The Weekend Round-up

by Danny Wright


Bolton snatched a priceless point away at West Ham to lift the spirits at the Reebok following the gloom surrounding Gary Megson’s appointment. The Hammers had taken the lead through George McCartney’s precise volley but captain Kevin Nolan was on hand to sweep home a Lubomir Michalik’s flick on late in the day.

Derby remain rooted to the foot of the table following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa – goals from Martin Laursen and Ashley Young doing the damage – meanwhile strugglers Tottenham and Middlesborough cancelled each other out at the Riverside. Darren Bent scored his first goal in half a century to give Spurs a surprise lead, but a Luke Young thunderbolt salvaged a point for Gareth Southgate’s men.

Life after Mourinho seemingly hasn’t hampered Chelsea’s title hopes as they brushed aside Wigan 2-0 at the JJB Stadium. Goals from Frank Lampard and a wonder hit from Juliano Belletti proved enough to give Chelsea their seventh consecutive win in all competitions, the Blues surely indebted to their ridiculously bright away shirt.

Fulham dispatched Reading 3-1 at Craven Cottage in an entertaining encounter. Simon Davies lashed home a sweet strike only for Kevin Doyle to hit back, however the Cottagers picked up their second win of the season thanks to Clint Dempsey and David Healy’s goals.

Birmingham remain in the lower reaches of the table after they were blitzed by a late Everton showing at Goodison. Yakubu put the Toffees head yet the home side couldn’t convert their chances and they were punished for their lack of potency as Olivier Kapo headed an equaliser. Lee Carsley let rip with a 25-yard rocket to restore Everton’s lead in the 90th minute, and the shaven Irish star set up James Vaughan for his side’s third with a defence splitting header, 3-1 the final result.

Portsmouth scored three times in 11 minutes to stun Newcastle 4-1 at St James. Noe Pamarot was the unlikely scorer as he gave Pompey the lead with a thumping left-foot strike, with Benjani and John Utaka punishing some lacklustre defending to put the game beyond doubt. Michael Owen pulled one back - capitalising on David James’ fumble – only for Nike Kranjcar to restore Pompey’s three goal advantage.

Liverpool fired blanks at Blackburn as they played out an uninspiring 0-0 draw, as Arsenal and Manchester United shared the spoils in a thrilling clash at the Emirates. William Gallas unluckily turned into his own net to give United the lead, but Cesc Fabregas compensated for his team-mates misfortune by equalising. Manuel Almunia then went walkies in the second half to allow Cristiano Ronaldo to put United ahead, only for Gallas to stab home a dramatic late effort.

Sunderland and Craig Gordon take on Manchester City on Monday at Eastlands, with European action firmly on the agenda this week as the Premiership’s finest take on the rest of the continent.

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