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Tuesday January 21, 2009

Red Devils Go Top For First Time This Season

Blackburn Rovers 3 Newcastle United 0

Blackburn Rovers lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 victory over Newcastle United at Ewood Park.
Two goals in the space of five second-half minutes from Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts lit up what was otherwise a poor match.
Roberts added the third four minutes from time, just after Nicky Butt had been sent off for a second bookable offence after clattering into David Dunn.
With Middlesbrough losing at West Bromwich Albion and Spurs drawing against Portsmouth Rovers moved up to 17th place.

Bolton Wanderers 0 Manchester United 1

Dimitar Berbatov's last-minute header sent Manchester United to the top of the League on Saturday.
It appeared the Red Devils would have to settle for a point despite keeping a record-equalling 10th clean sheet.
But when Carlos Tevez broke free of the Bolton Wanderers defence, his cross was perfect for Berbatov, who finally broke Jussi Jaaskelainen's brave resistance.

Chelsea 2 Stoke City 1

Two late goals from substitute Juliano Belletti and Frank Lampard capped a dramatic fightback by Chelsea.
Chelsea's preparations for the game were hampered by an injury to captain John Terry in the pre-match warm-up.
Terry was replaced by Brazilian defender Alex and Frank Lampard captained the side on his 400th appearance for the club.
Delap put Stoke City in front with a 59th minute goal but Belletti, on for Jose Bosingwa, headed a dramatic equaliser with three minutes remaining.
Then in second-half stoppage time Lampard slammed the ball home from 20 yards for a sensational finish.

Manchester City 1 Wigan Athletic 0

The talk before the match was all about Kaka and the possibility of the former World Player of the Year arriving at Eastlands. However Manchester City supporters were left applauding another South American following this important victory.
Argentina's Pablo Zabaleta scored the winner, thanks to his first goal for the club after 51 minutes.
But soon after City had finished celebrating the goal they were reduced to 10 men with skipper Richard Dunne sent off for the second time this season.
It almost proved costly and Amr Zaki should have equalised - only to miss a gilt-edged chance with five minutes to go.

Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 2

Gareth Barry cemented 10-man Aston Villa's place in the top four with the winner in a 1-2 victory over Sunderland.
Villa had England international Ashley Young sent off for a lunge at Dean Whitehead 18 minutes from time, but went on to snatch victory with a late penalty after Paul McShane's return from his loan spell at Hull City ended in misery.
Referee Mike Dean awarded an 80th-minute spot-kick for the substitute's challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor and Barry gleefully blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

West Bromwich Albion 3 Middlesbrough 0

Robert Koren produced an inspired display to help West Bromwich Albion move off the bottom of the League - and drag 'Boro further into the relegation mire.
The Slovenian international scored twice after Chris Brunt had made an early breakthrough.
It enabled Albion to complete their first ever League double after a 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium earlier in the season and means 'Boro have now gone 10 league matches without a win.
To add to 'Boro's misery, midfielder Didier Digard was red-carded after 63 minutes for a challenge on Borja Valero.
It might have been a different story had Boro striker Afonso Alves not missed four good opportunities.
But Albion also posed a constant threat and on loan Arsenal striker Jay Simpson again impressed with his skill, pace and work-rate.

Hull City 1 Arsenal 3

Arsenal struck twice late on to see off battling Hull City and keep pace with the top four.
Hull had looked set to frustrate the Gunners for the second time this season when Daniel Cousin cancelled out Emmanuel Adebayor's opener in the second half.
But the KC Stadium visitors produced a strong finish and snatched victory with goals in the final nine minutes from Samir Nasri and Nicklas Bendtner.

West Ham United 3 Fulham 1

David Di Michele scored one and made one as West Ham ended Fulham's nine-match unbeaten run.
Di Michele was preferred to Craig Bellamy who did not train on Saturday in the wake of recent transfer speculation and the Italian striker took just seven minutes to fire the Hammers in front.
Paul Konchesky levelled on 22 minutes with a spectacular swerving 30-yard strike against his old club before conceding a penalty converted by Mark Noble on the hour. Di Michele then threaded through for Carlton Cole to slot home the third 14 minutes from time.

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Portsmouth 1

Jermain Defoe scored his first goal since returning to Spurs from Portsmouth to deny his former club victory at White Hart Lane and lift Harry Redknapp's men off the bottom of the table.
David Nugent had given the visitors the lead just before the hour but in a match where the focus had been on people facing their former club, it was almost inevitable that Defoe would strike.
However, Spurs' problems appear to be mounting with Roman Pavlyuchenko and Ledley King injured in the first half.

Liverpool 1 Everton 1

Everton stopped neighbours Liverpool reclaiming top spot in the Barclays Premier League with a defiant display at Anfield.
After having been forced to sit and watch as Manchester United won three matches in a week to claim the top spot for the first time this season, they forced their way into the lead when Steven Gerrard crashed home a fine low drive midway through the second half.
But Tim Cahill's late header stunned the home side and gave Everton a draw they deserved.