Premier League Results for 16th Nov 2008

Everton	1-1 (HT 0-1)	Middlesbrough
Yakubu 65		O'Neil 8
		Bookings: Digard 65 Pogatetz 69

Yakubu marked his return from injury with his first goal in 10 matches as Everton drew with Middlesbrough.

Just eight minutes were on the clock when Gary O'Neil fired Boro's opener, slipping in unmarked at the near post.

But it was Everton who dominated in terms of chances, with Joleon Lescott hitting a post and Louis Saha and Tim Cahill wasteful in front of goal.

It was left to Yakubu to level from Mikel Arteta's free-kick, extending both sides' unbeaten run to five game

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Fellaini, Cahill (Anichebe 85), Osman (Pienaar 72), Yakubu (Vaughan 88), Saha.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Hibbert, Baines, Castillo.

Goal: Yakubu 65.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Riggott (Wheater 52), Pogatetz, Taylor, O'Neil, Digard, Arca (Adam Johnson 69), Downing, Alves (Emnes 84), Sanli.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Franks, Grounds, Walker.

Booked: Digard, Pogatetz.

Goal: O'Neil 8.

Att: 31,063

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Hull	2-2 (HT 1-2)	Man City
Cousin 14 Geovanni 60		Ireland 37 Ireland 45
Bookings: McShane 25 Marney 88		Bookings: Ben-Haim 11 Wright-Phillips 83 Ireland 84

Geovanni equalised for the Tigers as Hull and Manchester City ended three-game losing runs in the league.

Daniel Cousin put Hull in front, capitalising on Tal Ben-Haim's awful back-pass to flick the ball past Joe Hart, who later went off injured.

Stephen Ireland levelled after a heavy touch from Kamil Zayatte gifted him an open goal and he then put his side ahead with a brilliant 18-yard shot.

But Geovanni equalised against his former club with a deflected free-kick.

Brown happy with hard fought point

The result might not fully satisfy either manager but it was a fair result after an entertaining contest in which some awful defensive errors added to the drama.

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Ricketts, Boateng (Halmosi 85), Ashbee, Marney, Geovanni, Cousin (Barmby 76), King.
Subs Not Used: Duke, Doyle, Garcia, Folan, Giannakopoulos.

Booked: McShane, Marney.

Goals: Cousin 14, Geovanni 60.

Man City: Hart (Schmeichel 19), Zabaleta, Richards, Ben-Haim, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Kompany, Ireland, Mwaruwari (Jo 76), Robinho, Vassell.
Subs Not Used: Onuoha, Michael Ball, Hamann, Elano, Evans.

Booked: Ben-Haim, Wright-Phillips, Ireland.

Goals: Ireland 37, 45.

Att: 24,902

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Premier League results for 15th Nov 2008

Arsenal	0-2 (HT 0-0)	Aston Villa
		Clichy o.g. 70 Agbonlahor 80
Bookings: Denilson 10 Fabregas 19		Bookings: Friedel 44 Barry 55 Agbonlahor 81 Sidwell 90

Aston Villa struck twice in the last 20 minutes to seal a deserved win and dent Arsenal's Premier League title hopes.

Gael Clichy headed Ashley Young's cross into his own net after 70 minutes and Gabriel Agbonlahor raced clear to add a second 10 minutes later.

Young had seen a penalty saved by Manuel Almunia in the first half as Villa produced an outstanding display.

Brad Friedel saved well from Cesc Fabregas in the first half and Emmanuel Adebayor hit a post late on.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna (Toure 71), Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Diaby (Adebayor 61), Bendtner (Vela 68).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Song Billong, Djourou.

Booked: Denilson, Fabregas.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Laursen, Davies, Luke Young, Ashley Young, Sidwell, Petrov, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Carew, Knight, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Gardner.

Booked: Friedel, Barry, Agbonlahor, Sidwell.

Goals: Clichy 70 og, Agbonlahor 80.

Att: 60,047

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

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Blackburn	1-2 (HT 1-0)	Sunderland
Samba 45+2		Jones 49 Cisse 71
Bookings: Warnock 33 Khizanishvili 54 Mokoena 70		Bookings: Tainio 25 Ferdinand 29 Collins 39 Jones 54

Sunderland produced a vastly improved second-half performance as they came from behind to avenge their midweek Carling Cup defeat by Blackburn.

Rovers dominated the first half and led when Christopher Samba headed home from Morten Gamst Pedersen's corner.

But the second period was all about a revitalised Sunderland side.

Kenwyne Jones pounced on an error from Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson to level before Djibril Cisse converted a Steed Malbranque pass for the winner.

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Simpson, Andrews (Villanueva 62), Mokoena, Pedersen (Kerimoglu 76), Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts (Derbyshire 61). Subs Not Used: Brown, Fowler, Treacy, Judge.

Booked: Warnock, Khizanishvili, Mokoena.

