27 February 2005 Middlesbrough (0) 2 (Riggott 74, Graham 86) Charlton (1) 2 (Holland 14, Bartlett 80) Middlesbrough dominated against Charlton but twice had to come from behind to earn a point. The visitors went ahead when Shaun Bartlett set up Matt Holland whose shot from the edge of the area looped in courtesy of a wicked deflection off of Franck Queudrue. Boro laid siege to their opponents goal, however last ditch defending and a string of fine saves from Dean Kiely kept them out until the latter stages when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's shot was parried into the path of Chris Riggott who accepted the tap in. Six minutes later, Charlton regained the lead when Bartlett drilled the ball home after Hermann Hreidarsson's cross found it's way to him, however Boro battled back again and earned a well deserved point when Queudrue's long ball sent Danny Graham clear and as Kiely came out, the youngster looped a header over him, although he did get a kick in the face from Chris Perry for his trouble. Attendance : 29,603 Assists : n/a, n/a, Hreidarsson, Quedrue Newcastle (1) 2 (Bowyer 35, Dyer 69) Bolton (1) 1 (Giannakopolous 41) Three home wins in a week for Newcastle as Bolton's European hopes took a dive at St James. The home side went ahead when a cross from Stephen Carr was headed firmly home by Lee Bowyer, however Bolton were level by half time when Jay-Jay Okocha's pass was nodded on by both Kevin Davies and Gary Speed before Stelios Giannakopolous drilled the ball home. Newcastle secured the points when Alan Shearer's shot was blocked and Kieron Dyer reacted quickest to volley the loose ball into the roof of the net. Attendance : 50,430 Assists : Carr, Speed, n/a 26 February 2005 Manchester United 2 (Rooney 8, 81) Portsmouth 1 (O'Neill 47) Man United move to within six points of Chelsea after a brace from Wayne Rooney gave them all three points against Portsmouth. The striker struck early when he swept home a cross from Gary Neville, however within two minutes of the second half starting, Pompey levelled matters when Gary O'Neil found the net from 25 yards after a run forward by Steve Stone was halted on the edge of the area. United then bombared the visitors goal but rarely looked threatening until nine minutes from time when Ruud van Nistelrooy showed great close control and then found Rooney who surged past his marker, draw a dive from the keeper and slotted the ball into the gaping net. Attendance : 67,898 Assists : G Neville, n/a, van Nistelrooy Aston Villa 1 (Solano 46) Everton 3 (Osman 17, 67, Cahill 48) Everton move eight points clear of Liverpool as they consolidated fourth place with a comfortable win at Villa Park. They went ahead when Tim Cahill's cross was missed by Marcus Bent at the near post, however Leon Osman was backing up at the far post and had an easy chance to nod the ball home. The second half started in explosive fashion with Villa equalising after just 17 seconds! Thomas Hitzlsperger was the provider with a drilled cross which keeper Nigel Martyn could only parry into the path of Nol Solano for a tap in, however within two minutes, Everton were ahead again when Bent's cross was headed in by Cahill. Victory was clinched midway through the half when Cahill battled through the defence to set up Osman to slot the ball home. Attendance : 40,248 Assists : Cahill, n/a, Bent, Cahill Crystal Palace 2 (Johnson 41, 68 pens) Birmingham 0 Crystal Palace eased their relegation fears with a penalty in each half to see off Birmingham - their tenth and eleventh spot kicks of the campaign! The first came when Tom Soars was bodychecked by Matthew Upson and although Andy Johnson drilled the kick straigh down the middle, a re-take was ordered due to encroachement. Johnson changed his tact this time and found the corner instead. Midway through the second half, Johnson was tripped by the unlucky Upson and got to his feet to blast the penalty down the middle again, with no re-take needed this time around. Attendance : 23,276 Assists : Soares, Johnson (won pen) Tottenham 2 (Kanoute 78, Keane 90) Fulham 0 Spurs keep their European hopes alive with two late goals from two subs against Fulham. Freddie Kanoute scored the first with a fine 25 yard free kick into the far corner and with time almost up, Simon Davies sent Robbie Keane clear and after rounding the keeper he was left with a simple tap in. Attendance : 35,885 Assists : Reid (won fk), Davis Southampton 1 (Crouch 67) Arsenal 1 (Ljungberg 45) Two goals, two red cards and a late goal disallowed as Southampton and Arsenal shared the honours at St Marys. Southampton had the better of a slow first half and then self-destructed in the latter stages. David Prutton sparked matters off when, having already been booked for one late tackle, he caught Robert Pires on the ankle with an equally late lunge and having consulated with his assistant, the referee showed a second yellow and subsequent red. Prutton did his case no use by remonstrating with the assistant and pushing the ref out of his way on a couple of occasions, eventually needing to be restrained by boss Harry Redknapp. Pires was then stretched off and in the ensuing stoppage time, Thierry Henry tried to turn in the area and found the unmarked Freddie Ljungberg who fired the ball in. Early in the second half, Henry was denied by a fine save from Paul Smith and within minutes, Robin Van Persie caught Graeme Le Saux late and was shown his second yellow of the game to make it ten against ten. Saints took full advantage and were level when a corner from Jamie Redknapp saw keeper Jens Lehmann come eight yards off of his line to collect, only to be beaten by the head of Peter Crouch whose header bounced into the ground and in off the bar. Smith then saved well from Henry again as well as Ashley Cole and Ljungberg and with a draw looking certain, Arsenal pushed forward in the dying seconds and Cole nodded in a Ljungberg cross at the far post, however as they celebrated, the assistant had his flag up for offside. Attendance : 31,815 Red Cards : Prutton 45 (Southampton), van Persie 52 (Arsenal) Assists : Henry, Redkanpp (ck) Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Topica Premier-L list http://www.topica.com/lists/premier-L Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it http://www.peanutsfan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/footiemad The Unofficial Premiership Site |