Kevin McDonald had the last word in an amazing 3-3 draw which brought Burnley their first away point of the season and condemned Manchester City to a fifth successive draw. Graham Alexander’s penalty and a Steven Fletcher effort seemed to have Burnley well placed for their first top-flight away win since April 1976.

But Shaun Wright-Phillips breathed fresh life into the home side two minutes before half-time and Kolo Toure and Craig Bellamy seemed to have set the stage for a City win in 15 raucous minutes either side of the break.
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Jason Roberts recovered from a bout of swine flu to leave Portsmouth feeling pig-sick at Ewood Park as Blackburn came from behind to claim three priceless Premier League points in a 3-1 win. Rovers had been reeling at the end of a dismal first period in which Jamie O’Hara fired the visitors ahead with a 30-yard strike past Paul Robinson in the 15th minute. But Roberts clambered off the bench at the break to steer a 52nd-minute leveller past David James - and added Rovers’ third after Ryan Nelsen had netted a rare goal to put his side in front.

The win brought sighs of relief all round for the home side - and especially manager Sam Allardyce, whose changes were vindicated despite being greeted with deafening boos at the break. (more…)

Aston Villa responded to their midweek defeat at West Ham United in decisive fashion in what has become something of a traditional romp over outplayed Bolton Wanderers . The Lancashire side had conceded four goals on their last two visits to Villa Park and though their manager Gary Megson had called for a display of resolute defending, his players mustered only further incompetence by going one better, or worse, during this latest trip to the West Midlands.

John Carew was Villa’s most influential player, involved in four of the goals that amounted to an embarrassing rout for the visitors.
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Sunderland striker Darren Bent missed a penalty on his return to White Hart Lane as Tottenham secured victory through goals from Robbie Keane and Tom Huddlestone. Bent had the chance to level for the visitors against the side he left in controversial circumstances last summer but Heurelho Gomes saved his spot-kick, a crucial moment in the Barclays Premier League game as Steve Bruce’s men were gaining momentum.

Instead, Huddlestone grabbed his third of the season with an effort that crashed in off the crossbar, doubling the lead after Keane’s early strike. (more…)

Goalkeeper Shay Given produced a superb display to earn Manchester City a point their below-par performance barely deserved against Birmingham at St Andrew’s on Sunday. The former Newcastle player made a string of fine saves, the highlight a second-half penalty stop to deny James McFadden.

It was a fourth successive draw in the Premier League for Mark Hughes’ side, who nonetheless moved into the top four on goal difference. (more…)

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Ten-man Sunderland came from two goals down at the Stadium of Light to snatch a deserved draw and deny West Ham a first Premier League win since the opening day of the season. Things looked bleak for the hosts when goals from Guillermo Franco - his first for the club - and the impressive Carlton Cole put the Hammers two up. But Andy Reid’s superb free-kick gave them hope and, after Kenwyne Jones had seen red in first-half stoppage time, Kieran Richardson tapped home a cross from the returning Darren Bent to equalise.

West Ham also finished the game a man light after Radoslav Kovac was sent off late on. (more…)

Aruna Dindane destroyed Wigan with a superb hat-trick but Paul Hart’s side still remain bottom of the Premier League. Dindane’s treble was accompanied by a goal from strike partner Frederic Piquionne as Pompey scored four goals for the second time this week. However, there was more concern for debt-ridden Pompey when Piquionne was stretchered off in the second half with a head injury.

Wigan were outfought and outplayed throughout and never tested England goalkeeper David James. (more…)