Goals: Samba 45.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Tainio (Reid 53), Whitehead, Richardson, Malbranque (Leadbitter 83), Cisse (Yorke 83), Jones. Subs Not Used: Colgan, Diouf, Murphy, Henderson.

Booked: Tainio, Ferdinand, Collins, Jones.

Goals: Jones 49, Cisse 71.

Att: 21,798

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

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Bolton	0-2 (HT 0-1)	Liverpool
		Kuyt 28 Gerrard 73
Bookings: Nolan 63		Bookings: Carragher 86

Liverpool's Premier League title challenge gathered further momentum with an impressive victory at Bolton.

Dirk Kuyt brilliantly headed the visitors in front from Fabio Aurelio's cross after 28 minutes.

Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard both missed open goals before captain Gerrard headed in substitute Fernando Torres' cross with 18 minutes left.

Bolton's Gary Cahill had a header ruled out for a foul and Ricardo Gardner missed two good opportunities.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Taylor (Smolarek 84), Nolan, Muamba (Gardner 46), McCann, Elmander, Davies.

Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Helguson, Shittu, Basham, Obadeyi.

Booked: Nolan.

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt (Leiva Lucas 84), Gerrard, Riera (Benayoun 89), Keane (Torres 59).

Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Babel, Darby.

Booked: Carragher.

Goals: Kuyt 28, Gerrard 73.

Att: 24,893

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

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Fulham	2-1 (HT 1-0)	Tottenham
Davies 33 Johnson 70		Campbell 81
Bookings: Zamora 16

Harry Redknapp suffered his first defeat as Tottenham boss as Fulham sent them back into the relegation zone.

Former Spurs winger Simon Davies was credited with the first goal, though it was another awful error by Heurelho Gomes, who fumbled into his own net.

With the visitors in disarray from corners, Andy Johnson pounced to turn in the second inside the six-yard box.

On 81 minutes Spurs substitute Fraizer Campbell slotted home to create late tension but Fulham deserved their win.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey (Gera 87), Murphy, Bullard (Andreasen 90), Davies, Johnson, Zamora.
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Gray, Kallio, Baird.

Booked: Zamora.

Goals: Davies 33, Johnson 70.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Bale, Bentley, Jenas, Huddlestone (Pavlyuchenko 45), Zokora, Modric (Lennon 45), Bent (Campbell 71).
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Hutton, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto.

Goals: Campbell 81.

Att: 25,139

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

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Man Utd	5-0 (HT 2-0)	Stoke
Ronaldo 3 Carrick 45+1 Berbatov 49 Welbeck 84 Ronaldo 89
Bookings: Evra 63		Bookings: Fuller 43 Delap 47

Cristiano Ronaldo's 100th Manchester United goal set his side on their way to an emphatic home win over Stoke.

The Portuguese winger smashed home a trademark free-kick from 25 yards before turning provider for Michael Carrick to fire in United's second.

Dimitar Berbatov volleyed home to extend the lead before 17-year-old Danny Welbeck marked his Premier League debut with a stunning strike.

Ronaldo sealed the win with his second, another expertly taken free-kick.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher (Gibson 63), Park (Welbeck 63), Tevez (Manucho 74), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Anderson, Nani, Rafael Da Silva.

Booked: Evra.

Goals: Ronaldo 3, Carrick 45, Berbatov 49, Welbeck 84, Ronaldo 89.

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin (Wilkinson 79), Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Olofinjana (Cresswell 31), Diao, Amdy Faye, Delap, Fuller (Kitson 68), Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Cort, Whelan, Tonge.

Booked: Fuller, Delap.

Att: 75,369

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

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Newcastle	2-2 (HT 0-1)	Wigan
Owen 80 Martins 87		Taylor 3 Bramble 89
Bookings: Beye 49		Bookings: Boyce 16 Bramble 50 Palacios 57
		Sent off: Boyce 54

Ten-man Wigan denied Joe Kinnear's side a dramatic late victory after former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble snatched a last-gasp equaliser.

Ryan Taylor's brilliant 20-yard strike put the visitors ahead early on but Emmerson Boyce was harshly awarded a second yellow card after half-time.

With 10 minutes remaining, substitute Michael Owen stabbed in for Newcastle.

Obafemi Martins then smashed in a second to send St James' Park wild, but Bramble headed home in the last minute.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Bassong, Coloccini, Jose Enrique (N'Zogbia 68), Gutierrez (Owen 68), Barton (Guthrie 16), Butt, Duff, Ameobi, Martins.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Cacapa, Geremi, Carroll.

Booked: Beye.

Goals: Owen 80, Martins 87.

Wigan: Kirkland, Taylor (De Ridder 81), Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Scharner, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo (Brown 90), Camara (Kilbane 90), Valencia.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Cywka, Kupisz, Routledge.

Sent Off: Boyce (54).

Booked: Boyce, Bramble, Palacios.

Goals: Taylor 3, Bramble 89.

