F.A. Premiership 2009/2010

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Brief report of Premier League match played on Sunday:

WEST HAM UNITED 3 SUNDERLAND 1

West Ham ended a run of three consecutive defeats, although they were a little fortunate to beat Sunderland.

Carlton Cole gave them a first-half lead with a header but Kenwyne Jones replied just after the break.

Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon was credited with an own goal after Nolberto Solano's shot hit his legs after bouncing back off the post. Craig Bellamy poached the third late on.

- - -

Played Saturday

ASTON VILLA 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 4

United conceded their first goal in more than 10 hours when Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Villa an early lead but the champions stormed back with three goals before the break.

Wayne Rooney equalised from close range then put United ahead after being set up by Carlos Tevez before Rio Ferdinand scored a messy third off a Villa defender.

Nigel Reo-Coker was sent off on the hour and goalkeeper Scott Carson followed him off when he brought down Tevez, although Rooney had his penalty saved by substitute keeper Stuart Taylor. Ryan Giggs added the fourth.

- - - -

ARSENAL 2 BOLTON WANDERERS 0

Arsenal's quest for an 11th successive victory was frustrated by Bolton in the first half but goals after the break from Kolo Toure and Tomas Rosicky underlined their superiority.

Toure blasted them in front after 68 minutes and Rosicky wrapped up the points after some trickery from Theo Walcott.

Arsenal have won all six of their home league games.

- - - -

BLACKBURN ROVERS 4 READING 2

Reading were blown away before halftime by a rampant Rovers side who look challengers for a top six position this season.

Benni McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz and a long-range blast from Tugay put Rovers 3-0 up with little more than half an hour on the clock.

Reading, who had never won at Ewood Park, did improve after the break with Kevin Doyle scoring with two headers either side of a McCarthy penalty.

- - - -

EVERTON 1 LIVERPOOL 2

Two second half penalties by Dirk Kuyt helped put Liverpool's title challenge back on track in an eventful Merseyside derby.

Sami Hyypia gifted Everton a first-half lead with a comical own goal shortly before the break. Liverpool levelled after 54 minutes when Steven Gerrard was bundled over by Tony Hibbert who was sent off and Kuyt slotted in the spot kick.

In stoppage time Phil Neville was sent off for saving a goal-bound Lucas shot with his hands and Dutchman Kuyt held his nerve to convert again. Everton had two strong penalty claims turned down themselves.

- - - -

FULHAM 0 DERBY COUNTY 0

Derby arrived at Craven Cottage with an away record of no goals scored and 17 conceded and although they did not improve on that statistic, a point did lift them off the bottom of the table above Bolton.

Fulham defender Paul Konchesky was sent off on the stroke of halftime for an apparent elbow in the face of Craig Fagan but County failed to take advantage with Kenny Miller wasting a golden late chance.

- - - -

MANCHESTER CITY 1 BIRMINGHAM CITY 0

City's Brazilian Elano continued his spectacular impact on the Premier League to put high-flying City in front after 36 minutes, calmly shooting past Maik Taylor.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side were not at their best but Elano, who scored for Brazil in midweek, proved the difference as Birmingham failed to take their chances.

- - -

MIDDLESBROUGH 0 CHELSEA 2

Chelsea' improvement continued with a comfortable victory over sliding Boro.

Didier Drogba provided a classy finish after eight minutes following a neat link-up with Frank Lampard. Mido should have equalised with a header before Alex thundered in a free kick after 57 minutes.

- - - -

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 PORTSMOUTH 2

Portsmouth maintained their top-five challenge with late goals from Benjani Mwaruwari and Glen Johnson.

Wigan almost scored in the opening minutes when Paul Scharner's header glanced the post while Sulley Muntari rattled the frame for Pompey.

Benjani volleyed in after 81 minutes and Johnson ran though unopposed to delight their 3,500 fans who travelled to the match for nothing on coaches supplied by owner Alexandre Gaydamak.

- - - -

Playing Monday: NEWCASTLE UNITED v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

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Newcastle plunged Tottenham manager Martin Jol into ever deeper trouble Monday night as the Magpies secured a fourth successive English Premier League victory at St. James' Park.

Newcastle took full advantage of some kamikaze defending by the Londoners, who remain rooted inside the relegation zone, to claim all three points with a 3-1 win.

Obafemi Martins fired the home side in front on the stroke of halftime after embarrassing Michael Dawson, and the unmarked Claudio Cacapa made it 2-0 six minutes after the break with a powerful header.

Robbie Keane's seventh goal in as many games briefly gave the visitors hope with a 57th-minute strike, but substitute James Milner made sure with a 73rd-minute volley to cement his side's eighth-place standing in front of a crowd of 51,411.

On Sunday, two late goals ended West Ham's three-match losing run after Nolberto Solano and Luis Boa Morte came on to earn a 3-1 win over Sunderland.

The pair were introduced in the 73rd minute with the score 1-1 and manager Alan Curbishley coming under fire from the home fans.

But Solano, a free transfer from Newcastle making his Hammers debut after playing twice for Peru last week, soon had them changing their tune when he turned in Boa Morte's cross to give West Ham the lead.

Craig Bellamy then added a late third to rubber stamp the victory.

