16 January 2011
BIRMINGHAM 1 (Johnson 49)
ASTON VILLA 1 (Collins 73)
Honours even in the second city derby as both Birmingham and Villa remain in the dog fight at the bottom. The hosts led when a free kick from Craig Gardner was deflected by team mate David Murphy and Roger Johnson reacted quickly to volley into the corner, however Villa grabbed a deserved point when sub James Collins volleyed home after Marc Albrighton's cross was helped on by Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Attendance : 22,287
Assists : n/a, n/a
LIVERPOOL 2 (Meireles 29, Kuyt 68 Pen)
EVERTON 2 (Distin 46, Beckford 52)
All square in the 215th Merseyside derby as both Liverpool and Everton gained, and then lost, the lead at Anfield. Liverpool came desperately close to breaking through when Fernando Torres made space in the area only to crash a shot against the inside of the post before Dirk Kuyt belted the rebound over, however it was Kuyt who was the instigator of the opener as he had a header and shot blocked in quick succession by keeper Tim Howard before it fell to Raul Meireles on the edge of the area and his effort tore through three Everton players and flew past a wrong-footed Howard. The second half was 40 seconds old when the visitors levelled as a deep corner from Mikel Arteta found Sylvain Distin ghosting in at the far post to head in, despite Glen Johnson's attempts to clear it off the line and within six minutes, they were sensationally ahead as Leon Osman held off the challenge of two defenders in the area before squaring the ball for Jermaine Beckford who fired in just as he lost his balance and was falling. Liverpool struggled to make any impact until Howard sent Maxi Rodriguez sprawling in the area to concede a penalty and Kuyt stepped up to level matters as he sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Attendance : 44,795
Assists : n/a, Arteta (ck), Osman, Maxi Rodriguez (won pen)
SUNDERLAND 1 (Gyan 94)
NEWCASTLE 1 (Nolan 52)
Sunderland snatched a last gasp equaliser to deny Newcastle bragging rights in the north-east derby. Newcastle led early in the second half as Kevin Nolan back heeled in Shola Ameobi's header but in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Asamoah Gyan, who hadn't had a good game, netted after keeper Steve Harper had saved Phil Bardsley's effort.
Attendance : 47,864
Assists : Ameobi, n/a
TOTTENHAM 0
MANCHESTER UNITED 0
Man United return to top spot on goal difference as they maintain their unbeaten record this season after a goalless draw at Spurs. The first half was fast paced and exciting but with oddly few chances as Peter Crouch missed an early sitter for Spurs whilst Rafael Van Der Vaart headed just wide. United's best chances fell to Wayne Rooney who twice shot across goal and wide. We also witnessed the return of the waving of the imaginary card as Rafael did his bit to get Wilson Palacios booked after being fouled. After the break, Rooney again looked lively with a low drive well saved by Heurelho Gomes and then United were reduced to ten men when Rafael and Beniot Assou-Ekotto clipped each others legs and the United man was shown a second yellow card and subsequent red. Spurs knew they would never have a better chance to beat United and replaced Palacios with another striker as Jermaine Defoe entered the fray and they almost scored when Van Der Vaart curled a shot just wide after an awful mistake in his own area by sub Javier Hernandez.
Attendance : 35,828
Red Card : Rafael
Assists : n/a
15 January 2011
CHELSEA 2 (Ivanovic 57, Anelka 76)
BLACKBURN 0
Chelsea kept their slim title hopes alive with a comfortable win against Blackburn. They took almost an hour to get started when Branislav Ivanovic finally broke through after Florent Malouda's corner was helped on by John Terry. They wrapped it up late on as an Ivanovic header set up Nik Anelka to touch in.
