points of Leeds, who play Fulham on Tuesday
night, to give themselves some hope of avoiding the drop. The only goal came
late on when Trevor Sinclair thumped the ball home after a decent cross from
Glenn Johnson. The victory was overshadowed by the news that Hammers boss
Glenn Roeder spent the night in hospital after suffering a suspected heart
attack after the match.


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