Sunderland had looked good for a point when Kenwyne Jones had scored early in the second half to cancel out Carlton Cole's opener.

Arsenal consolidated its position at the top of the table on Saturday, beating managerless Bolton for an 11th straight win in all competitions.

Bolton, who parted company with Sammy Lee earlier in the week, put up stubborn resistance but were finally undone by Kolo Toure's free-kick which was drilled into the bottom corner after 67 minutes.

Tomas Rosicky then combined with fellow substitute Theo Walcott to make it 2-0 after 80 minutes.

Didier Drogba wisely let his boots do the talking following his explosive comments about Chelsea this week, opening the scoring against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Drogba slotted home Frank Lampard's astute pass after seven minutes and Alex hammered home a 35-yard free-kick 12 minutes into the second half to seal a 2-0 victory.

Wayne Rooney took his goal tally to six in the last five games for club and country as Manchester United overran nine-man Aston Villa, 4-1.

Rooney bounced back from England's Euro 2008 disappointment in Russia to help the Red Devils chalk up a seventh successive win in the Premier League - and only a saved penalty denied him a hat trick.

The striker finished with two goals with Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs scoring the others as United recovered for Gabriel Agbonlahor's opener for Villa.

The win moved United back into second place as they recovered from conceding their first league goal for 611 minutes against a Villa side that had Nigel Reo-Coker and Scott Carson sent off in the second period.

In the early kickoff, Liverpool won a pulsating and controversial Merseyside derby as Everton finished with nine men at Goodison Park.

The home side took the lead in the first half when Sami Hyypia sliced the ball into his own net.

Dirk Kuyt equalized from the spot after 54 minutes when Tony Hibbert was sent off for bringing down Steven Gerrard - who was later surprisingly substituted - as he raced into the area.

And Kuyt made it 2-1 in injury time after Phil Neville was dismissed for a brilliant but illegal save on the line from Brazilian midfielder Lucas' shot.

Everton should have had a penalty of its own seconds later but referee Mark Clattenburg judged that Jamie Carragher had not hauled down Joleon Lescott.

Blackburn maintained its impressive start to the season with a 4-2 victory over Reading at Ewood Park.

Roque Santa Cruz headed Brett Emerton's cross back across the face of goal for Benni McCarthy to volley into the net at the near post after 17 minutes.

Cruz made it 2-0 after 22 minutes with an unerring finish after being played through by David Dunn's neat flick and Tugay smashed the third with a superb long-range half-volley which Marcus Hahnemann palmed into his own net.

Kevin Doyle pulled one back for the visitors but barely a minute later McCarthy made it 4-1 from the penalty spot after Ibrahima Sonko's foul on Matt Derbyshire.

Doyle grabbed his second in injury-time but it was too little, too late for Steve Coppell's side.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce was furious with the officials after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City at Eastlands.

Bruce was convinced his side should have had a free-kick for a foul by Michael Johnson in the buildup to Elano's fine left-footed strike in the 37th minute.

The Blues had plenty of chances to at least claim a point but failed to convert any.

Fulham drew 0-0 at home to Derby despite playing the second half with 10 men at Craven Cottage.

Paul Konchesky received his marching orders for lashing out at Craig Fagan after the pair clashed on the touchline on the stroke of halftime.

Fagan was shown a yellow card by referee Phil Dowd for his part in the incident.

Portsmouth increased the pressure on Wigan boss Chris Hutchings with a 2-0 victory at the JJB Stadium.

Benjani Mwaruwari finally broke the deadlock with a left-footed volley from close range after 81 minutes and Glen Johnson sealed the points with a superb solo effort four minutes later.

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Manchester United stormed to the top of the Premier League on Saturday with a 4-1 thumping of Middlesbrough while Chelsea stole the limelight with a 6-0 hammering of third-placed Manchester City.

Carlos Tevez scored twice as United notched an eighth successive league victory and hit four goals in a match for the fourth time in a row for the first time since 1907.

The champions could lose first place on Sunday when Arsenal, on a high after a 7-0 romp over Slavia Prague on Tuesday, travel to Liverpool looking for a 13th consecutive victory in all competitions.

Didier Drogba bagged two goals against hapless City as Chelsea more than doubled their home goals tally this season in 90 scintillating minutes at Stamford Bridge. Andriy Shevchenko also got in on the act after coming on as a substitute.

After a poor start to the season and the traumatic parting of the ways with former coach Jose Mourinho, Chelsea are now back in the top four with Frank Lampard pulling the strings.

"He is very important to us," manager Avram Grant told Sky Sports after the midfielder's dominant performance. "There are not many like him."

Fulham were denied a first away victory of the season when Kenwyne Jones scored late for Sunderland in a 1-1 draw.

Improving Reading beat Newcastle United 2-1 while Birmingham City twice came from behind to defeat Wigan Athletic 3-2 at home.

Portsmouth's Benjani Mwaruwari had a stoppage-time penalty saved in a 0-0 home draw with West Ham United.

TWO-GOAL TEVEZ

United included midfielder Owen Hargreaves in their starting line-up for only the fourth time since he joined from Bayern Munich and were in front after three minutes.

