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Tuesday January 14, 2009
Chelsea Fall To United At Old Trafford
Aston Villa 2 West Bromwich Albion 1Aston Villa edged a narrow win over West Bromwich Albion to climb above Manchester United into third spot in the League. Curtis Davies headed the opening goal against his old club. Gabriel Agbonlahor claimed the second but it went down as an own goal as his cross-shot went in off Baggies goalkeeper Scott Carson - who was on loan at Villa last season. James Morrison pulled one back early in the second half to set up a tense finale but it proved merely scant consolation. Villa are now unbeaten in nine league matches, from which they have taken 21 points, and there is a momentum about the team which suggests they could clinch a Champions League spot. Arsenal 1 Bolton Wanderers 0Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner came off the bench to fire a late winner as Arsenal finally ended Bolton Wanderers's stubborn resistance at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners had dominated possession, but failed to unlock the visitors, who put 10 men behind the ball. However, just when time looked to be running out, Bendtner arrived at the far post to volley in a first goal since November and renew hopes Arsene Wenger's men can force their way back into the race for the League title. Following Aston Villa's win over West Bromwich Albion, the Gunners were again playing catch-up on the top four. Everton 2 Hull City 0Everton continued their relentless march toward another European qualification as they stretched their unbeaten run to six matches, all without conceding a goal. But Hull City, after such a fine start to their first season in the top flight, have now won just one league fixture in 11 and must be thankful for those early points. After Marouane Fellaini's opening early header later followed by his 10th booking of the season, the visitors were rarely in it. The contest was virtually over when Mikel Arteta lashed home a fine free-kick in first-half injury time. But it was a bitter-sweet day for Everton, who will now be without the suspended Fellaini for their two forthcoming derby matches with Liverpool. Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 1Northern Ireland international David Healy teamed up with Kenwyne Jones as Sunderland snatched a precious derby point at Middlesbrough. Healy crossed for his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart to fire home an 82nd-minute equaliser just when it looked as though Boro had ended an eight-match wait for a League victory. Gareth Southgate's men had taken the lead in the final minute of the first half when winger Stewart Downing set up record signing Afonso Alves, who blasted home his third goal in a week. But had it not been for a goal-line clearance by Adam Johnson from fellow substitute Carlos Edwards three minutes from time, the visitors would have left the Riverside Stadium with all three points. Newcastle United 2 West Ham United 2Andy Carroll headed a priceless late equaliser to salvage a point for Newcastle at St James' Park as Joe Kinnear's men produced a battling performance. Carroll, 20 last Tuesday, could hardly have picked a better time to grab his first league goal after Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole had cancelled out Michael Owen's early strike. The sighs of relief were evident all around the stadium when Carroll, who had looked lively throughout, leaped highest to steer a deep left-wing cross from Damien Duff into the top of the net. Stoke City 0 Liverpool 0Liverpool missed the chance to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League as they were held to a goalless draw at Stoke City. The gap to Chelsea is now four points, after Steven Gerrard twice hit the woodwork in the last five minutes. Argentina coach Diego Maradona was guest of honour at the Britannia Stadium, no doubt keen to see at first hand visiting midfielder Javier Mascherano, the national team captain. But he found it hard going, as did Liverpool. Wigan Athletic 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0Jermain Defoe's return to Tottenham Hotspur from Portsmouth began badly as Wigan Athletic's Maynor Figueroa snatched a late winner at the JJB Stadium. The England striker, watched by national team manager Fabio Capello, did not have a single shot on goal as Spurs struggled to match their host's energy and invention. In a match short on chances the breakthrough finally came in the 91st minute when left-back Figueroa headed home Ryan Taylor's corner. It was the Honduran's first goal for the club since arriving last January and typified the spirit which manager Steve Bruce has engendered among his squad. With Emile Heskey and Zaki returning after injury both lacked a little sharpness and so it was important other members of the side did their bit. Figueroa's goal secured Wigan's fifth successive League victory at the JJB Stadium and, on the balance of chances, deserved their win. Manchester United 3 Chelsea 0Chelsea suffered their worst Old Trafford defeat in 15 years as Manchester United eased to a thoroughly-deserved 3-0 win after Nemanja Vidic had broken the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Wayne Rooney added another just after the hour mark before Dimitar Berbatov completed victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's men near the end. Manchester United are now a single point adrift of the Londoners with two matches in hand. And if they win the first of them, against Wigan Athletic on Wednesday, they will only trail Liverpool by two. Fulham P Blackburn Rovers P
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