Attendance : 40,846
Assists : n/a, Ivanovic
MANCHESTER CITY 4 (K Toure 40, Tevez 49, Toure 54, Tevez 66)
WOLVES 3 (Milijas 12, Doyle 68 Pen, Zubar 86)
Man City go top ahead of the Sunday games as they edged a dramatic seven goal thriller against Wolves. The visitors actually began by far the better and took the lead when a deflected cross from Matt Jarvis caused
pinball in the six yard box and after Nedum Milijas had a close range effort saved, he prodded in the rebound. City eventually burst into life and turned the game around either side of half time as Kolo Toure levelled when his far post shot had enough power to find the net despite a couple of deflections after a corner was nodded on by Vincent Kompany. Early in the second half, Carlos Tevez collected a pass from Adam Johnson, dribbled through three defenders and slotted in a cracking individual goal and within five minutes the lead was increased as Yaya Toure emulated his brother with a calm finish having been sent clear by new signing Edin Dzeko. A fourth arrived through Tevez as he headed in a Pablo Zabaleta cross however Wolves pulled one back almost instantly with a Kevin Doyle penalty after he was bundled over by Joleon Lescott and they set up a tension filled finale when Roland Zubar headed in a corner from Geoffrey Mujangi Bia and although Nigel De Jong hooked it clear, the officials ruled that it was over the line. Replays proved little either way.
Attendance : 46,672
Assists : n/a, Kompany, n/a, Dzeko, Zabaleta, Doyle (won pen), Bia
STOKE 2 (Higginbotham 37, Etherington 63 Pen)
BOLTON 0
Stoke move above Bolton on goal difference as a goal in each half consolidated their top half position. They led when Tuncay's corner was helped on by a Bolton player and scrambled in at the far post by Danny Higginbotham despite the best efforts of half the Bolton team to keep it out. A penalty clinched the points when Matt Etherington's spot kick was almost kept out by Jussi Jaaskelainen after the Stoke man had been fouled by Zat Knight.
Attendance : 26,809
Assists : n/a, Etherington (won pen)
WEST BROM 3 (Odemwingie 37, Morrison 52, Odemwingie 87)
BLACKPOOL 2 (Vaughan 11, Taylor-Fletcher 80)
West Brom moved clear of the tight relegation zone as they needed a late winner to see off Blackpool in a rollercoaster of a game at the Hawthorns. Blackpool took the lead in a pulsating game when David Vaughan curled in a cracker from the edge of the area after Stephen Crainey's cross was cleared, however the hosts levelled before half time when Graham Dorrans crossed for Peter Odemwingie to take a touch and slot in with Blackpool looking for offside and early in the second half they went ahead when Jerome Thomas saw his shot saved but James Morrison tapped in from close range. Blackpool battled back and were level with ten minutes to go when Gary Taylor-Fletcher converted a cross from Matt Phillips but with time edging away, the Baggies won it when Odemwingie latched onto a through ball from Gonzalo Jara to fire in the winner.
Attendance : 25,316
Assists : n/a, Dorrans, n/a, Phillips, Jara
WEST HAM 0
ARSENAL 3 (Van Persie 13, Walcott 41, Van Persie 77 Pen)
Arsenal saw off bottom club West Ham to keep their title hopes alive and push the Hammers closer to the Championship. In truth, it was men against boys for long spells especially after the Gunners went ahead when Robin Van Persie thumped in Theo Walcott's cross, aided by a dummy from Samir Nasri. The lead was doubled before the interval when provider turned scorer as Walcott netted from close range after Van Persie had set him up. Late on, Van Persie added a penalty when Wayne Bridge clumsily brought down Walcott. Is boss Avram Grant about to leave the club? Banker of the season I would say!
Attendance : 32,682
Assists : Walcott, RVP, Walcott (won pen)
WIGAN 1 (Rodallega 57)
FULHAM 1 (Johnson 86)
Wigan and Fulham remain in the dog fight at the bottom as the visitors grabbed a late equaliser at the DW Stadium. Wigan led with a classic route one goal as keeper Ali Al Habsi's long kick sent Hugo Rodallega clear to lob the visiting keeper but Fulham levelled when injury plagued sub Andy Johnson was found by Clint Dempsey and found space to score via a couple of deflections.
Attendance : 18,820
Assists : Al-Habsi, Dempsey
12 January 2011
BLACKPOOL 2 (Taylor-Fletcher 12, Campbell 69)
LIVERPOOL 1 (Torres 3)
Attendance : 16,089
Assists : Kelly, Vaughan, Evatt
Gary Dowden - Joint Admin Yahoo Groups Premier-L list
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/premier-l/
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