Nani took possession in the Boro half, moved forward and ripped a 30-metre shot past Mark Schwarzer.

Old Trafford was still buzzing when Jeremie Aliadiere headed Boro level minutes later but a mistake from England midfielder Stewart Downing gifted Wayne Rooney a goal to put United back in front before halftime.

A superb move between Rooney and Tevez resulted in the Argentine putting United 3-1 up after 55 minutes before Tevez struck again with a deflected shot.

"When you've got players like (Cristiano) Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez you are going to get goals," said United manager Alex Ferguson. "The third goal epitomised the imagination they have...it was a wonderful goal."

United play Arsenal next week.

Manchester City fans have been pinching themselves after their best start in the top flight for more than 30 years but Sven Goran Eriksson's side were given a hiding by Chelsea.

Lampard looked back to his best after toe and thigh injuries this season, laying on first-half goals for Michael Essien and Drogba.

Chelsea never won by a six-goal margin under Mourinho in the league but they went on the rampage after the break with Drogba, Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou and Shevchenko demolishing City's defence.

"We totally forgot how to defend today," said former England coach Eriksson. "I'm sorry for the fans."

United have 26 points from 11 games, with Arsenal on 25 from nine. City remain third on 22 with Chelsea on 21.

Sunday's other match is Tottenham Hotspur's first since the sacking of coach Martin Jol when they host high-flying Blackburn Rovers.

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Juande Ramos has been named the new coach of English Premier League struggler Tottenham Hotspur, less than 24 hours after quitting his post with Sevilla.

The Spaniard, 53, tendered his resignation with Sevilla late on Friday, clearing the way for him to succeed Martin Jol at White Hart Lane following the Dutchman's dismissal on Thursday night.

"I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work as head coach at Tottenham Hotspur, a club with a great tradition and history," Ramos said.

"Ever since I started my coaching career, I have wanted to work in England. It is my sincere hope that I can repay the faith the Spurs board has shown in me."

He leaves behind a club he led to back-to-back UEFA Cup titles and qualification for this season's Champions League to take charge of Tottenham, which is in the bottom three of the Premier League.

Ramos' first game in charge is expected to come against Blackpool in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, with development coach Clive Allen and youth team boss Alex Inglethorpe in charge for Sunday's league clash against Blackburn.

Tottenham also confirmed it has requested permission from League One club Leeds to speak to assistant manager Gus Poyet, a former Spurs player, in order to invite him to join the club to work with Ramos.

Marcos Alvarez, 36, who worked with Ramos at Sevilla, will also join the Tottenham coaching staff.

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Arsenal regained first place in the Premier League on Sunday thanks to a Cesc Fabregas equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Gunners trailed to Steven Gerrard's seventh-minute freekick but Fabregas stole in with 10 minutes remaining to give the visitors a deserved share of the points.

Arsenal have 26 points from 10 matches while champions Manchester United, 4-1 winners at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, also have 26 from 11 but have scored fewer goals. Liverpool are sixth with 20 points from 10.

Earlier Tottenham Hotspur suffered a third defeat in a tumultuous week to stay in the relegation zone, this time losing 2-1 at home to Blackburn Rovers.

Bolton Wanderers edged off the bottom with a 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa while Derby County return to the foot of the table after a 2-0 home defeat by Everton.

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Arsenal stayed unbeaten in the Premier League, tying Manchester United 2-2 on Saturday when William Gallas scored during injury time after giving up an own goal.

Gallas' shot crossed the line before it was pushed out by Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, with the linesman awarding the goal.

Man United opened the scoring on Gallas' own goal during first-half injury time. Arsenal tied it in the 48th minute on a goal by Cesc Fabregas. Then, Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 83rd minute to give Man United a 2-1 lead.

Arsenal and Man United both have 27 points, but Arsenal has more goals and has played one less game. Chelsea is third with 24 points.

Tottenham drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough in the first league game under Spurs manager Juande Ramos. Chelsea downed Wigan 2-0, with Frank Lampard scoring in the 11th minute and Juliano Belletti in the 18th.

Fulham won only its second league match of the season, beating Reading 3-1 with Clint Dempsey scoring one goal and setting up another. Everton scored two goals in injury time to complete a 3-1 win over Birmingham, and Liverpool drew 0-0 with Blackburn.

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Brief reports from English Premier League games played on Saturday:

ARSENAL 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

William Gallas scores an injury-time equaliser as Arsenal twice came back to draw 2-2 in the top-of-the-table clash.

Gallas deflected a Wayne Rooney shot to give United the lead at the end of the first half but Cesc Fabregas equalised three minutes after the restart.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored what looked like being United's winner eight minutes from time only for Gallas to sidefoot home a volley with seconds remaining to preserve Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season. ----

ASTON VILLA 2 DERBY COUNTY 0

Bottom club Derby defended well and looked set for a point against an uninspired Villa until they blew it with five minutes of amateur defending.

First, Martin Laursen was left totally unmarked at a free kick to break the deadlock after 57 minutes before Ashley Young cashed in on more slack work to bag the second just after the hour.

----

BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 LIVERPOOL 0

Blackburn were on a run of seven successive wins while Liverpool were unbeaten in the league all season but two form teams could not produce a goal.

