PREMIERSHIP ROUND 25
 
11 February 2004

Birmingham (2) 3 (Johnson 8, Lazaridis 39, Forsell 49)
Everton (0) 0

Everton remain too close to the bottom three after a thumping defeat at the
hands of Birmingham. The took the lead when a corner was cleared to Damien
Johnson whose weak effort from 20 yards seemed to bobble past everyone and
into the bottom corner. Stan Lazaridis doubled the lead with a run half the
length of the pitch before finishing well and early in the second half the
victory was confirmed when Robbie Savage found Mikael Forssell who drilled
into the bottom corner.


Blackburn (0) 1 (Stead 85)
Newcastle (0) 1 (Bellamy 52)

Craig Bellamy scored his first goal since returning from injury for
Newcastle, however it wasn't enough to clinch a win at Blackburn. The
Welshman struck a fine effort on the turn after Alan Shearer's header fell
nicely for him, however with time running out, Paul Gallagher's cross was
hammered in at the far post by new signing Jonathon Stead, his second goal
in as many games since joining Rovers.


Charlton (0) 2 (Stuart 51, Perry 81)
Spurs (2) 4 (Davies 10, Defoe 43, King 46, Jackson 85)

Spurs are earning the `Great Entertainers` tag after their last three games
totalled twenty goals, including another six in the clash with Charlton.
Spurs tore into a three goal lead as firstly Simon Davies found the net via
a deflection off of Paul Konchesky, whose loose header set him up in the
first place. Jermain Defoe netted his second in as many games to double the
lead, although there was a suspicion of handball after his original effort
was blocked by the keeper and then hit him to go in. Ledley King made it
three with a fine finish after Robbie Keane had been tackled, however it
only set up the inevitable comeback as firstly Graeme Stuart thumped the
ball home after Spurs failed to clear a corner and then ex-Spurs man Chris
Perry nodded in a Claus Jensen cross. Spurs bounced back though and clinched
the win when Johnny Jackson ran through to bury a shot into the bottom
corner.


Fulham (1) 1 (Boa Morte 1)
Aston Villa (2) 2 (Angel 13, Vassell 32)
RED CARD : Bocanegra (Fulham) 75

Aston Villa's superb recent run continued despite a nightmare start at
Fulham. The game was 52 seconds old when Luis Boa Morte found space on the
left and found the bottom corner with a fine shot across goal, however Villa
were level when Juan Pablo Angel pounced to score after Edwin van der Sar
spilled an earlier shot. Darius Vassell nodded a near post winner from
Thomas Hitzelsperger's corner, however the game ended on a sour note after
the sending off of Carlos Bocanegra for an awful two-footed challenged
against the shin of Mark Delaney.


Liverpool (1) 2 (Owen 3, Gerrard 51)
Man City (0) 1 (Wright-Phillips 50)

Liverpool inflicted more misery on former hero Kevin Keegan as his Man City
side were narrowly beaten at Anfield. Michael Owen gave the hosts an early
lead, clipping the ball over the keeper after being put through by Dietmar
Hamann. City levelled through Shaun Wright-Phillips with a fine shot from
the edge of the area after Steve McManaman set him up, however within a
minute, Liverpool grabbed the winner as Steven Gerrard netted after Owen's
run was stopped by the keeper.


Man United (0) 2 (Van Nistelrooy 45, Giggs 63)
Middlesbrough (2) 3 (Juninho 34, 38, Job 80)

Man United lost ground to Arsenal after faltering to a shock defeat at the
hands of Middlesbrough. The visitors took a two goal lead - both from
headers by Juninho, one of the Premiership's smallest players! His first was
a nod into an empty net after Franck Queudrue's long range effort was
bundled onto the bar by Tim Howard, whilst four minutes later, the Brazilian
nodded in at the near post from Stewart Greening's cross to double the lead.
United bounced back before half time as Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha set up
Ruud van Nistelrooy to volley home and the Dutchman then turned provider to
flick on Phil Neville's cross for Giggs to control well and finish cooly at
the far post. Remarkably it was Boro who went on to snatch a late winner as
Doriva found Joseph Desire-Job who turned well and shot home from the edge
of the area.


Portsmouth (0) 0
Chelsea (1) 2 (Parker 17, Crespo 78)

Chelsea move to within a point of Man United after a hard fought win at
struggling Portsmouth. New signing Scott Parker scored his first for his new
club, volleying in from six yards after good work from Adrian Mutu and the
points were secured when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink broke clear and although
his lob hit the bar, Hernan Crespo followed up to chest the rebound over the
line.


10 February 2004

Arsenal (1) 2 (Henry 31, 90)
Southampton (0) 0

Arsenal consolidated top spot with a comfortable win against Southampton,
with Thierry Henry scoring both goals. His first came just after the half
hour as he broke the offside trap to latch onto Robert Pires's pass and slot
in his 100th Premiership goal. In stoppage time, Pires again provided,
although Gilberto's miskick helped set up Henry who found the top corner
with a crisp shot.


Leeds (2) 4 (Smith 14, Matteo 41, Milner 62, Viduka 90)
Wolves (1) 1 (Ganea 21)

Leeds moved off the bottom on goal difference at the expense of their
opponents Wolves. The hosts took the lead when Alan Smith bundled in
Jermaine Pennant's cross at the far post, however within seven minutes,
Wolves were level thanks to Viorel Ganea's long range effort. Dominic Matteo
restored the lead after keeper Paul Jones had only half cleared Didier
Domi's free kick and in the second half, Smith's cross-shot was turned in at
the far post by James Milner. Smith then set up Mark Viduka to turn his man
and fire in the fourth in stoppage time.


Leicester (1) 1 (Ferdinand 16)
Bolton (1) 1 (Walker (og) 32)

Leicester stay in the drop zone courtesy of a free own goal from keeper Ian
Walker. They originally took the lead when Les Ferdinand's header was pushed
out by the keeper even though it may well have crossed the line, Ferdinand
took no chances and cracked home the rebound anyway. Then came the equaliser
as Bolton had a ploy of putting two players in a clear `offside` position
and then both moving out as the ball was struck. This seemed to affect
Walker as he gathered a high ball into the area, then lost control and as he
tried to pull it away from Kevin Davies, he only succeeded in pulling it
between his legs and over the line!


Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list
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