With many thanks to Brian Judson, without whom this feature would not be possible
Wednesday 13 March 2002
Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town 2-1
The two goals that Blackburn scored in the first half proved to be enough
to bag the points. Duff gave Blackburn the lead after 20 minutes when he
made a dazzling run down the left wing before ramming home a drive behind
Sereni. Cole added a second two minutes before half-time. Tugay played a
superb ball into Dunn's path. Dunn spotted Cole unmarked and pulled the
ball back from the bye-line, leaving Cole with a simple chance to score.
Ipswich never threatened Blackburn before half-time but it was a different
matter after the break. Armstrong did have the ball in the net but it was
disallowed for offside. Ipswich reduced the arrears in the 55th minute.
There seemed to be no danger when Friedel saved from Stewart to concede a
corner. But Venus took an inswinging corner which Stewart headed behind
Friedel. Ipswich pushed for an equaliser but Blackburn rode the storm,
surviving several free-kicks near the end of the match.
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur 4-0
Read the report here, if you dare!
Saturday 16 March 2002
Bolton Wanderers v Derby County 1-3
Christie put Derby County ahead after 22 minutes when Warhurst made a
serious blunder by trying to head the ball back to Jaaskelainen but
Christie nipped in to divert the ball into the Bolton goal. Gardner
equalised in the 46th minute when he latched on to a clearance and rifled
a shot behind Oakes. Ravenelli restored Derby's lead in the 53rd minute
when he headed the ball home after good work by Boertian and Christie.
Higginbotham scored from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after
Jaaskelainen had upended Morris and had been sent off. Stand-in keeper
Southall could do nothing to prevent Derby scoring from the spot.
Chelsea v Sunderland 4-0
The Blues won yet another home game 4-0, this time against a hapless
Sunderland side. Gallas put Chelsea ahead in the 24th minute when Le Saux
took a corner, Desailly headed the ball down and Gallas tapped the ball
home. The second goal did not come until the 73rd minute. Gronkjaer
released Gudjohnsen and as Sorensen came off his line, the ball was
chipped over him. Forssell replaced Gudjohnsen and within a minute had
swapped passes with Le Saux and buried the ball in the net in the 84th
minute. Della Bono completed the rout when he crashed home the fourth goal
in injury time.
Everton v Fulham 2-1
Unsworth put Everton ahead in the 1st minute when Ferguson knocked down
Pistone's throw-in to Radzinski, who laid the ball back to Unsworth for
the defender to crash home. Ferguson added a second after 13 minutes when
van der Sar made a weak clearance and the striker forced the ball home.
Graham Barber dismissed Gravesen in the 27th minute after handing out a
second yellow card. Malbranque scored a consolation goal in the 52nd
minute when Hayles centred the ball from the bye-line for Malbranque to
stab home. Saha thought he had equalised in the dying seconds but the ball
came back off the crossbar. After the game, Everton announced that Paul
Gascoigne had left for Burnley on loan until the end of the season. Ginola
is also expected to be shown the door this week as Moyes starts to rebuild
Everton.
Middlesbrough v Liverpool 1-2
Heskey put Liverpool ahead after 33 minutes when Smicer sent Anelka away,
who centred to Hamann on the far side of the goal area. The German saw his
shot blocked by Schwarzer but Heskey netted from the rebound. Riise
increased Liverpool's lead in the 83rd minute when he saw a chink in the
Middlesbrough defence and chipped the ball into Schwarzer's goal.
Middlesbrough fought back and reduced the arrears with two minutes left
when Southgate headed the ball home.
Newcastle United v Ipswich Town 2-2
All the goals came in the second half. Bent put Ipswich ahead in the 50th
minute when he sprinted through the Toon defence chasing a ball from
Stewart and slipped the ball between Given's legs. Robert then curled in a
brilliant free-kick in the 60th minute after Solano was needlessly fouled
by Venus. Bent restored the Tractor Boys lead in the 63rd minute when
Dabizas and O'Brien failed to clear a long ball from Sereni and Bent
slipped the ball behind Given. Shearer equalised with two minutes to go
when Robert provided a cross for Shearer to head home. In the dying
seconds, McGreal clattered into Acuna in the Ipswich penalty area only for
Shearer to miss the resulting penalty.