Blackburn hit the post and bar through David Bentley and David Dunn in the first half but Liverpool cranked up the pressure in the last 15 minutes.

Dirk Kuyt wasted three good opportunities, Brad Friedel twice saved well from Steven Gerrard and Bentley cleared off the line from Peter Crouch.

----

EVERTON 3 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1

A breathless finish allowed Everton to score twice in injury time after they looked to have thrown away a game they had controlled throughout.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni finished off a nice build-up for his first Goodison Park goal for his new club after 10 minutes but after missing a host of chances the hosts lost their way and were caught out when Olivier Kapo equalised for Birmingham 10 minutes from time.

Everton surged forward and Lee Carsley smashed them back ahead in injury time before James Vaughan added the third.

----

FULHAM 3 READING 1

A nice Simon Davies shot put the hosts ahead after 18 minutes but Reading, who had a Leroy Lita goal ruled out, poured forward in the second half and levelled with Kevin Doyle's fourth goal in four games 10 minutes into the second half.

Fulham restored the lead with a close-range 72nd-minute effort by Clinton Dempsey and a breakaway third by David Healy wrapped it up for the hosts in injury time.

----

MIDDLESBROUGH 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1

Two struggling teams looked more concerned with avoiding defeat than trying to win and the result was a tense encounter short on flair.

Tottenham went ahead with a goal for under-pressure, 16-million-pound ($33.32-million) striker Darren Bent after 35 minutes but Middlesbrough, who had lost their previous five games, equalised with a superb strike from former Spurs player Luke Young seven minutes into the second half.

----

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 PORTSMOUTH 4

Portsmouth, who had not won at St James' Park for 58 years, roared into a 3-0 lead after 11 minutes. Noe Pamarot put them ahead after eight minutes, Benjamin Mwaruwari neatly placed a second soon after and cool-finishing John Utaka got the third.

An 16th-minute own-goal by Sol Campbell briefly silenced the boos of home fans who expected better from a side who had won their last four home games. But Portsmouth struck again when Matthew Taylor deflected Niko Kranjcar's fizzing low free kick into his own net after 71 minutes.

----

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 CHELSEA 2

Chelsea started strongly then had enough quality to sit back and absorb a good second-half effort from the hosts and secure a seventh successive win in all competitions.

Shaun Wright-Phillips crossed for Frank Lampard, scorer of a hat-trick in midweek, to tuck home the opener after 11 minutes and Wright-Phillips was involved again to set up Juliano Belletti for the second after 18.

Playing on Sunday:

WEST HAM UNITED v BOLTON WANDERERS (1600 GMT)

Playing on Monday:

MANCHESTER CITY v SUNDERLAND (2000)

[abadani69]

Brief reports from English Premier League games played on Monday and over the weekend:

----

Played on Monday:

MANCHESTER CITY 1 SUNDERLAND 0

City made it seven home wins out of seven and returned to third in the table after overcoming a woeful first half to edge a struggling Sunderland side still without an away victory.

The only goal came in the 67th minute when Darius Vassell crossed for Stephen Ireland to crash in an excellent volley.

----

Played on Sunday:

WEST HAM UNITED 1 BOLTON WANDERERS 1

Kevin Nolan scored in injury time to grab a point for Bolton after West Ham had been the better side.

Full back George McCartney hooked in an acrobatic volley to put West Ham ahead after 19 minutes, his first goal in seven years of club football.

----

Played on Saturday:

ARSENAL 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

William Gallas grabbed an injury-time equaliser as Arsenal twice came back to draw the top-of-the-table clash.

Gallas deflected a Wayne Rooney shot to give United the lead at the end of the first half but Cesc Fabregas equalised three minutes after the restart.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored eight minutes from time only for Gallas to sidefoot home a volley with seconds remaining to preserve Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season.

----

ASTON VILLA 2 DERBY COUNTY 0

Bottom club Derby defended well and looked set for a point against an uninspired Villa until they blew it with five minutes of poor defending when Martin Laursen and Ashley Young cashed in.

----

BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 LIVERPOOL 0

Blackburn hit the post and bar through David Bentley and David Dunn in the first half but Liverpool cranked up the pressure in the last 15 minutes only for Dirk Kuyt to waste three good opportunities.

----

EVERTON 3 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1

A breathless finish allowed Everton to score twice in injury time after they looked to have thrown away a game they had controlled.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni got Everton's first after 10 minutes but the hosts lost their way and were caught out when Olivier Kapo equalised 10 minutes from time.

Lee Carsley smashed Everton back ahead in injury time before James Vaughan added the third.

----

FULHAM 3 READING 1

A Simon Davies volley put the hosts ahead after 18 minutes but Reading levelled with Kevin Doyle's fourth goal in as many games nine minutes into the second half.

Fulham restored the lead with a close-range 72nd-minute effort by Clint Dempsey before a breakaway third by David Healy wrapped it up.

----

MIDDLESBROUGH 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1

Two struggling teams looked more concerned with avoiding defeat than trying to win and the result was a tense encounter short on flair.

Tottenham went ahead with a goal by Darren Bent after 35 minutes. Middlesbrough, who had lost their previous five games, equalised with a cannonball strike from Luke Young seven minutes into the second half.

