31 December 2005 Aston Villa (0) 0 Arsenal (0) 0 Goalless at Villa Park although both clubs had great chances to win it in the second half. Villa's opportunity came when Milan Baros broke clear and with only the keeper to beat, blazed over from the edge of the area. Arsenal should have clinched the points late on, however Kolo Toure prodded wide from close range after the home side failed to clear a corner. Attendance : 37,114 Assist : n/a Charlton (1) 2 (Bartlett 21, Bent 63) West Ham (0) 0 Charlton ended their recent poor run with a home win against West Ham who are gradually sliding down the table themselves. The Hammers began well only to go behind when Darren Bent's cross was converted at the far post by Shaun Bartlett with a sliding effort that flew in off the bar. Bent grabbed the second himself when his firm header found the net from Chris Powell's cross. Attendance : 25,952 Assists : Bent, Powell Chelsea (2) 2 (Crespo 25, Robben 43) Birmingham (0) 0 Another game, another win for Chelsea although Birmingham did have the better of the opening stages. Chelsea went ahead though when Arjen Robben's shot was saved by Maik Taylor, gifting Hernan Crespo a simple tap in. Crespo then wasted a golden chance when he took ages in front of of a gaping net and was tackled by a defender as the chance went begging. He also hit the bar before Eidur Gudjohnsen found Robben to slot in the second. Attendance : 40,652 Assists : n/a, Gudjohnsen Liverpool (0) 1 (Crouch 52) West Brom (0) 0 Ten wins on the bounce now for Liverpool, although they struggled to break down a battling West Brom side. The only goal, almost inevitable, came from Peter Crouch as he headed in Harry Kewell's cross. Attendance : 44,192 Assist : Kewell Manchester United (2) 4 (N'Gotty (og) 8, Saha 44, Ronaldo 68, 90) Bolton (1) 1 (Speed 33) No problems for Man United as they remain eleven points off the lead after destroying Bolton at Old Trafford. They went ahead when Bruno N'Gotty could only bundle Kieron Richardson's cross into his own net and although Gary Speed equalised with an unmarked, far post header after Abdoulaye Faye had helped on a long throw, United never looked back after regaining the lead just before half time. It came from a huge clearance by keeper Edwin Van Der Sar that caused Tal Ben Haim to underhit his headed back pass and after Louis Saha collected the ball, he rounded the keeper and slotted in, although N'Gotty almost managed to clear. Cristiano Ronaldo had earlier hit the post twice, however he added a third goal after a superb battling run from Wayne Rooney culminated in a cross for the Portuguese star to prod home. His second and United's fourth was all his own work as he collected a pass from Ruud Van Nistelrooy on the half way line and then ran to the edge of the area, did a few trademark stepovers before drilling into the bottom corner. Attendance : 67,858 Assists : n/a, Faye, n/a, Rooney, van Nistelrooy Middlesbrough (0) 0 Manchester City (0) 0 A point each at the Riverside for Middlesbrough and Man City, although either side could have grabbed a victory. Boro's best chance came when James Morrison shot over from close range and in the second half, City almost won it when Joey Barton's header was brilliantly saved by Mark Schwarzer. Attendance : 28,022 Assist : n/a Portsmouth (1) 1 (O'Neil 43) Fulham (0) 0 Portsmouth's revival under Harry Redknapp continued with a narrow win against fellow strugglers Fulham. The only goal arrived just before half time as Dario Silva's cross was touched on by Lomana Lua-Lua and although Gary O'Neil may have controlled the ball with his arm, play continued and he slotted in from close range. Attendance : 19,101 Assist : Lua Lua Sunderland (0) 0 Everton (0) 1 (Cahill 90) More heartbreak for bottom club Sunderland as they dominated against Everton only to lose to a last minute header. The home side missed a host of chances in the second half with Jon Stead shooting just wide twice and Anthony Le Tallec having a header well saved. With a draw looking likely, Everton won a late corner and from Kevin Kilbane's kick, Tim Cahill nodded in via a deflection off of a defender. Attendance : 30,576 Assists : n/a Tottenham (1) 2 (Tainio 43, Mido 66) Newcastle (0) 0 Spurs had the better of things against Newcastle and consolidated fourth place thanks to a goal in each half. Teemu Tainio netted his first for the club just before half time when he volleyed in Ahmed Mido's header and in the second half, the lead was doubled when Newcastle failed to clear a Spurs attack and after Robbie Keane had crossed, Mido's bouncing volley found the far post. Further bad news for Newcastle came from Michael Owen who will miss 2-3 months after breaking his foot in a challenge with Spurs keeper Paul Robinson. Attendance : 36,246 Assists : Mido, Keane Wigan (0) 0 Blackburn (1) 3 (Pedersen 15, Reid 53, Bellamy 85) Wigan's excellent run came to an abrupt end as they were walloped at home to Lancashire rivals Blackburn. The visitors took the lead when Paul Dickov's cross was headed into the air by a defender and Morten Gamst Pedersen crashed home a far post volley from a very tight angle at the far post. Although that effort was well struck, it paled into insignificance compared to the second goal which was arguable the best struck shot of the season! It came after David Bentley cross had been nodded clear for Steven Reid to run onto the loose ball and absolutely batter it first time into the top corner from 25 yards. A stunning strike and one of the best this season so far. The third was almost a classic as well as Craig Bellamy's solo run took him to the edge of the area only to run into defenders, however Dickov played the ball off of a Wigan player and back into the path of Bellamy who slotted calmly in. Attendance : 20,639 Assists : n/a, n/a, n/a 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 |