With many thanks to Brian Judson, without whom this feature would not be possible.
Saturday. November 22nd 2003
Birmingham City v Arsenal 0-3
Ljungberg put the Gunners ahead in the 4th minute when an attempted
clearance by Cunningham was charged down by Bergkamp, who played the ball
to Ljungberg for the Swede to score. It stayed that way with Arsenal
seemingly happy to conserve their energy for their Italian trip until
Bergkamp struck in the 80th minute. One moment, Birmingham had a corner.
The next, Henry was streaking away and then playing the ball to Bergkamp,
who was galloping downfield. He lobed the ball on the run over the
Birmingham goalkeeper to score a brilliantly executed goal. Pires rounded
off the afternoon by scoring in the 88th minute. Pires waltzed through the
Birmingham defence to slip the ball beyond Taylor.
Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0
The Toffees had few problems in disposing of Wolves, both goals coming in
the first twenty minutes. Radzinski opened the scoring in the 16 th minute
when he picked up a loose ball in midfield, took a couple of strides and
then volleyed the ball into the Wolves goal from 25-yards. Kilbane added a
second in the 19th minute when Rooney lobbed a high ball into the goal
area and Kilbane outjumped Irwin to head the ball into the goal. After
the match, David Jones, thee Wolves Manager said that he would probably
have to strengthen his side during the January 2004 transfer window.
Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers 0-2
Storming through Europe two seasons ago; red-hot favourites for relegation
now! What a complete turn-around in fortunes for Leeds! Davies put Bolton
ahead in the 16th minute when Duberry headed a clearance straight to
Davies, who hammered the ball into goal from 16 yards. In less than a
minute, they were 2-0 ahead. This time it was Davies who supplied the
final pass and Giannaakopoulous who scored in the 17th minute. Shortly
afterwards, Robinson had to go full length to prevent Frandsen from
scoring. Nick Barmby made a late cameo appearance.
Leicester City v Charlton Athletic 1-1
Ferdinand had put Leicester City ahead in the 39th minute when he
outjumped Chris Perry to head the ball beyond Kiely. The Foxes looked to
have done enough until Di Canio scored from the penalty spot in the 84th
minute. There was the slightest of contact between Di Canio and Howey but
the Italian collapsed like a sack of potatoes. He then got up and dusted
himself down to score from the penalty spot, leaving Leicester fuming with
the match officials. But after the match, Di Canio was insisting there
should have been two penalties! And Charlton had a goal disallowed after
getting the ball in the net after Svensson collided with Walker.
Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers 2-1
Yet another van Nistlerooy goal in the 24th minute set the Reds off in
pursuit of Arsenal and Chelsea. Surviving appeals for offside, van
Nistlerooy received a pass from Fortune and hammered a low ball beyond
Friedel. Kleberson added a second in the 38th minute when United went from
one end of the pitch to the other via seven exquisite passes before
Kleberson was fed the ball by Fortune and the Brazilian scored his first
goal for the Reds in the Premiership. Emerton reduced the arrears in the
62nd minute when Flitcroft put Emerton through as Ferdinand and Gary
Neville fatally hesitated.
Middlesbrough v Liverpool 0-0
Not even the return of Michael Owen could inspire Liverpool to score a
goal.There was some justification for them to suggest they should have
been awarded a penalty when Sinama-Pongolle was upended by Queuendrue but
fortunately for Middlesbrough, the referee did not agree. Liverpool were
devoid of inspiration and Owen was substituted in the second half. After
the match, their captain Stephen Gerrard admitted that Liverpool had no
hope of winning the League and would find it difficult to qualify for the
Champions League.
Newcastle United v Manchester City 3-0
The Toon had no problems with this game. Late on, the Toon Army was
chanting, "Keegan! Keegan! What's the score?" Amoebi put the Toon ahead in
the 57th minute when Hughes robed Fowler of the ball deep in his own half
and then sent Robert away. McManaman blocked Amoebi's first header but
could do nothing to block his stab of the rebound. Shearer headed a second
goal in the 77th minute. Shearer added a second in the 85th minute when
Amoebi headed the ball down for Shearer to stab home from Bernard's
corner.
Southampton v Chelsea 0-1
Melchiot grabbed the only goal of the game in the 47th minute when
Hasselbaink played a pinpoint pass to him, leaving him with an easy chance
to score. Southampton rarely looked like bothering Cudicini and the fans
were more bothered about trying to persuade Strachan his future should lie
at the Dell than at Elland Road. His contract runs out next summer and he
has not yet decided what he wants to do.
Sunday, November 23rd 2003
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa 2-1
Full report available here
Monday, November 24th 2003
Fulham v Portsmouth 2-0
The visitors dominated the match until Saha struck in the 30th minute to
claim Fulham's 100th Premiership goal after Foxe had failed to clear the
ball. Saha claimed a second goal in the 33rd minute when he outjumped Foxe
to head home Clark's cross. Berger was sent off in the 82nd minute for
foul and abusive language after appeals for a penalty had been rejected.
Cheers, Brian
FA Barclaycard Premiership
Pos. Pl. W. D. L. F-A. GD Pts
1 Arsenal 13 10 3 0 28-10 18 33
2 Chelsea 13 10 2 1 27-9 18 32
3 Man Utd 13 10 1 2 25-8 17 31
4 Charlton 13 6 4 3 20-16 4 22
5 Fulham 13 6 3 4 24-18 6 21
6 B'mingham 13 5 5 3 11-11 0 20
7 Newcastle 13 5 4 4 19-18 1 19
8 Man City 13 5 3 5 22-18 4 18
9 Liverpool 13 5 3 5 18-14 4 18
10 So'pton 13 4 5 4 10-8 2 17
11 P'tsmouth 13 4 3 6 17-18 -1 15
12 Spurs 13 4 3 6 13-17 -4 15
13 M'brough 13 4 3 6 11-15 -4 15
14 Bolton 13 3 6 4 11-19 -8 15
15 Everton 13 3 4 6 15-17 -2 13
16 L'cester 13 3 3 7 20-22 -2 12
17 Blackburn 13 3 2 8 18-24 -6 11
18 A. Villa 13 2 5 6 10-17 -7 11
19 Wolves 13 2 4 7 8-26 -18 10
20 Leeds 13 2 2 9 11-33 -22 8