----

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 PORTSMOUTH 4

Portsmouth, who had not won at St James' Park for 58 years, roared into a 3-0 lead after 11 minutes.

Noe Pamarot put them ahead after eight minutes, Benjamin Mwaruwari neatly placed a second and cool-finishing John Utaka got the third.

A 16th-minute own goal by Sol Campbell briefly silenced the boos but Portsmouth struck again with Niko Kranjcar's low free kick after 71.

----

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 CHELSEA 2

Chelsea started strongly then had enough quality to sit back and absorb a good second-half effort from the hosts to secure a seventh successive win in all competitions.

Frank Lampard, scorer of a hat-trick in midweek, tucked home the opener after 11 minutes and Juliano Belletti ran 50 metres before planting the second after 18.

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Brief reports of Premier League matches played on Monday and over the weekend:

Played on Monday:

READING 1 ARSENAL 3

Arsenal cruised back to the top of the table, an easy 3-1 win extending their club record to 27 unbeaten matches dating back to April. Mathieu Flamini put Arsenal ahead on the stroke of halftime before Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexsandr Hleb netted in a one-sided second half. Reading scored a late consolation through Nicky Shorey.

- - - -

Played on Sunday:

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 ASTON VILLA 2

Villa celebrated their first away win in the league since April. England under-21 international Gabriel Agbonlahor grabbed the winner in the 87th minute after clearing a Liam Ridgewell header off the line at the other end two minutes earlier. Villa took the lead through a Ridgewell own goal in the 10th before Birmingham equalised in the 62nd through Mikael Forssell.

- - - -

CHELSEA 1 EVERTON 1

Chelsea took their unbeaten home run in the league to 69 matches but have now drawn six of their last nine league games at Stamford Bridge. Didier Drogba bagged his seventh goal of the season in the 72nd minute before Tim Cahill salvaged a point for Everton with an overhead kick in the 90th.

- - - -

BOLTON WANDERERS 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 0

Bolton came back down to earth after their 2-2 UEFA Cup draw at Bayern Munich in midweek. Manager Gary Megson has yet to see his struggling side win in five matches since taking over last month.

- - - -

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS 0

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in three minutes in the first half as United coasted home. Blackburn were down to 10 men from the 53rd minute when David Dunn was sent off for a second yellow card. Christopher Samba hit the bar for the visitors in the early minutes. It was Rovers's first away league defeat since March when they also lost to United.

- - - -

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

Midfielder Jermaine Jenas struck twice in the first half as Tottenham dealt Wigan a crushing blow in Frank Barlow's first match as caretaker manager. Aaron Lennon made it 3-0 with a long-range shot before the break and substitute Darren Bent got the fourth. Spurs manager Juande Ramos now has three wins and a draw from his first four matches in charge, although this was the club's first league win since August. - - - -

PORTSMOUTH 0 MANCHESTER CITY 0

Portsmouth, with five wins and two draws in their previous seven matches, and City had never before drawn in 37 league and cup meetings. Portsmouth substitute David Nugent came closest to breaking the deadlock late on when he hit the post.

- - - -

Played on Saturday:

DERBY COUNTY 0 WEST HAM UNITED 5

West Ham recorded their biggest win in the Premier League since December 2000. Lee Bowyer opened the scoring after 42 minutes before an effort by Matthew Etherington, an own goal from Eddie Lewis and a second from Bowyer in an eight-minute spell in the second half put the Hammers 4-0 up. Nolberto Solano added the fifth with a superb free-kick after 69. It was Derby's fifth match without a goal and they remained bottom.

- - - -

LIVERPOOL 2 FULHAM 0

Rafa Benitez had to wait until the last nine minutes for Liverpool to score in his 200th match in charge. The game turned when Benitez brought on Fernando Torres after 70 minutes. The Spaniard opened the scoring 11 minutes later and captain Steven Gerrard made it 2-0 with a penalty.

- - - -

SUNDERLAND 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1

The north-east derby ended with honours even after Sunderland took the lead on 52 minutes with a Danny Higginbotham header and Newcastle equalised 13 minutes later with a cross-cum-shot from James Milner. Sunderland, now without a league win for seven matches, had the better chances.

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" مايكل اوون " مهاجم تيم ملي فوتبال انگليس ، ديدار مقابل تيم كرواسي را از دست داد.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از وين ، اوون جمعه*شب در ديدار دوستانه تيم ملي فوتبال انگليس مقابل اتريش از ناحيه زانو دچار مصدوميت شد.

اين ديدار را تيم انگليس با يك گل به سود خود خاتمه داد.

مصدوميت اوون به حدي است كه اين بازيكن نمي*تواند روز چهارشنبه هفته جاري تيم انگليس را در ديدار مقابل تيم كرواسي در چارچوب مسابقات فوتبال مقدماتي جام ملت*هاي اروپا در سال ۲۰۰۸همراهي كند.

[abadani69]

Brief reports of Premier League matches played on Sunday:

FULHAM 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS 2

Fulham's bad habit of conceding late goals struck again as Stephen Warnock grabbed a point for Rovers with 10 minutes left.


