Premier League round-up - Saturday's matches
Manchester United 4-1 Middlesbrough
United’s Nani netted a wonder goal, Wayne Rooney capitalised on a Stuart Downing mistake and Carlos Tevez rounded off a great team goal, before adding another. In reply, Jeremie Aliadiere scored his first goal for Middlesbrough.
Sir Alex Ferguson said: “The team has come together well. With players like Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Nani you are going to get goals because they are good players with good ideas and good imagination.”
Birmingham 3-2 Wigan
Wigan’s Marcus Bent scored twice, but Olivier Kapo’s penalty and skipper Liam Ridgewell’s first goal for Birmingham levelled the game. Kapo scored the winner with only nine minutes left.
Birmingham manger Steve Bruce was delighted by his team’s fighting spirit. “We made a horrible mistake for the first goal and a worse one for the second, but all you can ask for is a bit of attitude to get back in the game and I couldn’t ask for any more – they came storming back,” Bruce said.
Chelsea 6-0 Manchester City
A Didier Drogba brace and goals from Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou, Andriy Shevchenko and Joe Cole – his first in the Premier League for 17 months – accounted for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s City.
“I am more than happy,” exclaimed Chelsea’s Avram Grant. “We are starting to play the football we want to play. We started it against Valencia and we are improving with every game. It is easier when you have players with good attitudes.”
Reading 2-1 Newcastle
Dave Kitson’s well-taken goal after the interval was equalised when Michael Duberry netted an own goal from Emre’s free-kick before substitute Shane Long scored the winner with his first touch.
Steve Coppell said of the inspired substitute: “I was just the luck of the game and at that stage I thought we had done enough to be in front. It was a good finish – for him to finish so it calmly as soon as he came on was great.”
Sunderland 1-1 Fulham
Steven Davies’ 32st minute free-kick was too good for Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goalmouth. Kenwyne Jones’ header equalised the game with four minutes left, when Sunderland were down to ten men.
“We were disappointing in the first half – I was glad to get them in at half-time,” said Sunderland manager Roy Keane. “When we down to ten men we thought we would have to have a go at them. We were unfortunate not to win the game in the last few minutes.”
“Dominating games away from home and getting undone at the last minute is a bit worrying,” conceded Lawrie Sanchez. “We are bitterly disappointed to come to Sunderland and leave with one point.”
Portsmouth 0-0 West Ham United
Nolberto Solano failed to convert a golden second-half chance, as West Ham had to settle for a point at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth started well, with Robert Green having to tip over Niko Kranjcar’s eighth minute shot. But Alan Curbishley changed things for West Ham at half-time, replacing Craig Bellamy with Matthew Etherington.
The Hammers immediately created more chances, and Carlton Cole’s shot hit bar in the 65th minute, rebounding to Solano. With the goal gaping wide the Peruvian could only head wide.
Manchester United 4-1 Middlesbrough
United’s Nani netted a wonder goal, Wayne Rooney capitalised on a Stuart Downing mistake and Carlos Tevez rounded off a great team goal, before adding another. In reply, Jeremie Aliadiere scored his first goal for Middlesbrough.
Sir Alex Ferguson said: “The team has come together well. With players like Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Nani you are going to get goals because they are good players with good ideas and good imagination.”
Birmingham 3-2 Wigan
Wigan’s Marcus Bent scored twice, but Olivier Kapo’s penalty and skipper Liam Ridgewell’s first goal for Birmingham levelled the game. Kapo scored the winner with only nine minutes left.
Birmingham manger Steve Bruce was delighted by his team’s fighting spirit. “We made a horrible mistake for the first goal and a worse one for the second, but all you can ask for is a bit of attitude to get back in the game and I couldn’t ask for any more – they came storming back,” Bruce said.
Chelsea 6-0 Manchester City
A Didier Drogba brace and goals from Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou, Andriy Shevchenko and Joe Cole – his first in the Premier League for 17 months – accounted for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s City.
“I am more than happy,” exclaimed Chelsea’s Avram Grant. “We are starting to play the football we want to play. We started it against Valencia and we are improving with every game. It is easier when you have players with good attitudes.”
Reading 2-1 Newcastle
Dave Kitson’s well-taken goal after the interval was equalised when Michael Duberry netted an own goal from Emre’s free-kick before substitute Shane Long scored the winner with his first touch.
Steve Coppell said of the inspired substitute: “I was just the luck of the game and at that stage I thought we had done enough to be in front. It was a good finish – for him to finish so it calmly as soon as he came on was great.”
Sunderland 1-1 Fulham
Steven Davies’ 32st minute free-kick was too good for Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goalmouth. Kenwyne Jones’ header equalised the game with four minutes left, when Sunderland were down to ten men.
“We were disappointing in the first half – I was glad to get them in at half-time,” said Sunderland manager Roy Keane. “When we down to ten men we thought we would have to have a go at them. We were unfortunate not to win the game in the last few minutes.”
“Dominating games away from home and getting undone at the last minute is a bit worrying,” conceded Lawrie Sanchez. “We are bitterly disappointed to come to Sunderland and leave with one point.”
Portsmouth 0-0 West Ham United
Nolberto Solano failed to convert a golden second-half chance, as West Ham had to settle for a point at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth started well, with Robert Green having to tip over Niko Kranjcar’s eighth minute shot. But Alan Curbishley changed things for West Ham at half-time, replacing Craig Bellamy with Matthew Etherington.
The Hammers immediately created more chances, and Carlton Cole’s shot hit bar in the 65th minute, rebounding to Solano. With the goal gaping wide the Peruvian could only head wide.
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