Results update 2007

[johntheclaret]

Saturday's round up

b4st4rds 1 - 1 Man U
Carlos Tevez came to Manchester United's rescue at Blackburn by heading home an 88th minute equaliser.
Rovers had taken the lead on 21 minutes when Roque Santa Cruz slotted home after United had failed to clear a throw-in.
Brad Friedel was in excellent form for Blackburn and could do nothing about Tevez's close-range header which keeps United in pole position for back-to-back titles.

Boro 0 - 1 Bolton
Bolton's hopes of avoiding the drop are very much alive as McCann's 61st minute strike was enough for them to overcome Middlesbrough in the North East.
Boro switched off defensively at a Trotters corner, allowing Gary Cahill to head goalwards from four yards out, and although Ross Turnbull made a superb save, former Aston Villa midfielder McCann was on hand to force the ball home from virtually on the line.
Megson's men were also indebted to an impressive display from goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who produced some important saves as Boro carved out a number of early chances for Afonso Alves and Tuncay Sanli.

Fulham 0 - 2 Liverpool
Liverpool fans have probably had more than enough of American input this week, after co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett's unseemly public spat intensified.
But they had US goalkeeper Kasey Keller to thank as his two blunders helped them claim all three points against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The Reds went in front in the 17th minute when Pennant was released by Lucas Leiva, and he drove a shot towards the near post which Keller inexplicably left as it flew into the top corner
Pennant then turned provider after the break as he played the ball to Crouch on the edge of the area and the England forward drilled a shot through Keller, who should have done better again.

Arsenal 2 - 0 Reading
Adebayor and Gilberto struck for Arsenal as they cruised to victory against struggling Reading, who have lost three of their last four and not scored in that run.
Adebayor broke the deadlock in the 30th minute with a cool finish under Marcus Hahnemann after Theo Walcott and Kolo Toure had combined to create the opening.
Gilberto made it 2-0 from outside the area eight minutes later with the help of a wicked deflection off the head of Andre Bikey, with Robin van Persie and Walcott hitting the woodwork after the break.

Wigan 1 - 1 Tottenham
Steve Bruce has guided Wigan to the brink of Premier League safety as they claimed another important point with a 1-1 home draw against Tottenham.
The visitors went ahead in just the sixth minute when Aaron Lennon broke down the right and crossed to the far post, where Berbatov was on hand to volley home from close range.
But the Latics levelled soon after when Marcus Bent and Kevin Kilbane combined to find Heskey in the area, and the England striker was allowed time to turn by Didier Zokora and drill a low shot beyond Radek Cerny.

West Ham 2 - 1 Derby
Derby look on course to finish the season with a record low Premier League points tally as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
The dismal defending which has been their downfall throughout a miserable campaign was in evidence again as Dean Leacock's flimsy attempt at a challenge allowed Bobby Zamora to head home George McCartney's free-kick in the 20th minute.
Former Hammer Tyrone Mears levelled for the visitors after the break as he got onto the end of an impressive breakaway to outpace Freddie Ljungberg and fire beyond Robert Green.
But Ljungberg then played a neat one-two with Mark Noble before crossing for Carlton Cole to slot home the winner from close range 13 minutes from time.

[johntheclaret]

2 goals in two minutes for City have blown this apart. disaster for Pompey.

Comedy goals, both of them. Especially 1st one as James comes out of his box and loses the ball.

[johntheclaret]

Another comedy goal at Maine Rd. Utaka this time for Pompey after 25 mins.

Sorry City of Manchester Stadium, Eastlands

[smithy]

2 goals in two minutes for City have blown this apart. disaster for Pompey.

Comedy goals, both of them. Especially 1st one as James comes out of his box and loses the ball.

10 years after admitting that he spends to much time on the playstation, Calamity has obviously bought an X-BOX.....

[johntheclaret]

Are you watching this smiffy.

Heirieiderresssonnsnn sent off for Pompey, for foul on the last man.

[smithy]

The Mrs has taken the FOX card inside, so I'm relying on BBC updates.