After a forgettable first half Fulham edged in front with a Danny Murphy penalty six minutes after the break.

Brett Emerton replied for Rovers six minutes later only for Diomansy Kamara to restore Fulham's lead just past the hour. Warnock levelled after great work from Jason Roberts.

- - -

WEST HAM UNITED 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1

A feisty London derby ended all square after former West Ham player Jermain Defoe had a dubious stoppage time penalty saved by Robert Green.

Carlton Cole gave West Ham a halftime lead, tapping in a low cross from Nolberto Solano after Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul had given the ball away.

Tottenham equalised after 67 minutes when defender Michael Dawson glanced in Jermaine Jenas's free kick with Green floundering.

- - -

Played on Saturday:

ARSENAL 2 WIGAN ATHLETIC 0

Leaders Arsenal were expected to demolish a Wigan side on a seven-match losing streak in the league but things did not go to plan as they endured a frustrating afternoon.

William Gallas eventually broke the deadlock after 83 minutes with a header from a Bakary Sagna cross and Tomas Rosicky struck a second two minutes later after good work from substitute Nicklas Bendtner.

- - -

BIRMINGHAM CITY 0 PORTSMOUTH 2

City keeper Richard Kingson's Premier League debut turned sour when he allowed a weak shot from Sulley Muntari to creep into the net after 34 minutes.

Croatia's Niko Kranjcar, who began England's misery at Wembley on Wednesday, sealed a fifth away league win for Pompey with a superb shot eight minutes from time.

Manager-less Birmingham have lost six of their last seven matches in the league.

- - -

BOLTON WANDERERS 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 0

Bolton moved out of the relegation zone with the shock result of the day to dent United's title hopes.

The hosts began well and took the lead after 11 minutes when Ivan Campo's free kick found Nicolas Anelka who turned sharply to fire his seventh league goal of the season.

Champions United, unbeaten in the league since August, had plenty of the ball but Carlos Tevez sliced their best chance wide after the break.

- - -

DERBY COUNTY 0 CHELSEA 2

Chelsea remain in fourth place after a comfortable victory at seemingly doomed Derby. Salomon Kalou opened the scoring from a Steve Sidwell pass and Shaun-Wright Phillips added a second after Frank Lampard's effort came back off the post.

Chelsea's victory was marred by a late red card for Michael Essien after he appeared to catch Kenny Miller with his arm.

Chelsea are unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions.

- - -

EVERTON 7 SUNDERLAND 1

Sunderland never looked like improving their dismal away form as they were ripped apart at Goodison Park.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Tim Cahill both scored twice for the home side who were 3-1 up at the break.

Steven Pienaar, Andy Johnson and Leon Osman were also on target for Everton with Dwight Yorke providing the only relief for Sunderland as they slipped into the bottom three.

- - -

MANCHESTER CITY 2 READING 1

The best home record met one of the worst away records but City did not have it all their own way.

It looked plain sailing as they took the lead early on when Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov fired home in a goalmouth melee but Reading stung them with an equaliser before the break through James Harper.

Stephen Ireland made it eight wins out of eight for City with a spectacular stoppage-time winner.

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MIDDLESBROUGH 0 ASTON VILLA 3

Villa won for the fifth time in their last six visits to the Riverside as goal-shy Boro's relegation fears increased.

John Carew gave Villa the lead just before halftime and Olof Mellberg pounced early in the second half after Boro defender Lee Cattermole sliced a clearance.

Gabriel Agbonlahor completed the rout as Villa claimed a third consecutive league victory.

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NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 LIVERPOOL 3

Liverpool are still unbeaten in the Premier League this season after crushing a woeful Newcastle side who have conceded seven goals in their last two home matches.

Steven Gerrard was majestic for the Reds despite being booed by the home fans, scoring with a thunderous 28th minute shot from 30 metres.

Dirk Kuyt touched in Liverpool's second moments after the break when a Gerrard corner was flicked on and Ryan Babel sealed the points, slotting past Shay Given after a superb one-two with Gerrard.

[abadani69]

سخنگوي ليگ برتر فوتبال انگليس به "ميشل پلاتيني" رييس اتحاديه فوتبال اروپا (يوفا) و ستاره اسبق تيم يونتوس گفت كه "سرش به كار خودش" باشد.

به گزارش خبرگزاري فرانسه از لندن، پلاتيني فرانسوي كه اوايل سال جاري رياست يوفا را بر عهده گرفت چندي پيش اظهار نظر كرده بود كه به اندازه كافي در ليگ برتر انگليس بازيكنان و مربي از اين كشور حضور ندارند.

وي در مورد تلاش*ها براي يافتن جانشيني براي "استيو مكلارن" به عنوان سرمربي جديد تيم ملي انگليس گفت: انگليس اينقدر كشور قدرتمندي است كه بايد يك مربي انگليسي انتخاب كند. من به فوتبال و مسابقات و هواداران آنها علاقه دارم اما اين حقيقت را كه درها به روي بازيكنان خارجي خيلي باز است، دوست ندارم.

رييس يوفا افزود: اكنون در آرسنال يك مربي و بازيكن انگليسي وجود ندارد. شايد به زودي ديگر حتي يك رييس انگليسي هم نداشته باشد.