Att: 47,657

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West Brom	0-3 (HT 0-3)	Chelsea
		Bosingwa 34 Anelka 38 Anelka 45+1
		Bookings: Terry 52 Bosingwa 57 Ivanovic 78

Nicolas Anelka scored twice as Chelsea claimed a convincing win at rock bottom West Brom to move back above Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.

The Baggies matched the visitors until Jose Bosingwa caught out Scott Carson, smashing his shot into the top corner.

Anelka ran clear to dink home a second then made it 3-0 before the break after latching on to Salomon Kalou's pass.

Filipe Teixeira fired over for West Brom but Chelsea were always in control despite easing up in the second half.

West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite (Donk 68), Olsson, Robinson, Koren, Morrison (Filipe Teixeira 58), Greening, Borja Valero, Miller, Bednar (Kim 46).
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Cech, Brunt, Moore.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry (Ferreira 85), Bridge, Lampard, Mikel, Deco, Kalou (Ballack 68), Anelka (Drogba 74), Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ashley Cole, Sinclair, Mineiro.

Booked: Terry, Bosingwa, Ivanovic.

Goals: Bosingwa 34, Anelka 38, 45.

Att: 26,322

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

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West Ham	0-0 (HT 0-0)	Portsmouth
		Bookings: Pamarot 39

West Ham halted their losing streak with their first clean sheet of the season and a point, but they could easily have had all three.

Portsmouth's three best first-half chances fell to Jermain Defoe but despite the visitors dominating, keeper Robert Green was rarely tested.

Craig Bellamy's second-half free-kick that hit the bar for West Ham was the best chance for either side.

That chance inspired the hosts to go on the attack but Portsmouth held on.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga (Faubert 61), Behrami, Parker (Mullins 75), Collison, Sears (Etherington 46), Cole, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Davenport, Bowyer, Di Michele.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Pamarot, Diop, Davis, Diarra (Armand Traore 19), Belhadj, Crouch (Kanu 75), Defoe. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Mvuemba, Hughes.

Booked: Pamarot.

Att: 32,328

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Premier League fixtures for Nov 15th 2008

Saturday, 15 November 2008

Arsenal v Aston Villa, 15:00

Blackburn v Sunderland, 15:00

Bolton v Liverpool, 12:45 Sky Sports 1

Fulham v Tottenham, 15:00

Man Utd v Stoke, 15:00

Newcastle v Wigan, 15:00

West Brom v Chelsea, 17:30 Setanta Sports 1
West Ham v Portsmouth, 15:00
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Premier League gossip and transfer news

Monday 10th Nov

Manchester City are monitoring the progress of Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel. The 19-year-old Belgian has also been linked with Middlesbrough and Arsenal. (Daily Mail)

Mark Hughes could be forced out as Manchester City boss by his Brazilian contingent, who are said to be unhappy with the Welshman's management style. A new replacement could be found in the January transfer window. (The Sun)

Hughes, who had met chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak on Saturday night, could fly out to Abu Dhabi for a meeting with club owner Sheik Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday. (The Times)

A South African consortium has approached Portsmouth with a view to buying the club from Alexandre Gaydamak for about £60m. (The Times)

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams wants former Arsenal youth team coach Terry Burton as his new number two at Fratton Park. Ex-Wimbledon boss Burton is currently assistant to Dave Jones at Cardiff. (Daily Mirror)

Everton striker Louis Saha believes Everton can qualify for Europe after their 3-1 victory over West Ham, the Merseyside club's third successive Premier League win. (The Sun)

Pascal Chimbonda's future at Sunderland is in doubt after he was dropped and disciplined by manager Roy Keane for breaking a curfew. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says the best is yet to come after his side's 3-0 victory over West Brom. (Daily Express)

Tuesday 11th Nov

Andrei Arshavin looks set to leave Zenit St Petersburg, with Tottenham interested in the Russian striker. (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham, West Ham and Arsenal are keen on Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah, who is a free agent after leaving Fenerbahce. (Daily Mirror)

Derby are lining up Bolton defender Danny Shittu on a month-long loan deal. (The Sun)

Aston Villa will attempt to sign Wigan and England striker Emile Heskey in the January transfer window. (Daily Star)

Everton have agreed a £2m deal to sign Egypt striker Emad Meteb in January. (Daily Star)

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes could sell Elano, Michael Ball, Nedum Onouha, Dietmar Hamann and Darius Vassell in a January clear-out. (The Independent)

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has been warned by Chelsea hierarchy that he faces a January transfer freeze because of the global credit crunch. (Various)

Arsenal are lining up Palmeiras striker Lenny, who is out of contract in January. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland manager Roy Keane is interested in Lille centre-back Adil Rami. (Daily Star)

Hull City boss Phil Brown is attempting to sign Dutch winger Eljero Elia from FC Twente. (Daily Mirror)