I had $20 @ $1.82 on a Newcastle win and thought I might put $10 @$3.20 on a draw for this game but 2-1 down with only 10 men I dont like my chances from here.

Sounds like a comedy more than anything at Man City..........who I might point out ARE in the boundaries of the MANCHESTER unlike their little sisters down the road

[johntheclaret]

Definitely all over now. Benjani gets City's 3rd.

Great respect from Benjani towarss the Pompey fans, as he doesn't celebrate his goal against his former club.

[johntheclaret]

Final score

Man C 3 - 1 Pompey

[Bully]

good to see blackburn held man united on weekend... man u lucky to get anything. also just left the door open for chelsea and maybe arsenal ( theres always hope ). i will be rooting for chelsea this weekend! first time i think i have ever done that

[johntheclaret]

good to see blackburn held man united on weekend... man u lucky to get anything. also just left the door open for chelsea and maybe arsenal ( theres always hope ). i will be rooting for chelsea this weekend! first time i think i have ever done that

boo you and your spelling leaves a lot to be desired. It should read b4st4rds held man united on the weekend

[RoosterMarty]

good to see blackburn held man united on weekend... man u lucky to get anything. also just left the door open for chelsea and maybe arsenal ( theres always hope ). i will be rooting for chelsea this weekend! first time i think i have ever done that

Arsenal have no chance after Man Utd knocked you off the other week. Doughnuts for you this year.

[Bully]

good to see blackburn held man united on weekend... man u lucky to get anything. also just left the door open for chelsea and maybe arsenal ( theres always hope ). i will be rooting for chelsea this weekend! first time i think i have ever done that

Arsenal have no chance after Man Utd knocked you off the other week. Doughnuts for you this year.

both arsenal and man united ( correct me if im wrong ) have played 35 games. your team is on 81 points with 3 games to play. arsenal is on 74 points with 3 games to play. 7 point difference there champ. 3 games = 9 points. still a chance

[RoosterMarty]

Yes but you are also chasing Chelsea as well, you need both United and Chelsea to slip up which won't happen.

[Dirko]

[JK]

What RM and Jabber said

[johntheclaret]

Yes but you are also chasing Chelsea as well, you need both United and Chelsea to slip up which won't happen.

And considering Chelski are playing Man U this week, one or both are going to gain points.

[mighty_tiger_79]

im expecting Brum to at least draw if not beat liverpool tonight

[smithy]

im expecting Brum to at least draw if not beat liverpool tonight

It's the only game of the round not televised as well !

[mighty_tiger_79]

im expecting Brum to at least draw if not beat liverpool tonight

It's the only game of the round not televised as well !

thats what the BBC website and sportsworld five live is for!!!!!!!!!

[johntheclaret]

Chelski 2 - 1 Man U
All eyes were transfixed on the day's early kick-off and the game did not disappoint as Chelsea and Manchester United served up a magnificent clash in West London.
The home side set off like a steam train as they attempted to derail United's title tilt but they struggled to find a breakthrough, as Joe Cole's snapshot cannoned off the post.
Earlier in the first half Nemanja Vidic had to be replaced after suffering a bloody mouth and heavy head after accidentally colliding with Didier Drogba's knee.
The impressive Ballack opened the scoring just before the break when he ghosted in unmarked to plant Drogba's cross beyond Edwin van der Sar.
United improved after the interval and equalised on 56 minutes when Rooney capitalised on a rare Ricardo Carvalho error to fire past Petr Cech.
With United supporters jubilant Ballack silenced the travelling faithful for a second time when with four minutes remaining he confidently dispatched from the penalty spot, after Michael Essien's cross was handled by Michael Carrick.