اين در حاليست كه تيم ملي فوتبال انگليس چندي پيش از صعود به مسابقات يورو ۲۰۰۸باز ماند.

با وجود اين "دن جانسون" سخنگوي ليگ برتر اظهار داشت، اشتباهات كمي در ساختار اين ليگ وجود دارد و از بازيكن سه دوره اروپا خواست كه در كارهاي آنها دخالت نكند.

وي گفت: او واقعا بايد سرش به كار خودش باشد. يوفا بايد حواسش به جام قهرمانان باشگاه*هاي اروپا، جام يوفا و مسابقات جام ملت*هاي اروپا باشد. ما ليگ برتر انگليس را به نفع فوتبال اين كشور اداره مي*كنيم و موفقيم. اين كار ماست و ربطي به پلاتيني ندارد.

جانسون افزود: فكر مي*كنم حضور خارجي*ها در ليگ برتر آن را به بالاترين سطح برده است. ما بهترين*هاي جهان را جذب مي*كنيم. اين به نفع بازيكنان انگليسي است كه در كنار بهترين*هاي جهان بازي كنند. آيا بيشتر از اين مي*خواهيد؟ ما بازيكناني را مي*خواهيم كه مي*توانند با بهترين*هاي جهان رقابت كنند.

[abadani69]

Brief reports of English Premier League matches:

Played on Monday:

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 FULHAM 0


Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals to lift United to second, his opener a 10th-minute volley into the top far corner from Nemanja Vidic's header.

The Portugal winger struck again 13 minutes into the second half, rising above defender Dejan Stefanovic to head substitute John O'Shea's cross past keeper Antti Niemi for his 13th goal of the season and eighth in the league.

United missed a string of chances, especially in the first half when Argentine forward Carlos Tevez could have had a hat-trick but for Niemi's heroics.

- - - -

Played on Sunday:

LIVERPOOL 4 BOLTON WANDERERS 0

Liverpool cruised past a Bolton side who beat Manchester United last week, with Steven Gerrard involved in all four goals.

Sami Hyypia and Fernando Torres in the first half -- either side of a horrible miss by Bolton's Nicolas Anelka -- put Liverpool in charge. Gerrard got the third with a penalty before Ryan Babel finished off another big win that took his side third.

- - - -

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 3

A great start for new manager Alex McLeish as Sebastian Larsson lashed in a 30-metre winner in injury time.

Gary McSheffrey had Birmingham ahead at halftime with a penalty but two goals in five minutes, the first from the spot, by Robbie Keane seemed to have turned things round.

Birmingham levelled though through Cameron Jerome and after Keane was sent off in the 67th minute Larsson weighed in with his marvellous winner. - - - -

Played on Saturday:

ASTON VILLA 1 ARSENAL 2

Craig Gardner scored with a neat half-volley to put the home side in front in the 14th minute but Villa's joy was short-lived. Nine minutes later Mathieu Flamini drilled home a low, left-footed shot from 20 metres.

A typically swift passing move and cross by full back Bacary Sagna ended with Emmanuel Adebayor rising to head home Arsenal's second in the 36th minute. John Carew's header hit the bar in the 62nd minute for Villa, who dominated the second half but failed to break through.

- - - -

BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1

Blackburn went behind to an Obafemi Martins goal shortly after halftime but a David Bentley double, in the 54th and 67th minutes, put Mark Hughes's battling side in front and Tugay Kerimoglu compounded United's misery with a goal in injury time.

- - - -

CHELSEA 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0

Former West Ham midfielder Joe Cole scored in the 76th minute after being put through by Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou to break the deadlock in a bad-tempered match during which referee Howard Webb issued eight yellow cards.

- - - -

PORTSMOUTH 0 EVERTON 0

Portsmouth had more chances but Everton, who named the same side that thrashed Sunderland 7-1 last week, kept them out in a rain-hit game. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard saved two freekick chances from Sulley Muntari while Leon Osman had Everton's best opportunity in the second half but failed to control the ball with only keeper David James to beat.

- - - -

READING 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1

Turkey striker Tuncay Sanli scored a late equaliser for Middlesbrough, heading home a cross from Luke Young but Gareth Southgate's side still dropped into the relegation zone. Dave Kitson had put Reading in front after 54 minutes with a lob over goalkeeper Ross Turnbull early in the second half.

- - - -

SUNDERLAND 1 DERBY COUNTY 0

Heartbreak for bottom club Derby and their new coach Paul Jewell after Sunderland substitute Anthony Stokes scored in stoppage time on the rebound from his own header saved by goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

- - - -

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 MANCHESTER CITY 1

New manager Steve Bruce's Wigan pulled off a fine result after a string of defeats with a draw against high-flying City.

Geovanni put City ahead in the first minute after a Titus Bramble blunder but Wigan equalised with a Paul Scharner header in the 25th minute. Wigan captain Mario Melchiot was dismissed for a two-footed tackle on Stephen Ireland two minutes from time.

[abadani69]

Newcastle United defender Stephen Taylor equalised on the hour to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Premier League leaders Arsenal at St James' Park on Wednesday.

