by johntheclaret » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:49 am
Sat 17th Jan
Results
Blackburn 3 Newcastle 0
Bolton 0 Man Utd 1
Chelsea 2 Stoke 1
Man City 1 Wigan 0
Sunderland 1 Aston Villa 2
West Brom 3 Middlesbrough 0
Hull City 1 Arsenal 3
Round UP
Reigning champions United produced another late show as Dimitar Berbatov's last-minute header secured a 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers.
Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen twice denied Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half, and again from a free-kick in the second as United struggled to create any clear-cut openings.
The hosts could have snatched a goal when Kevin Davies diverted Fabrice Muamba's volley off target as United continued to push men forward.
In the final minute, United finally broke Bolton's resistance as the ball broke kindly for Carlos Tevez to run into the box and he picked out the unmarked Berbatov, who stooped to head beyond Jaaskelainen.
Frank Lampard marked his 400th appearance for Chelsea with an injury-time goal which secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over battling Stoke City.
Stoke silenced Stamford Bridge with an hour on the clock as debutant James Beattie slipped in Rory Delap, who held off two Chelsea defenders before lifting his shot over Petr Cech.
With two minutes to go, Chelsea conjured up an equaliser as Franco Di Santo headed a cross back across goal where fellow substitute Juliano Belletti was waiting unmarked to head inside the post.
And deep into stoppage-time, the ball broke to Lampard on the edge of the box and his left-footed effort took a slight nick off Michael Ballack on its way into the net.
Lampard's goal denied Aston Villa third spot in the table after Martin O'Neill's men came from behind to win 2-1 at Sunderland with 10 men.
Sunderland were in front on 11 minutes when Carlos Edwards angled a free-kick towards the six-yard box and Danny Collins rose well to head past Brad Friedel.
Villa levelled in dubious circumstances on the hour mark when Ashley Young rolled a pass across the face of goal and James Milner appeared to use his arm to slide the ball over the line.
But Young blotted his copybook on 72 minutes when the Villa winger was sent off following a reckless challenge on Sunderland midfielder Dean Whitehead.
Yet Villa grabbed the winner 10 minutes from time when the returning Paul McShane's high boot caught Gabriel Agbonlahor just inside the box and Gareth Barry hammered the penalty into the roof of the net.
In the evening kick-off, Arsenal exacted revenge for a home defeat by Hull City earlier in the season with a 3-1 win at the KC Stadium.
Arsenal took the lead on the half-hour mark when Emmanuel Adebayor headed home a corner from Robin van Persie, who had earlier struck the crossbar with a free-kick.
The Tigers drew level on 65 minutes when Daniel Cousin stole in at the near post to head home Bernard Mendy's deflected cross.
But Arsenal responded to regain the lead on 82 minutes after Van Persie slipped in Samir Nasri for a composed finish.
And Van Persie had a hand in the third goal four minutes later as he was involved in a one-two with Nicklas Bendtner, who swept home from close range.
Blackburn boss Allardyce enjoyed his first game against Newcastle since being sacked as Magpies boss as Rovers won 3-0 at Ewood Park.
Newcastle keeper Shay Given produced a magnificent save to push Benni McCarthy's free-kick on to the post early in the second half, but he could do nothing about the opener on 61 minutes.
Magpies full-back David Edgar was harshly adjudged to have fouled McCarthy at the far post and the South African stepped up to smash the penalty past Given.
Route one football delivered Blackburn's second goal five minutes later as keeper Paul Robinson's long free-kick bounced into the path of Jason Roberts and he steered his shot beyond Given.
With seven minutes to go, Newcastle were reduced to 10 men when Nicky Butt was shown a second yellow card following a challenge on David Dunn.
Rovers rubbed salt into the wounds on 86 minutes after breaking forward and Morten Gamst Pedersen dinked a cross to the far post where Roberts was waiting to score his second of the game.
Tony Mowbray completed a double over his former club Middlesbrough as West Brom recorded a contentious 3-0 win at the Hawthorns.
There was an element of controversy attached to West Brom's opening goal after just four minutes with Chris Brunt in an offside position when the ball was played into the box.
Tony McMahon's headed clearance then dropped to Brunt on the far side of the box and the winger's shot deflected off the Boro full-back and beyond Ross Turnbull.
Boro almost drew level minutes later when West Brom keeper Scott Carson pushed Stewart Downing's free-kick on to the bar and Afonso Alves then headed the rebound against the woodwork.
The Baggies increased their lead on 54 minutes when Robert Koren fed a ball into the feet of Marc-Antoine Fortune and the midfielder's shot from the return pass took a decisive deflection off the loan signing from Nancy.
The visitors' task was made even more difficult on 62 minutes when Didier Digard was sent off for showing his studs in a challenge on Borja Valero.
Things continued to go from bad to worse for Boro as West Brom grabbed a third goal on 67 minutes as Brunt played a delightful ball behind the defence for Koren to clip past Turnbull.
Manchester City showed a resilience that has often been lacking this season to hold on for a 1-0 home win over Wigan.
City made the breakthrough on 53 minutes when Pablo Zabaleta flashed home a crisp volley from 20 yards after Wigan only partially cleared a cross into the box.
Yet within a minute City were down to 10 men when Richard Dunne was sent off for kicking out at Amr Zaki after the duo had jostled for a high ball.
Zaki missed Wigan's best chance of an equaliser as City picked up an important three points in their battle to move clear of the relegation zone.