Man C 2 - 3 Fulham
Manchester City missed the chance to pick up a third successive win as they fell to 3-2 defeat against a doomed-looking Fulham side.
Stephen Ireland had the Eastlands masses saluting in admiration when he beat Fulham goalkeeper Kasey Keller with a sumptuous curler from the edge of the area, after Martin Petrov had back-heeled the ball into his path in the tenth minute.
Their second goal owed more than a little to the ineptitude of Fulham's defending as Darius Vassell exposed a criminally square back four, before pulling back to Benjani Mwaruwari - who had ghosted past three white shirts to register.
Fulham gave themselves a chance of stealing an unlikely point when Diomansy Kamara clipped through the legs of Joe Hart after out-smarting Vedran Corluka with 20 minutes left on the clock.
With 11 minutes remaining, to the bemusement of the majority inside the City of Manchester Stadium, Sun Jihai was adjudged to have felled Erik Nevland in the box. Danny Murphy's spot-kick was meek and saved by Hart - but the Fulham schemer was first to the rebound to grab his side a leveller.
And Murphy's afternoon got even better as his slide-rule pass played in Kamara in stoppage-time, and the striker made no mistake with a thumping finish.

Birmingham 2 - 2 Liverpool
Birmingham's bid to beat the drop could well depend on two points dropped from their clash with Liverpool at St Andrews.
A Liverpool side deplete of several of their top names was exposed in the 34th minute when James McFadden's right-wing delivery was expertly controlled by Mikael Forssell, before an unnerving finish beat Jose Reina.
It got even better for Alex McLeish in the second period when Sebastian Larsson's majestic 55th minute free-kick gave them a comfortable lead.
Crouch made for a nervous finish with his 11th of the campaign, after bright interplay from Jermaine Pennant, Yossi Benayoun and Andriy Voronin played in the front-man.
And with Birmingham firmly on the back foot, luck deserted them as Benayoun's header took a cruel deflection off Radhi Jaidi to nestle in the corner.

Sunderland 3 - 2 Middlesborough
Sunderland boss Roy Keane deserves praise for 'substitution of the day' as Murphy needed just the final five minutes to claim the winner in a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough.
A lively affair in the North East saw Middlesbrough enjoy the perfect start as Tuncay Sanli exposed some poor Sunderland defending to rifle Afonso Alves' looped pass across Craig Gordon.
Sunderland's response was almost immediate though, as they found themselves level by the sixth minute as Danny Higginbotham rooted his feet before beating Bradley Jones with a thumping header.
In first-half stoppage-time Michael Chopra had the home crowd off their feet when his industry down the right won him a little space, before he stepped inside a lethargic David Wheater before lashing in via the post with a rasping angled drive.
Boro dragged themselves level when with 17 minutes remaining Julio Arca's deflected drive ricocheted into the path of Alves, who just about beat Gordon and a retreating defender with a finish that rolled agonisingly over the line.
It was, though, to be an afternoon to forget for Boro as Murphy struck in the game's dying embers.

Tottenham 1 - 1 Bolton
Steed Malbranque won Tottenham a point when his close-range finish from Robbie Keane's deflected shot secured a 1-1 draw with Bolton.
Following what was a first half of precious few opportunities, Bolton substitute Stelios Giannakopulos converted with his first touch after Tottenham goalkeeper Radek Cerny had failed to deal with Gretar Steinsson's low delivery.

West Ham 2 - 2 Newcastle
West Ham supporters have accused Alan Curbishley of serving up some conservative football this season but there were few complaints about the opening 23 minutes as they raced into a two-goal lead against Newcastle.
East End darling Mark Noble grabbed the first when he arrived from deep to convert past Steve Harper, with a sweeping connection from George McCartney's left-wing delivery.
It got worse for Newcastle when from Bobby Zamora's towering flick, Dean Ashton rolled his too-tight marker to angle home his ninth of the season.
Newcastle under Kevin Keegan are a different proposition of late though and dug deep to draw level by the break. Joey Barton's pass into the path of Obafemi Martins deserved a fine finish and the Nigerian provided just that as he flicked the ball beyond Robert Green.
With the away side in the ascendancy, Geremi struck in first-half stoppage-time as he stooped to divert Martins' mishit shot that had bounced into his path.

Wigan 0 - 0 Reading
In the day's one dud game, Wigan and Reading played out an instantly forgettable 0-0 draw that will perhaps please Steve Bruce more than his namesake Coppell.