The result put the unbeaten north London side four points clear of second-placed Manchester United with 37 points from 15 matches.

Arsenal took the lead after four minutes when midfielder Emmanuel Eboue crossed from the right and striker Emmanuel Adebayor controlled the ball with his chest before volleying superbly into the roof of the net for his ninth league goal. Taylor equalised with a low shot that went in off the base of the post after Newcastle right back Habib Beye's cross was nodded on by Alan Smith.

It was only Newcastle's second point in six matches but the performance will have won over fans critical of manager Sam Allardyce's struggling side in recent weeks.

"After what the last few results have brought, I'm relieved...it does take the pressure off. We'd lost our last two home games poorly," Allardyce told Sky Sports.

"We can only go forward now with that commitment...playing with passion and that crowd behind us," said man-of-the-match Smith.

A minute after Adebayor's goal, Newcastle captain Geremi skimmed the post at the other end with a header from James Milner's left cross.

Adebayor raced clear on the left in an Arsenal break in the 17th minute but goalkeeper Shay Given blocked his effort at the near post.

Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia had to make a couple of good saves to keep his team ahead at the interval, first when a Geremi free kick came through a gap in the wall then from Taylor's header at a corner.

With 10 minutes to go, Given saved from Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky who ghosted through unmarked on the left for a shot aimed at the far post.

Adebayor broke away in injury time with right back Habib Beye chasing on his left shoulder. Both went down in the box but the referee waved play on.

[abadani69]

Brief reports of the weekend's matches in the English Premier League:

Played on Sunday

BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0

Dean Ashton came on as a halftime substitute to earn West Ham's fourth away win of the season, tucking in a low cross from George McCartney after 52 minutes.

Blackburn tried everything to get level but Roque Santa Cruz shot over when through in the second half while Tugay Kerimoglu's late volley was spectacularly saved by West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.

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BOLTON WANDERERS 4 WIGAN ATHLETIC 1

Bolton's recovery under Gary Megson continued while things remain dire for second-to-last Wigan.

A Paul Scharner own goal in the third minute put Bolton ahead, Denny Landzaat equalising in the 14th.

Kevin Nolan restored Bolton's lead before halftime with Kevin Davies and Nicolas Anelka, who earlier blazed a penalty over the bar, on target after the break.

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MIDDLESBROUGH 2 ARSENAL 1

Arsenal lost in the league for the first time this season to end the weekend just one point ahead of Manchester United.

A fourth-minute penalty by Stewart Downing and a 73rd-minute strike by Tuncay Sanli were fair reward for Middlesbrough's dominance and ended their dire run of 11 games without a win in all competitions.

Arsenal were below their best all day and managed only an injury-time consolation by Tomas Rosicky.

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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 MANCHESTER CITY 1

City, so dominant at home, failed on the road again as Jermain Defoe came off the bench to win it for Spurs eight minutes from time.

Tottenham went ahead at the end of the first half through a clearly offside Pascal Chimbonda following a harshly awarded freekick, before City sub Rolando Bianchi crashed in a header from a corner after an hour.

City had Stephen Ireland sent off for a bad challenge seconds before Defoe's winner.

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Played on Saturday

ASTON VILLA 1 PORTSMOUTH 3

Two superb goals from Sulley Muntari and an early own goal by Craig Gardner meant Portsmouth extended their unbeaten league run to 11 matches.

Pompey, who had not won at Villa Park for nearly 38 years, were 3-0 up after 61 minutes before Gareth Barry pulled one back with a 72nd-minute penalty.

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CHELSEA 2 SUNDERLAND 0

Andriy Shevchenko put Chelsea ahead after 23 minutes when he headed home a Salomon Kalou cross.

Chelsea sealed victory when Frank Lampard scored from the penalty spot after Danny Higginbotham pulled at Alex's shirt in the penalty area. Sunderland's Liam Miller was sent off in the closing stages for pushing Claudio Pizarro in the face.

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EVERTON 3 FULHAM 0

A second-half hat-trick from Yakubu Ayegbeni gave Everton three points with victory over a Fulham side who have now won just twice in 46 away league matches.

Yakubu scored after 51, 61 and 79 minutes as Everton made it 10 games unbeaten.

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MANCHESTER UNITED 4 DERBY COUNTY 1

Ryan Giggs scored his 100th league goal for United after 40 minutes, tapping in after goalkeeper Stephen Bywater parried a Cristiano Ronaldo shot. Carlos Tevez added a second just before halftime and the third after 60 minutes.

Derby scored their first away goal of the season through Steve Howard in the 76th minute before Ronaldo made it 4-1 with a last-minute penalty.

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NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1

A late goal from defender Habib Beye gave Newcastle their first win since Oct. 22 after Cameron Jerome had put Birmingham ahead after nine minutes.

Obafemi Martins levelled from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the area by Matt Sadler.

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READING 3 LIVERPOOL 1

Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season was ended by a bright Reading side.

Reading took the lead with a controversial penalty after 17 minutes, awarded even though Jamie Carragher's foul on Ivar Ingimarsson was outside the box.

Stephen Hunt converted and though Steven Gerrard equalised 11 minutes later, goals from Kevin Doyle and James Harper gave Reading all three points.