Wednesday 12th Nov

Russia forward Andrei Arshavin has revealed he is desperate to leave Zenit St Petersburg in the coming transfer window in January, saying "at the start of 2009, I will be with another team". Real Madrid and Tottenham thought to be interested in signing the 27-year-old. (Spanish daily AS, 1615 GMT)

Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa, who almost joined Liverpool in 2005 before signing with Atletico Madrid until 2010, has revealed his long-term goal is still to play in England. "I still have the dream of playing in England. I'm attracted to the style of play there and their stadiums." (Press Association, 1549 GMT)

Harry Redknapp is ready to rescue Richard Dunne from his Manchester City nightmare and bring him to Tottenham in January. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United have made Barcelona playmaker Xavi their top £20m transfer target. (Daily Star)

And United have also joined the chase for Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel, 19. Standard Liege want about £15m for the teenager. (Daily Mail)

Jimmy Bullard is being chased by Spurs and Sunderland - as Fulham decide whether or not to offer the midfielder a new contract. (The Sun)

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is the managerial target for a Middle East consortium in talks with Nottingham Forest about a multi-million pound takeover of the Championship club. (Daily Express)

Thursday 13th Nov

Manchester United could be set for a £15m move for 19-year-old Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel. (The Sun)

United face competition for the Belgian from their London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will be given unlimited funds by the club's owners to sign new players in January. (The Times)

Aston Villa are ready to pay whatever it takes to sign Newcastle striker Michael Owen in January. (The Sun)

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is ready to spend £1.5m on Southampton midfielder Andrew Surman. (Various)

Wigan's on-loan striker Amr Zaki will be sold by his parent Club, Zamalek, for about £7m, with Liverpool and Manchester City interested. (The Sun)

Argentine striker Carlos Tevez is worried about his future at Manchester United, says his new national coach Diego Maradona. (Various)

Real Madrid will launch a bid to sign Tevez in January. (Daily Mirror)

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear says he needs to sign four new players in January to safeguard the club's Premier League future. (Various)

Atletico Madrid's Portugal international winger Simao Sabrosa has issued a come-and-get-me plea to Premier League clubs. (Daily Mirror)

Nottingham Forest are keen on Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan. (Various)

QPR are hoping to secure the services of Bolton striker Heidar Helguson this week on loan, with a view to a permanent £1.5m move. (Various)

Blackburn have told Matt Jansen he can return to Carlisle if he cannot revive his career at the club. (Various)

Friday 14th Nov 2008

Wigan boss Steve Bruce will launch a £10m bid to sign Ecuador striker Cristian Benitez from Mexican side Santos Laguna. (Various)

Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez is determined to fight for his future at Old Trafford. (The Sun)

Real Madrid are interested in the Argentina striker but he wants to stay with United. (Daily Telegraph)

Tevez wanted to join Real in January, he would be unable to move because his contract at United forbids it. (Daily Express)

United want to sign Tevez - who is only on loan with the Red Devils - on a permanent contract. (The Independent)

The Red Devils hope to conclude the deal for the 24-year-old, which could cost them as much as £30m, before the Club World Cup in Japan in December. (The Times)

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has warned he will not pay over the odds for players in January despite his club's new wealth. (Daily Express)

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz, Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra are top of Hughes' list of transfer targets. (Various)

Wigan striker Emile Heskey, Stuttgart forward Mario Gomez, West Ham front man Craig Bellamy, Werder Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings and Blackburn left-back Stephen Warnock are also on Hughes' radar. (Daily Express)

Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha could be used as a makeweight in a deal for Santa Cruz, while left-back Michael Ball, midfielder Dietmar Hamann and strikers Darius Vassell, Felipe Caicedo and Benjani Mwaruwari would also be allowed to leave Eastlands. (The Times)

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has targeted Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, who he signed for the Blues during his time as manager at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will step up his efforts to offload out-of-favour Reds midfielder Jermaine Pennant in January and Blackburn are expected to make a bid for him. (The Guardian)

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill fears the club will face another battle to keep midfielder Gareth Barry at the club in January. (Daily Mirror)

West Brom boss Tony Mowbray will offload up to six of his first-team squad in January to fund new signings. (The Sun)

Middlesbrough and Bolton will fight it out for Deportivo La Coruna's £2m-rated Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland are chasing highly rated Ipswich midfielder Owen Garvan. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea are set to fine striker Didier Drogba £160,000 for throwing a coin into the crowd during Chelsea's Carling Cup fourth round defeat to Burnley. (Daily Mirror)

The Football Association is poised to hand Drogba a three-match ban over the incident and the police will launch their own investigation. (Daily Mirror)

Drogba could get a longer ban if the FA decides to treat his single-finger gesture at Burnley fans as a separate incident. (Daily Mail)

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola, a former Chelsea striker, has defended Drogba's actions and says Premier League players should be shown more respect. (Daily Mirror)

Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, says Drogba should be banned. (The Sun)

