SERVICES

Tuesday December 14, 2010

Spurs Hold Chelsea To A Point!

Aston Villa 2 West Brom 1
Stewart Downing and Emile Heskey provided a much-needed lift for Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier as their goals earned victory over derby rivals West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park.
Downing struck his sixth goal of the campaign after 25 minutes and fit-again Heskey wrapped up the points 10 minutes from time before a late consolation from Paul Scharner.
Victory ended a run of three successive Premier League defeats and eased Villa's relegation fears.

Everton 0 Wigan Athletic 0

Wigan Athletic showed some defensive resilience to earn a point from a goalless draw against Everton at Goodison Park.
Despite dominating for the majority of the match, the closest the Toffees came to making a breakthrough was when Tim Cahill's second-half header rebounded off a post.
Neither side has been particularly prolific this season but Everton created enough chances to have put the result beyond doubt.
The result extended their winless run to seven matches and, with just three victories in the current campaign, they remain two points above the relegation zone.
Wigan, for their part, could not be criticised for hanging on at times in the hope they would get a chance to snatch victory.
It was a plan which almost worked late on when Mohamed Diame broke through only to delay his shot too long and, although the draw kept the Latics third-bottom, the character they displayed will serve them well in the expected relegation battle after Christmas.

Fulham 0 Sunderland 0

Sunderland climbed one place to sixth in the Premier League after drawing with Fulham in a low-quality contest at Craven Cottage.
Neither side could complain with the outcome, though Fulham will be frustrated that a series of second-half chances were foiled by some resolute defending.
At one point in the second half Sunderland had a four-on-one overlap and a goal appeared certain, but a poor pass from Darren Bent ruined the moment.
It was a disappinting spectacle that improved a little in a second half controlled by Fulham, with Clint Dempsey the focal point of their attack.

Stoke City 0 Blackpool 1

The Blackpool bandwagon rolls on with DJ Campbell scoring a second-half winner against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
It means Ian Holloway's side have now collected six wins and 22 points from 16 matches - a remarkable tally given they were widely tipped for relegation.
Prior to kick-off a montage of the late Sir Stanley Matthews, who served both clubs and England with distinction, was well received by home and away supporters.
Matthews would have been proud of the way Blackpool not only kept the ball but showed resilience when needed.
Stoke huffed and puffed but were left deflated as their five-match unbeaten run came to an end.

West Ham United 1 Manchester City 3

Manchester City produced the perfect team display as Roberto Mancini's multi-million pound squad moved level on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal.
City, without suspended former Hammers striker Carlos Tevez, dominated from kick-off, and it was no surprised when Yaya Toure rifled in the opener on the half-hour mark.
The home side rallied after the break and had appeals for a penalty turned down for handball against Yaya Toure.
However, the Ivory Coast midfielder then helped the visitors double their lead when his shot hit the post and went in off goalkeeper Robert Green, before substitute Adam Johnson wrapped things up with nine minutes left.
James Tomkins headed in a late consolation for the Hammers, who face a real battle for survival in 2011.

Newcastle United 3 Liverpool 1

Andy Carroll and Joey Barton combined to hand Alan Pardew a winning start to his Newcastle United reign.
Carroll's 10th goal of the season cemented a priceless victory for the Magpies after Scouser Barton's 80th-minute strike had restored their lead.

Bolton Wanderers 2 Blackburn Rovers 1

Stuart Holden fired home a dramatic late winner for 10-man Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium just seconds after Mame Biram Diouf appeared to have snatched Blackburn Rovers a point.
The American drilled home a stunning 88th-minute finish while the visitors were still celebrating their equalizer by substitute Diouf at the other end moments earlier.
Owen Coyle's men had played with 10 men since Mark Davies' 56th-minute dismissal, but they still grabbed a 65th-minute lead through Fabrice Muamba.
And just when Rovers appeared to have made their desperate pressure tell, American Holden raced on to a neat header down from Kevin Davies to smash his rising shot past Paul Robinson.
It was a dramatic way for Coyle's men to bounce back after last week's disappointing loss at Manchester City, with Holden the only change in favour of Muamba, who started on the bench.

Wolves 1 Birmingham City 0

Wolves deservedly secured a derby triumph over Birmingham City which could have been all the more comfortable if not for the heroics of Ben Foster.
Stephen Hunt's near-post finish on the stroke of half-time was the only effort to beat the England international, who put in another sublime performance to keep the hosts at bay at Molineux.
Wanderers triumphed with their first clean sheet since April, although that was much to do with Birmingham's inability to create anything of note.
Mick McCarthy stoked the flames ahead of the derby by stressing the encounter was about more than just three points, and he will be a relieved man to see his side move within a point of safety with what was his first success over the blue half of Birmingham in seven league attempts.

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Chelsea 1

Didier Drogba missed a stoppage-time penalty as Chelsea's Premier League winless run stretched to five matches with a breathless draw at White Hart Lane.
Heurelho Gomes looked to have gifted the champions the unlikeliest of victories when he clattered into Ramires having already handed Drogba an equalizer with an error, but he redeemed himself by saving the substitute's spot-kick.
It meant Chelsea failed to regain top spot and stayed fourth, level on points with Manchester United, who have two matches in hand.