With many thanks to Brian Judson, without whom this feature would not be possible
Friday 29 March 2002
Newcastle United v Everton 6-2
Ferguson put Everton ahead after 6 minutes when Pistone's long throw was
headed out by O'Brien but Ferguson intercepted the clearance, who lobbed
the ball over Given. Shearer equalised in the 13th minute when a quick
throw by Robert sent Shearer away, taking advantage of poor marking by
Stubbs and Pistone, before forcing the ball home. Cort put Newcastle ahead
in the 15th minute when Robert outpaced Alexandersson and Cort volleyed
the ball home. Alexandersson equalised for Everton in the 34th minute when
Distin dithered too long and allowed the Everton player to pick his spot.
After the break, O'Brien put Newcastle ahead again when he poked the ball
home after a goalmouth scramble. Solano increased their lead in the 71st
minute when Dyer swapped passes with Shearer before teeing the ball up for
Solano to score. Solano added another goal in the 73rd minute when Jenas
dribbled forward before slipping the ball to Solano to score. Bernard
rounded off the match in the 88th minute when Lua Lua sprinted 60 yards
with the ball before cutting it back to Bernard to complete the rout.
Saturday 30 March 2002
Arsenal v Sunderland 3-0
All the goals came in the first half. Vieira put the Gunners ahead after
only 2 minutes when Thirwell attempted to pass back to the goalkeeper but
Vieira nipped in to slide the ball home. Bergkamp added a second in the
4th minute when Ljungberg found Henry unmarked. Henry's centre found
Bergkamp unmarked by the far post and the Dutchman had a simple chance to
take. In the 30th minute, shortly after Phillips had wasted a chance to
get Sunderland back in the game, Bergkamp picked up the ball on the edge
of the area and shimmied past defenders before slipping the ball to
Wiltord to score. Henry did get the ball in the net in the second half but
the strike was ruled out for offside.
Bolton Wanderers v Aston Villa 3-2
The match began with two own goals in the first quarter of an hour.
Delaney was the first defender to look on in horror as a volley from Nolan
spun off the hapless defender into the Villa goal after 8 minutes. Seven
minutes later, Warhurst conceded an own goal when he diverted a cross from
Boateng into his own goal. Taylor put Villa ahead two minutes later when
he headed home a corner taken by Hitzlsperger. Bobic equalised for Bolton
five minutes before half-time when he diverted a free-kick taken by
Djorkaeff beyond Schmeichel. Nolan snatched the winner for Bolton in the
76th minute when he fired home a free-kick from 25 yards after Staunton
had hauled back Gardner.
Chelsea v Derby County 2-1
All the goals came in the second half. Terry put Chelsea ahead ten minutes
after the break when he headed home a cross from Le Saux. Strupar
equalised for Derby County ten minutes later when Barton was allowed to
reach the penalty area unchecked to collect a pass from Ravenelli. Barton
then squared the ball across goal for Strupar to slide home. Petit grabbed
the winner with four minutes to go when the Blues won a free-kick. Zola
took it, Oakes palmed away a Terry header, Forssell saw his shot blocked
and the ball ran loose to Petit for him to lob the ball home.
Leeds United v Manchester United 3-4
Scholes put the Champions ahead after 9 minutes when he sent Silvestre
away down the left wing and then diverted the defender's centre beyond
Martyn. Viduka equalised in the 20th minute when Bowyer provided the pass
from which Viduka scored after Barthez had committed himself to diving at
Viduka's feet. Solksjaer scored twice in the 37th and 39th minutes. The
first goal came when Martyn failed to hold a Scholes shot and Leeds failed
to clear the ball and the Norwegian whipped the ball into Martyn's goal.
More or less the same thing happened two minutes later when Leeds again
failed to clear a ball with Solksjaer lurking. Giggs cemented the win for
the Champions in the 55th minute when Beckham provided the pass from which
Giggs side-footed the ball behind Martyn. Bowyer's 80th minute goal came
too late to affect the issue. Fowler sliced a shot and Bowyer headed the
ball home. Leeds toiled to force an equaliser but the goal just would not
come.
Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers 2-1
Bottom of the table, Leicester City, gained a rare win when the two goals
scored by Paul Dickov proved to be enough. Dickov put them ahead in the
9th minute when Deane flicked the ball into his path and Friedel was sent
the wrong way. Hughes equalised for Blackburn a minute after the break
when Elliott conceded a free-kick and Hughes headed home the resulting
free-kick from Unsal. Dickov scored the winner for Leicester in the 77th
minute when he won a challenge with Johansson in midfield and ran forward
to collect a pass from Savage. Dickov drilled the ball beyond the diving
Friedel.
Liverpool v Charlton Athletic 2-0
Both the goals came in the first half. Heskey limped off in the 23rd
minute and was replaced by Smicer. He had barely set foot on the pitch
when he put the Reds ahead. Danny Murphy took a free-kick and Smicer
headed the ball home. In the 36th minute, Owen sealed the win when Anelka
centred the ball, Smicer miscued his shot and Owen forced the ball home.
Charlton very rarely troubled the Liverpool defence.
Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur 1-1
Full report available here
Southampton v Fulham 1-1
Again, both goals were scored in the first half. Marlet put Fulham ahead
in the 7th minute when Finan and Legwinski played a one-two before lobbing
the ball forward for Marlet to chase. Jones then inexplicably fumbled the
ball which rebounded off Marlet's shins into the Southampton goal. Delap
equalised for Southampton in the 22nd minute when Dodd sent Delap away.
>From the edge of the area, Delap thumped the ball home. Both sides had
opportunities to score again but failed to do so in a match littered with
mistakes and errors. Also, for those for may not know, Matt Le Tissier
announced his retirement from the game during the week.
West Ham United v Ipswich Town 3-1
Lomas put the Hammers ahead in the 36th minute when he headed home a cross
from Di Canio. Bent struck to equalise in the 71st minute when he drove
home a low shot. Di Canio restored the Hammers' lead in the 74th minute
when his first shot was blocked by Sereni but he forced home the rebound.
Defoe scored in the 86th minute to ensure West Ham would keep the points
when he scored a fine solo goal.
Pos Pl. W. D. L. For-Ag Pts.
1 Liverpool 33 20 8 5 55- 26 68
2 Man Utd 33 21 4 8 82- 44 67
3 Arsenal 31 19 9 3 63- 32 66
4 Newcastle 31 18 5 8 60- 42 59
5 Chelsea 32 15 11 6 60- 32 56
6 Leeds 32 14 12 6 47- 34 54
7 A. Villa 32 10 12 10 37- 39 42
8 Spurs 32 12 6 14 42- 46 42
9 Charlton 32 10 11 11 35- 38 41
10 West Ham 31 11 7 13 38- 49 40
11 M'brough 32 10 9 13 31- 39 39
12 S'hampton 32 10 8 14 39- 47 38
13 Everton 32 9 9 14 35- 45 36
14 Fulham 32 8 12 12 31- 39 36
15 Bolton 32 8 12 12 37- 50 36
16 S'derland 32 9 8 14 24- 41 35
17 Blackburn 31 8 8 15 40- 43 32
18 Ipswich 32 8 8 16 39- 52 32
19 Derby 32 8 5 19 30- 53 29
20 Leicester 32 4 10 18 23- 56 22
