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Tuesday April 23, 2008

United Held To A Draw At Ewood Park

Chelsea Win Sets Up Title Clash Next Weekend

Arsenal 2 Reading 0

In Saturday's early kick-off at the Emirates, Emmanuel Adebayor scored his 27th goal of the season to help Arsenal claim a 2-0 win over Reading. Kolo Toure floated a ball to the edge of the penalty area from the right in the 30th minute which Adebayor controlled on his thigh before he slotted past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann. Arsene Wenger's side added a second eight minutes later with a deflected effort from Brazilian midfielder Gilberto.

Fulham 0 Liverpool 2

Jermaine Pennant was sent clear for Liverpool's first with a clever pass from Lucas and his shot from a tight angle deceived goalkeeper Kasey Keller and flew into the top-right corner of the net. Rafael Benitez's side added a second in the 70th minute. A run from Pennant culminated in a neat through-ball to Peter Crouch and he slipped his shot through the legs of Keller from just inside the 18-yard box. Roy Hodgson's side fare now ive points adrift of safety.

Middlesbrough 0 Bolton Wanderers 1

A close-range finish from Gavin McCann gave Bolton a 1-0 win over Boro which lifted them out of the bottom three. McCann's tap-in ensured Gary Megson's side move up to 16th place ahead of Reading on goal difference while Birmingham slip into the drop zone.

Wigan Athletic 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1

At the JJB, Dimitar Berbatov had broken the deadlock in the sixth minute when Aaron Lennon crossed for the Bulgaria international to slide the ball home from close range. But Emile Heskey collected Kevin Kilbane's pass from the left before shrugging off the attentions of the Spurs defense and smashing a low shot past goalkeeper Radek Cerny.

West Ham United 2 Derby County 1

At Upton Park, Carlton Cole's 77th-minute strike gave West Ham a 2-1 win over Derby. Alan Curbishley's side had opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Bobby Zamora headed a George McCartney free-kick past a stranded Roy Carroll. Tyrone Mears equalized in the 65th minute when he was sent clear by Hossam Ghaly and dispatched the ball past goalkeeper Robert Green. But Cole steered the ball home after he was set up Freddie Ljungberg who had delivered a low cross into the six-yard box to give the Hammers the points.

Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester United 1

United needed a late goal from Carlos Tevez to snatch a point from a 1-1 draw at Blackburn. The Argentinian striker headed the ball home from close range with two minutes to go after Paul Scholes had flicked on a corner from Nani. Earlier Brad Friedel in the Blackburn goal had pulled off a string of fine saves to deny United. Tevez's goal cancelled out the opener from Roque Santa Cruz leaving Sir Alex Ferguson's men three points ahead of Chelsea with the teams meeting on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa 5 Birmingham City 1

On Sunday at Villa Park, Ashley Young and John Carew scored two apiece as Villa earned local bragging rights with a 5-1 win over Birmingham to move to within three points of Everton in the race to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Martin O'Neill's free-scoring side - who have now netted 15 goals in their last three games - were simply too good for their neighbors, who remain stranded in the bottom three, one point adrift of 17th-placed Reading.

Manchester City 3 Portsmouth 1

At the City of Manchester Stadium, City, inspired by the powerful Benjani Mwaruwari took full advantage of an off-day for the Portsmouth defense. Darius Vassell opened the scoring after a mix-up between David James and Sol Campbell, Martin Petrov made it 2-0 before John Utaka's goal gave the visitors hope again but Benjani scored the third to seal victory and end Portsmouth's hopes of a comeback.

Newcastle United 2 Sunderland 0

At St James' Park, Michael Owen claimed a derby-day double as the Magpies ran out 2-0 winners. The 28-year-old headed the Magpies into a fourth-minute lead and then made it six goals in as many games in the final minute of the first half from the penalty spot.