PREMIERSHIP ROUND 4
 
31 August 2003

Southampton (0) 1 (Beattie 88)
Man United (0) 0

Man United lost in the league for the first time since Boxing Day after a
late James Beattie header gave Southampton all three points at St Mary's.
The only goal came two minutes from time as a firmly struck corner by Graeme
Le Saux was missed by keeper Tim Howard, allowing Beattie to nod in from all
of three yards.


Man City (1) 1 (Lauren (og) 10)
Arsenal (0) 2 (Wiltord 48, Ljungberg 72)

Arsenal moved three points clear at the top after coming from behind to win
at Man City. The home side took the lead with a freakish own goal from
Lauren, who latched onto a long clearance from Sylvain Distin and, under
pressure from Trevor Sinclair, took a touch and then as he attempted to
clear the ball, shinned it past his own keeper from 15 yards out, leaving
Jens Lehmann rooted to the spot in sheer horror! Arsenal levelled matters
early in the second half when Ashley Cole found space on the left and
crossed for Sylvain Wiltord to slot in at the near post. The winner came
from a defensive mix-up by City as they failed to deal with a clipped ball
into the area towards Robert Pires. David Seaman failed to gather in the
scramble and Freddie Ljungberg was on hand to tap into the empty net.


30 August 2003

Everton (0) 0
Liverpool (1) 3 (Owen 39, 52, Kewell 80)

Liverpool recorded their first win of the season at the expense of
Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park. The opening goal was made by
Harry Kewell, who'd earlier sent three efforts off target, slotting the ball
through for Michael Owen, who got his angles right to shoot past Steve
Simonsen and in off the far post. Owen doubled his tally and the lead
shortly afterwards as Kewell sent Milan Baros away down the left, he cut
inside Joseph Yobo and set up Owen to score comfortably from the edge of the
area. Owen was also involved in the third as he burst clear and rounded the
keeper, however with the angle tight, he crossed for Alan Stubbs to nod into
the past of Kewell who slotted into the gaping net.


Aston Villa (3) 3 (Thatcher (og) 8, Angel 10, 16)
Leicester (0) 1 (Izzet 53)
RED CARD: Ferdinand (Leicester) 40

Aston Villa collected their first victory of the season with an opening
blast which blew away Leicester. Three goals in nine minutes did the damage,
although as last week, Leicester opened the opponents scoring themselves as
Ben Thatcher, under pressure from Darius Vassell, nodded into his own net at
the near post. Juan Pablo Angel then took command as he headed home firmly
from a cross by Peter Whittingham and six minutes later, the same player
crossed from the same left wing for Angel to fire in at the near post. Not
content with that, Leicester's experienced striker Les Ferdinand stupidly
got himself two yellow cards in a minute shortly before half time - both for
dissent! Villa eased off after the break and the visitors did pull one back
when Muzzy Izzet scored from a free kick on the edge of the area, but it
made little difference.


Bolton (0) 0
Charlton (0) 0

Bolton moved out of the bottom three after a goalless draw against Charlton,
but they did enough to win it. Jay-Jay Okocha came as close as anyone when
he hit the bar with a free kick whilst late on Youri Djorkaeff had an effort
cleared off the line by Hermann Hreidarsson.


Chelsea (1) 2 (Mutu 45, Hasselbaink (pen) 63)
Blackburn (1) 2 (Cole 19 secs, 58)

Fun and games at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea's bogey side, Blackburn Rovers,
twice took the lead before having to settle for a draw against the West
London moneybags. The visitors took the lead with the quickest goal of the
season so far as Marcel Desailly did well to keep the ball in play but
presented it to Matt Jansen in the process. His cross was met by Andy Cole
who volleyed home inside 20 seconds! As happened last week, Adrian Mutu
levelled matters on the stroke of half time as he ended a superb move by
latching onto a Frank Lampard through ball, rounding the keeper and drilling
home. Cole restored Blackburn's lead in the second half with a tap in after
Carlo Cudicini made an absolute hash of dealing with a David Thompson cross,
however within five minutes Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink levelled again with a
penalty after Lucas Neill handled a cross from Geremi, although whether he
could have got his hands out of the way is a matter of opinion.


Middlesbrough (0) 2 (Nemeth 60, Juninho 63)
Leeds (1) 3 (Sakho 16, Camara 77, Viduka 89)

Middlesbrough had almost 30 shots at goal whilst Leeds mustered single
figures, however the visitors still somehow won their first game of the
season in a topsy-turvy clash at the Riverside. It was a good day for Leeds'
loan signings as Jermaine Pennent sent Lamine Sakho through to slide in the
first, whilst later in the game, a third loanie, Zoumana Camara, headed home
a corner for Leeds. Camara's goal levelled the scores at 2-2 after firstly
Szilard Nemeth cancelled out Sakho's goal with a good finish having been
sent clear by Gaizka Mendieta and then Juninho scored with a superb volley
on the edge of the area after Leeds failed to clear a cross. With the game
heading for a draw, Pennent's long ball sent Mark Viduka away and clear
after a slip from Andy Davies and the Australian won the game for Leeds with
a neat lob.


Newcastle (0) 0
Birmingham (0) 1 (Dunn 61)

Three home defeats in a week for Newcastle who left the pitch to a chorus of
jeers after losing to Birmingham. The only goal came after Gary Speed
brought down Damien Johnson in the area and although Shay Given saved David
Dunn's penalty, the midfielder was on hand to tap in the rebound.


Spurs (0) 0
Fulham (1) 3 (Hayles 23, 67, Boa Morte 71)

Spurs slumped to a crushing home defeat in a London derby against Fulham,
putting boss Glenn Hoddle under more pressure. Barry Hayles did the main
damage for the visitors as he embarked on a solo run, cut in from the right
and then fired inside the far post and then in the second half, he took
advantage of a poor pass from Darren Anderton and a weak tackle by Dean
Richards to burst through and double the lead. Minutes later, Hayles turned
provider as he cross was converted by Luis Boa Morte.


Wolves (0) 0
Portsmouth (0) 0

Wolves collected their first point of the new season with a goalless draw
against fellow promoted side Portsmouth. The visitors had the better chances
as Patrick Berger headed against his own hand with the goal gaping at tbe
far post and then later in the game, Teddy Sheringham had a shot cleared off
the line.


Gary Dowden
Chief Editor SoccerAge UK

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