Newcastle's interim manager Joe Kinnear will be handed a one-year contract to stay on as Magpies boss if owner Mike Ashley fails to sell the club. (Daily Mirror)

At least one of the two American parties vying to buy the Magpies are engaged in the due diligence process. (The Times)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane admits he is under growing pressure after his side's run of poor results, which has left them second-bottom of the Premier League. (Daily Mirror)

Gianfranco Zola has held showdown talks with his West Ham players after seeing them pick up just one point in their last six games. (The Sun)

Former Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand has joined Spurs boss Harry Redknapp's coaching staff and will work as consultant to the club's strikers. (Daily Mirror)

Redknapp's plan is to use a series of specialist coaches for attack and defence, in the same way as NFL teams train. (Daily Star)

New Portsmouth manager Tony Adams is confident he will have money to spend in the January transfer window despite the Fratton Park club being up for sale. (Daily Mirror)

Keith Harris, the dealmaker who has been asked to find a buyer for Everton, says a groundshare with Liverpool is the only way ahead for both clubs as they struggle to move plans for new stadiums forwards. (The Independent)

Premier League results for the 9th Nov 2008

Aston Villa	1-2 (HT 1-1)	Middlesbrough
Sidwell 37		Sanli 34 Sanli 88
Bookings: Milner 71 Young 75		Bookings: Aliadiere 73 Arca 90

Tuncay profited from two shocking defensive errors to give Middlesbrough victory at Aston Villa and send them up to eighth in the Premier League.

He struck first after 34 minutes, lashing home from six yards after Nicky Shorey failed to clear a cross.

The hosts hit back within three minutes through a Steve Sidwell header.

But, after Afonso Alves had somehow missed for Boro from three yards, Sidwell's dreadful back pass set up Tuncay to score an 88th-minute winner.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Davies, Laursen, Shorey (Harewood 70), Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Barry, Milner, Agbonlahor, Ashley Young.

Subs Not Used: Guzan, Routledge, Salifou, Knight, Delfouneso, Gardner.

Booked: Milner, Ashley Young.

Goals: Sidwell 37.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Pogatetz, Riggott, Taylor, Aliadiere, Digard, O'Neil, Downing, Sanli, Alves (Arca 83).

Subs Not Used: Jones, Emnes, Adam Johnson, Wheater, Grounds, Walker.

Booked: Aliadiere, Arca.

Goals: Sanli 34, 88.

Att: 36,672

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

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Blackburn	0-2 (HT 0-1)	Chelsea
		Anelka 40 Anelka 68
Bookings: Warnock 62 Simpson 81		Bookings: Malouda 86

Nicolas Anelka scored twice to continue his fine start to the season as Chelsea marched back to the top of the Premier League with a win at a wet Ewood Park.

In a one-sided first half, only keeper Paul Robinson kept Rovers in it, saving well from Anelka and Jon Obi Mikel.

However, he could do little when Anelka deflected in Jose Bosingwa's drive.

Rovers rallied in the second half with Petr Cech saving from Carlos Villanueva and Jason Roberts but Anelka clipped in a second to seal it.

Blackburn: Robinson, Simpson, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Olsson, Grella (Mokoena 45), Warnock, Villanueva, Andrews (Derbyshire 46), Pedersen, Roberts (Fowler 77).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Samba, Kerimoglu, Treacy.

Booked: Warnock, Simpson.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Bridge, Lampard, Mikel, Deco (Ferreira 90), Kalou (Belletti 62), Anelka, Malouda.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Sinclair, Mineiro.

Booked: Malouda.

Goals: Anelka 40, 68.

Att: 20,670

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

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Fulham	2-1 (HT 1-0)	Newcastle
Johnson 23 Murphy (pen) 66		Ameobi 57
Bookings: Hangeland 43 Murphy 79		Bookings: Coloccini 65 Beye 88

Danny Murphy's 100th club career goal earned Fulham a welcome win as Newcastle's recent renaissance under Joe Kinnear ended at Craven Cottage.

Andy Johnson rewarded the hosts' bright start when he lashed home from 16 yards following Claudio Cacapa's error.

But the Magpies rallied and, after Damien Duff had hit a post, Shola Ameobi fired them level from six yards.

However, Fabricio Coloccini's foul on Johnson gave Murphy the chance to win it from the spot, and he duly obliged.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Murphy (Baird 88), Gera (Dempsey 64), Johnson, Zamora (Nevland 74).
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Gray, Stoor, Andreasen.

Booked: Hangeland, Murphy.

Goals: Johnson 23, Murphy 66 pen.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Coloccini, Cacapa, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez (Owen 70), Butt, Barton, Duff, Martins, Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Bassong, N'Zogbia, Geremi, Carroll.

Booked: Coloccini, Beye.

Goals: Ameobi 57.

Att: 24,740

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

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Man City	1-2 (HT 1-1)	Tottenham
Robinho 16		Bent 29 Bent 64
Bookings: Fernandes 18		Bookings: Zokora 48 King 61
Sent off: Fernandes 26 Dunne 83		Sent off: Assou-Ekotto 89

Darren Bent scored twice as 10-man Tottenham continued their good recent run against nine-man Man City.

