With many thanks to Brian Judson, without whom this feature would not be possible
Wednesday 5 December 2001
Chelsea v Charlton Athletic 0-1
Prior to this match, Chelsea had not lost at home since they played the
same opposition last April. They had an impressive record going into this
match. But Mark Fish dominated Hasselbaink so effectively that Chelsea
were punchless. Charlton lost Robinson after only 3 minutes and he was
replaced by Konchesky. Chelsea had the better of the game without looking
likely to score until Lisbie struck in the 89th minute. Konchesky took a
free-kick on the right and the ball dropped so that Lisbie had no trouble
in diverting the ball behind Cudicini.
West Ham United v Aston Villa 1-1
Dublin put the visitors ahead in the 1st minute. James sliced a goal-kick
straight to Stone, who centred the ball. Repka failed to clear the ball
and Dublin was able to head home. Staunton nearly added a second from a
corner-kick soon afterwards and Dublin appeared to head the ball home for
a second goal in the 41st minute from a Merson corner but the referee
waved play on. Di Canio missed a penalty in the 65th minute when he shot
tamely at Enckelman. Defoe scored the equaliser in the third minute of
injury time at the end of the match.
Saturday 8 December 2001
Charlton Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur 3-1
Full report is available here.
Derby County v Bolton Wanderers 1-0
Christie scored the only goal in the 66th minute when Derby finally
managed to make their pressure pay off. Bolton did not look as impressive
at Pride Park as they had at White Hart Lane. The only puzzle was that it
took Derby so long to score. It was Carbone's centre to the near post for
Christie to divert the ball behind Jaaskelainen that finally split both
sides.
Fulham v Everton 2-0
A poor, toothless Everton side were plunged deep into trouble after this
stormy match. Hayles gave the Londoners the lead after 36 minutes when
Weir fouled Saha 22 yards out from goal. Malbranque took the free-kick and
Brevett centred the ball for Hayles to head home. Hayles added a second
five minutes after the break when Fulham won a corner. Malbranque whipped
the ball into the box and Hayles was given time and space to tap the ball
home. In the 73rd minute there was a brawl on the pitch when Boa Morte
caught Weir as he cleared the ball on the edge of the penalty area. The
Everton captain dragged his foot across Boa Morte's face, which provoked
the brawl. Hayles appeared to stamp on Weir as he lay on the ground. After
the brawl, the referee consulted his linesman before dismissing both Boa
Morte and Weir but I expect the FA to hold a further enquiry.
Leicester City v Southampton 0-4
The Saints picked up three priceless points in their annual quest to avoid
relegation from top flight football. Svensson opened the scoring in the
12th minute when Pahars flicked the ball into the Swedish player's path
and Walker could do nothing to prevent him from scoring. Beattie added a
second in the 64th minute when Pahars made ground on the left, Beattie won
the race to the ball and diverted the ball beyond Walker. Svensson made
the score 3-0 in the 75th minute when a shot from Telfer was deflected by
Sinclair into Svensson's path, who calmly slotted the ball behind the
exposed Walker. Pahars completed the rout in injury time when he stole in
by the far post to get on to the end of a cross from Dodd.
Liverpool v Middlesbrough 2-0
The two goals that Liverpool scored in the first half were sufficient to
earn them the points. Owen scored his 99th League goal for Liverpool in
the 27th minute. Middlesbrough had lost Crossley through injury ten
minutes before this goal when the 'keeper had bravely flung himself at the
feet of McAlister at the height of a raid. Marlon Beresford replaced him
in goal. Riise, Murphy and Berger all combined to set up the pass from
which Owen scored from a searing drive. Deep in injury time for the first
half, Berger added a second for Liverpool with a rasping shot from some 20
yards. Liverpool were content to push the ball about in the second half.
Manchester United v West Ham United 0-1
There is surely no way back for Manchester United after another
incompetent display from a side that should have walked over the injury
hit Hammers. There were so many mistakes made that it is difficult to be
concise. Suffice to say that the Mancunians never looked like scoring
despite dominating the play at times. The vital goal was scored by Defoe
in the 64th minute. Di Canio provided the pass from which Defoe headed
home. Long before the end, the home supporters were jamming the exits, all
too aware that their dominance of the Premier League is over.
Sunday 9 December 2001
Arsenal v Aston Villa 3-2
Merson put Villa ahead in the 21st minute when Enckelman's mammoth
goal-kick bounced favourably for Merson to hook it over the advancing
Taylor. Stone added a second in the 34th minute when Wright, Dublin and
Hendrie swapped passes before Stone hammered the ball behind Taylor.
Coming on as s second half substitute, Wiltord reduced the arrears in the
46th minute. Pires dispossessed Stone and sent Parlour away and Wiltord
swept home Parlour's cross. Henry equalised in the 72nd minute when Vieira
provided the pass from which Henry scored. With the referee looking at his
watch, Henry scored the winner in the 90th minute when Enckelman's poor
goal kick provided Cole with the ball. Boateng won the ball but lost it to
Pires who sent Henry away to slip the ball beyond the hapless goalkeeper.
Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United 1-2
Blackburn had generally had the better of the match until Kewell struck in
the 55th minute. They had looked the more likelier of the two sides to
score until Kelly took advantage of a lapse in concentration to race clear
and cross the ball to Fowler. The former Liverpool player's shot was
parried by Friedel into Kewell's path and after that there was little
doubt who would win. Kewell added a second goal in the 62nd minute when he
met another Kelly cross with a fine header. Berg scored a consolation goal
for Blackburn in the 83rd minute.
Ipswich Town v Newcastle United 0-1
The Tractor Boys have been cut adrift at the bottom of the table and are
beginning to pray for a miracle if they are to survive their dreadful
season. Solano scored the only goal of the game in the 20th minute when
Speed's shot struck Sereni and rebounded to Solano for the little man to
divert home before Sereni could recover. But Armstrong should have
equalised 15 minutes later when Given brought off a tremendous save.
Sunderland v Chelsea 0-0
The poor form of Kevin Phillips was the main reason why Chelsea survived
their visit to the Stadium of Light. Cudicini foiled Phillips twice. But
Chelsea had a goal disallowed when Melchiot was deemed to have fouled
Sorensen after Jokanovic had scored.
Pos Pl. W. D. L. For-Ag Pts.
1 Liverpool 14 10 2 2 25-11 32
2 Arsenal 15 8 5 2 33-17 29
3 Leeds 15 7 7 1 18- 9 28
4 Newcastle 15 8 3 4 25-18 27
5 Chelsea 16 5 9 2 19-12 24
6 A. Villa 16 6 6 4 21-18 24
7 Spurs 16 7 3 6 25-23 24
8 Fulham 15 5 7 3 17-13 22
9 Man United 15 6 3 6 31-27 21
10 Charlton 16 5 6 5 21-20 21
11 Everton 15 5 5 5 20-19 20
12 Bolton 16 5 5 6 20-21 20
13 S'derland 16 5 5 6 13-15 20
14 Blackburn 16 4 7 4 22-19 19
15 M'brough 16 5 4 7 17-22 19
16 West Ham 16 5 4 7 18-27 19
17 S'hampton 15 4 1 10 15-24 13
18 Derby 15 3 4 8 11-24 13
19 Leicester 16 3 4 9 9-29 13
20 Ipswich 16 1 6 9 14-25 9