Southampton v Leicester City 2-2
Deane scored twice in the first half to give Leicester hope of recording
their first win for nearly four months. The first goal in the 21st minute
saw Deane head home a cross from Dickov. Jones then stumbled as Izzet saw
his shot hit the crossbar but Deane was on hand to head home in the 25th
minute. But Pahars struck back in the 29th minute when he dived to head
the ball behind Walker. Just as Leicester thought they had won the match.
Elliott conceded a 87th minute penalty by tugging Beattie's shirt. Pahars
made no mistake from the penalty spot.
West Ham United v Manchester United 3-5
The Champions stamped their image on Upton Park in the right way for once.
Lomas put the Hammers ahead after only 8 minutes when he met Labant's deep
cross with such power at the far post that Barthez could only help the
ball into the net. Beckham equalised in the 17th minute when Scholes sent
him away down the wing. James came out with the intention of diving at
Beckham's feet but the England skipper lobbed the ball into the empty net.
Within three minutes, West Ham had regained the lead after Kanouté swept
home a cross from Schemmel. But United promptly equalised when Beckham
took a free-kick for Butt to scissor-kick the ball home. Scholes put the
Champions ahead in the 55th minute when Solskjaer eluded two West Ham
defenders to pass the ball to the oncoming Scholes, who drove the ball
home. Beckham provided the cross from which Solksjaer scored in the 64th
minute after some poor marking by the Hammers defenders. Defoe reduced the
arrears in the 78th minute when he converted a cross from Kanoute. But in
the dying seconds, Repka brought down Scholes and Beckham converted the
resulting penalty.
Sunday 17 March 2002
Aston Villa v Arsenal 1-2
The Gunners returned to second place after a dramatic penalty save by
veteran goalkeeper Seaman in the 54th minute of the match. Edu had given
Arsenal the lead in the 14th minute following a free-kick awarded because
Kachloul had exposed his studs in tackling Edu. Wiltord's drive was
parried by Schmeichel, Vieira intercepted the rebound but Schmeichel
blocked his shot but could do nothing to prevent Edu from scoring. After
Seaman's magnificent save, it was not long before Arsenal extended their
lead. Ljungberg put Pires through. He slipped past Boateng and lobbed the
ball over Schmeichel in the 60th minute. Nine minutes later, Dublin lost
Campbell to nod the ball home from Hadji's centre.
Leeds United v Blackburn Rovers 3-1
Fowler struck twice in the first seven minutes of the match to ensure the
points were bound for Elland Road. In the 5th minute, Fowler slipped the
ball under the advancing Friedel to put Leeds ahead. Two minutes later,
Smith centred the ball for Fowler to slip into the Blackburn goal. Jensen
reduced the arrears four minutes after the break when the Leeds defence
was breached as Mills and Harte dithered over a back pass from Woodgate
and Jansen was left with a simple chance to score. Mark Hughes managed to
get himself booked for some clumsy tackles and Batty and Mills followed
him into the book. Kewell wrapped it up for Leeds in the 71st minute when
Keane put Kewell through for an exquisite lob over Friedel.
Monday 18 March 2002
Tottenham Hotspur v Charlton Athletic 0-1
Another tale of woe is available to read here!
Pos Pl. W. D. L. For- Ag Pts.
1 Man Utd 31 20 4 7 78- 40 64
2 Arsenal 30 18 9 3 60- 32 63
3 Liverpool 31 18 8 5 52- 26 62
4 Newcastle 30 17 5 8 54- 40 56
5 Chelsea 30 14 11 5 58- 30 53
6 Leeds 30 13 12 5 42- 30 51
7 Charlton 30 10 11 9 34- 34 41
8 Aston Villa 30 10 11 9 35- 36 41
9 Spurs 30 11 5 14 39- 45 38
10 West Ham 30 10 7 13 35- 48 37
11 S'hampton 30 10 6 14 37- 45 36
12 Fulham 30 8 11 11 30- 36 35
13 M'brough 30 9 8 13 29- 38 35
14 S'derland 30 9 7 13 23- 37 34
15 Everton 30 8 9 13 29- 36 33
16 Blackburn 30 8 8 14 39- 41 32
17 Ipswich 30 8 7 15 38- 49 31
18 Bolton 30 6 12 12 32- 47 30
19 Derby 30 8 5 17 26- 47 29
20 Leicester 30 3 10 17 21- 53 19