Robinho fired the opener for the home side in the 15th minute before Gelson Fernandes was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Bent ran clear and slotted home to equalise for Spurs and then side-footed his second on the hour.

City captain Richard Dunne was shown a straight red and Spurs' Benoit Assou-Ekotto was dismissed late on.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Fernandes, Vassell (Hamann 31), Robinho, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Elano, Jo, Evans, Ben-Haim.

Sent Off: Fernandes (26), Dunne (83).

Booked: Fernandes.

Goals: Robinho 16.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Huddlestone, Zokora, Jenas, Modric (Lennon 71), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Hutton, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell, Dawson, O'Hara.

Sent Off: Assou-Ekotto (89).

Booked: Zokora, King.

Goals: Bent 29, 64.

Att: 41,893

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Premier League results for the 8th Nov 2008

Arsenal	2-1 (HT 1-0)	Man Utd
Nasri 22 Nasri 48		R Da Silva 90
Bookings: Gallas 27 Sagna 40 Clichy 52		Bookings: Evra 38 Carrick 66

Samir Nasri struck twice as Arsenal beat Manchester United and delivered an emphatic confirmation of manager Arsene Wenger's belief that they are still serious Premier League contenders.

Nasri's deflected shot opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and he doubled their advantage three minutes after the interval with a powerful finish from Cesc Fabregas's precise pass.

Substitute Rafael volleyed United back into contention with a minute of normal time left - but Arsenal survived six extra minutes and an outbreak of mass anxiety at the Emirates to clinch the three points.

Arsenal: Almunia (Fabianski 78), Sagna, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Walcott (Song Billong 77), Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Diaby (Toure 86), Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere, Djourou. Booked: Gallas, Sagna, Clichy.

Goals: Nasri 22, 48.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville (Rafael Da Silva 63), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Anderson (Giggs 72), Carrick, Park, Rooney (Tevez 77), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Nani, O'Shea, Evans.

Booked: Evra, Carrick.

Goals: Rafael Da Silva 90.

Att: 60,106

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

____________________________________________________________________

Hull	0-1 (HT 0-0)	Bolton
		Taylor 50
Bookings: Dawson 25		Bookings: Muamba 41 Gardner 69

Matthew Taylor struck the only goal as Bolton picked up their second win in six days but condemned Hull to their third straight Premier League defeat.

Taylor scored with a left-foot strike from the edge of the area that went through a crowd of players.

Marlon King hit the woodwork for Hull while Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made a great double save from Geovanni.

The keeper parried from King late on and brilliantly recovered to punch the ball clear with Geovanni again lurking.

Hull: Boaz Myhill, Paul McShane, Michael Turner, Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson (Ricketts 65), George Boateng (Folan 73), Ian Ashbee, Dean Marney, Geovanni, Daniel Cousin (Mendy 54), Marlon King.

Subs: Matt Duke, Sam Ricketts, Bernard Mendy, Peter Halmosi, Richard Garcia, Nick Barmby, Caleb Folan.

Bolton: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Jlloyd Samuel, Gary Cahill, Fabrice Muamba, Matt Taylor, Johan Elmander (Smolarek 77), Ricardo Gardner, Kevin Davies, Gretar Steinsson, Gavin McCann, Andrew O'Brien.

Subs: Ali Al Habsi, Ebi Smolarek, Heidar Helguson, Danny Shittu, Chris Basham, Topi Obadeyi, Rob Sissons.

Referee: Mr A. Wiley.

Attendance: 24,903

____________________________________________________________________

Sunderland	1-2 (HT 1-0)	Portsmouth
Cisse 4		Belhadj 51 Defoe (pen) 90+1
Bookings: Collins 82 Whitehead 89		Bookings: Diarra 85

Jermain Defoe crashed in an injury-time penalty to secure a first victory for new Portsmouth manager Tony Adams.

Djibril Cisse gave Sunderland the lead after just three minutes after being set free by Andy Reid, but the striker then wasted a succession of chances.

David James denied him three times, while Kieron Richardson hit the post.

Nadir Belhadj then struck from 35 yards after the break to level and, after El-Hadji Diouf fouled Glen Johnson, Defoe earned a real smash-and-grab win.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, Malbranque (Leadbitter 80), Whitehead, Reid (Healy 80), Richardson, Cisse, Murphy (Diouf 46).
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Tainio, Miller, Henderson.

Booked: Collins, Whitehead.

Goals: Cisse 4.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Pamarot, Davis, Diarra, Kranjcar (Utaka 75), Defoe (Hughes 90), Crouch (Kanu 69).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Kaboul, Diop, Armand Traore.

Booked: Diarra.

Goals: Belhadj 51, Defoe 90 pen.

