While FIFA stated that “theoretically” both Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers could join the English Premiership, Premier League clubs overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that would allow the Old Firm to breakaway from the Scottish Premier League and head south.
Clint Dempsey drew and converted a penalty to earn Fulham a point on the road against Wigan Athletic.
Arsenal secured an emphatic 4-1 victory against Wolves to keep the pressure up at the top of the Barclays Premier League table. They got a helping hand in the first half from the home side, with both Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock scoring own goals.Arsenal kept their foot on the pedal, Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin extending their lead before Craddock got a consolation goal at the correct end. (more…)
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…)