Att: 37,712

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

____________________________________________________________________

West Ham	1-3 (HT 0-0)	Everton
Collison 63		Lescott 83 Saha 85 Saha 87
Bookings: Etherington 81		Bookings: Lescott 69

Everton scored three goals in four astonishing minutes to break West Ham's hearts with an incredible fightback in the final 10 minutes at Upton Park.

Jack Collison put the hosts ahead with a stunning curling shot after fine work from Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker.

Joleon Lescott turned things round by heading in the equaliser after a dipping cross from Louis Saha.

Saha then stole the show, poking in Victor Anichebe's cross and grabbing the third from the edge of the box.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson (Collison 18), Ilunga, Faubert, Parker (Di Michele 87), Bowyer, Sears, Bellamy, Boa Morte (Etherington 57).

Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Mullins, Reid.

Booked: Etherington.

Goals: Collison 63.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Cahill, Rodwell (Vaughan 65), Osman, Saha (Hibbert 90), Anichebe (Baines 86).

Subs Not Used: Nash, Castillo, Jutkiewicz, Gosling.

Booked: Lescott.

Goals: Lescott 83, Saha 85, 87.

Att: 33,961

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

____________________________________________________________________

Wigan	0-0 (HT 0-0)	Stoke
Bookings: Bramble 75		Bookings: Shawcross 10 Fuller 63 Cresswell 85

Stoke extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to three games as they frustrated a more adventurous Wigan to secure a goalless draw.

Neither side impressed in the first half with a Jason Koumas free-kick, which sailed into the stands, the nearest either team came to scoring.

After the break, Emile Heskey was inches wide with a downward header.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Cattermole, Koumas, Heskey (Camara 57), Zaki.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Kingson, Scharner, Kilbane, Brown, De Ridder.

Booked: Bramble.

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Diao, Olofinjana (Whelan 86), Amdy Faye (Cresswell 84), Delap, Fuller, Sidibe (Kitson 47).
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Cort, Tonge, Wilkinson.

Booked: Shawcross, Fuller, Cresswell.

Att: 15,881

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

____________________________________________________________________

Liverpool	3-0 (HT 2-0)	West Brom
Keane 34 Keane 43 Arbeloa 90+3
Bookings: Arbeloa 67 Mascherano 89		Bookings: Olsson 18

Robbie Keane scored his first Premier League goals for Liverpool as they beat West Brom to go three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the table.

A combination of Scott Carson's body and Jonas Olsson's arm prevented Yossi Benayoun's shot opening the scoring.

But there was no stopping Keane when he latched on to Steven Gerrard's pass before clipping the ball over Carson.

Keane scored his second goal when he rounded Carson and slotted home before Alvaro Arbeloa curled in a late third.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Agger, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun, Mascherano, Gerrard (Alonso 80), Riera (Babel 65), Keane (Torres 72), Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Insua, El Zhar.

Booked: Arbeloa, Mascherano.

Goals: Keane 34, 43, Arbeloa 90.

West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Olsson, Donk, Robinson, Koren, Borja Valero, Greening, Kim (Filipe Teixeira 56), Bednar (Moore 56), Miller (Brunt 71).
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Hoefkens, Dorrans, Pele.

Booked: Olsson.

Att: 43,451

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

This weeks Premier League gossip and Transfer news

Monday 3rd Nov 2008

Arsenal and Manchester United are battling it out to sign 15-year-old midfielder Dominic Vose, who is on Fulham's books. (Mirror)

Bolton want Chelsea's 19-year-old defender Jack Cork, who is currently on loan at Southampton. (Mirror)


Doncaster are set to step up their bid to sign Hull's Dean Windass. (Star)

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants to offer Cristiano Ronaldo a new deal to ensure he stays at the club. But chief executive David Gill does not want to increase the midfielder's £120,000-a-week wages. (Various)

Tuesday 4th nov 2008


Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to spend £3m on Greek wonder kid Kyriakos Papadopoulos in January. The 16-year-old defender plays for Olympiakos. (The Sun)

New Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has been warned off poaching any of his stars at former club Portsmouth. (Various)


Stoke City are lining up a £4m January swoop for unsettled Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood. (Daily Mirror)

QPR are planning a move to take striker Daniel Sturridge on loan from Manchester City. (Daily Mirror)

Newcastle's French winger Charles N'Zogbia is being lined up for a switch to Paris St Germain in the January transfer window. (Daily Mirror)

Wednesday 5th Nov 2008

New Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants Manchester United keeper Ben Foster on loan. (Daily Mirror)

West Bromwich Albion are lining up a bid for Manchester United's Angola striker Manucho and they are also interested in Real Mallorca striker Oscar Trejo. (Daily Mail)

New Portsmouth manager Tony Adams says he fears an exodus at Fratton Park after Harry Redknapp's departure. (The Times)

Adams has also said that any player who is unsettled following Redknapp's departure can leave Pompey. (Various)

Emile Heskey has warned that he could make a decision on his future in the summer, by which time his contract with Wigan will be up. (The Sun)

Hull City have turned down a loan move from Oldham for striker Dean Windass who is also wanted by Leeds United. (Daily Mail)

Wigan boss Steve Bruce is interested in Saudi Arabia's £5m-rated captain Yasser Al-Qahtani. (Daily Mail)

Thursday 6th Nov 2008

Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh wants to move to the Premier League, with north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham his preferred destinations.

Manchester City are lining up a £10m bid to bring Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra to the club in January. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland striker Michael Chopra is poised to rejoin Cardiff on a two-month loan deal. (Various)

Congo striker Tresor Mputu will fly to England next week for a trial with Blackburn after Arsenal's interest ended when they refused to pay the £4m asking price. (The Sun)

Bolton manager Gary Megson is set to make a £6m bid for 19-year-old Standard Liege midfielder Alex Witsel. (Various)

Leeds chairman Ken Bates has told Sunderland and Arsenal to forget about signing highly-rated teenager Fabian Delph. (Various)

Friday 7th Nov 2008

Barcelona are ready to launch an immediate £30m bid for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, rather than waiting until the summer to re-sign the 21-year-old, who left the club six years ago. (Daily Star)

Chelsea are lining up a January move for Michael Owen, with the Stamford Bridge club valuing the 28-year-old Newcastle striker between £3m to £5m. (The Sun)

Manchester United have joined the race to sign 19-year-old midfielder Alex Witsel from Standard Liege, with the Belgian club valuing him at about £15m. (The Sun)

Everton are planning to relaunch a bid for 22-year-old Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Moutinho after having a £12m offer rejected in the summer. (Daily Star)

Wigan manager Steve Bruce has told Hull to make an offer for striker Marlon King, who is currently on loan at the KC Stadium. (Various)

West Ham and Fulham are tracking Basel midfielder Beni Huggel, who would cost about £2.5m. (The Sun

West Ham's owners have admitted for the first time that are considering selling the club as they continue to feel the effects of the credit crunch but potential investors will wait for the outcome of Sheffield United's Carlos Tevez appeal. (Daily Telegraph, The Independent)

Newcastle interim manager Joe Kinnear has tipped controversial midfielder Joey Barton for a shock England call-up. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo believes his side have to win at Arsenal on Saturday if they are serious about winning the Premier League title. (Daily Star)

Ahead of that clash, Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has said he would not swap any of his team-mates for anyone in the United team. (The Sun)

Former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos will receive £1.7m in compensation from the north London club after his exit in October - the figure being half of what was his annual salary. (The Times)

Manager Paul Ince wants to employ former Manchester United team-mate Andy Cole as a striker coach at Blackburn Rovers. (Various)

West Ham are close to agreeing a shirt sponsorship deal with betting company SBO Bet, who will replace XL on the club's shirts after the airline went bust in September. (The Times)

Saturday 8th Nov 2008

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear will fight to hang on to Michael Owen and admits a "dozen" Premier League teams want to sign the England striker. (Sun)

Everton boss David Moyes wants £9m-rated Marseille midfielder Lorik Cana. (The Sun)

Everton are also lining up a £12m transfer window swoop for CSKA Moscow's Brazil striker Wagner Love. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth boss Tony Adams is chasing Leeds wonder kid Fabian Delph as a possible replacement for Lassana Diarra who could leave in January. (Daily Mirror)

Valencia could be the latest club ready to move for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso with the Reds willing to cash in. (Daily Mail)

Wigan manager Steve Bruce is ready to launch a £3m bid for Lokomotiv Moscow's Bosnian defender Emir Spaphic. (Daily Mail)

Manchester City's Arab owners have drawn up a list of star names they wish to recruit, including Kaka, David Villa, Roque Santa Cruz and Wayne Bridge. (Daily Mail)

Aberdeen could make a move to bring back their former striker, veteran Dean Windass, from Hull City in January. (Various)

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admits talks over a new contract at Anfield are imminent. (Daily Telegraph)

Benitez is searching for a new five-year deal and wants it signed and sealed before the end of the month. (Independent)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he will never sacrifice his footballing principles despite criticism over his side's dip in form. (Various)

Chelsea's chief scout Frank Arnesen says owner Roman Abramovich has hit the "financial brake" as a result of the credit crunch. (Guardian)

Former Spurs assistant manager Gus Poyet says those players who have come out to condemn former manager Juande Ramos should "be embarrassed". (Times)

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told Manchester United fans: Stop your vile Arsene Wenger chants. (Sun)

Ferguson has told Wenger to stop moaning about his Arsenal players being roughed up and warned them they are too soft. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United have sent England midfielder Owen Hargreaves to world renowned knee surgeon Richard Stearman in the USA to cure the England midfielder of the persistent tendinitis threatening his career. (Times)

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor admits he was furious with Joey Barton after their spat at Newcastle on Monday. (Daily Star)