Premiership Roundup: Tevez Humbles Chelsea
Carlos Tevez ended a run of seven consecutive draws for Manchester City, adding to Emmanuel Adebayor’s strike to secure their 2-1 win over Chelsea at Eastlands.
Goalmouth pinball granted Carlo Ancelotti’s men the lead inside eight minutes. Michael Ballack crossed from the right and the chance eventually fell for Nicolas Anelka to shoot. Shay Given parried, only for the rebound to creep in off Adebayor’s back.
Scoring a goal at both ends in the second half, Adebayor made amends for City’s earlier misfortune after 37 minutes.
Petr Cech punched a corner clear only for Shaun Wright-Philips to half-volley forcefully back into the box. The ball appeared to strike Micah Richards’s hand before falling at Adebayor’s feet and he swept home to equalise before the break.
Ten minutes into the second half Ricardo Carvalho was yellow-carded for a high foot trying to clear on the edge of his penalty area. Tevez bent the resulting free kick under Cech, neatly bypassing Jolean Lescott’s midriff en route round the wall.
Given put the gloss on a spirited home performance when he saved a late Frank Lampard penalty low down to his right, ending the England midfielder’s run of 27 successful spot kicks and ensuring the Blues dropped points.
West Ham United 0 – Manchester United 4
Manchester’s better-known half, United, meanwhile capitalised on the unexpected favour from their derby rivals as their 4-0 crushing of West Ham cut Chelsea’s lead at the top to two points.
An early injury to Gary Neville compounded Sir Alex Ferguson’s ongoing defensive personnel problems, leaving Darren Fletcher playing right back alongside substitute centre back Michael Carrick also out of position.
But United countered defensive inexperience with flowing offense as Paul Scholes opened the scoring from the edge of the area.
Darren Gibson retained his starters’ berth after his Carling Cup double and repaid the manager’s faith with a first-time strike from the edge of the area after a Ryan Giggs lay-off. Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney added to the visitors’ scoreline.
Arsenal 2 – Stoke City 0
Arsene Wenger’s men ended a three-game domestic losing streak to move into third thanks to goals from Andrei Arshavin and Aaron Ramsey.
Arsenal might have expected a tougher physical encounter, lacking a recognised frontman without a single outfield player topping six foot with the smallest among them, Arshavin, the replacement spearhead.
But the little Russian more than coped, latching onto a Cesc Fabregas assist to give the Gunners the lead after 26 minutes when he slotted into the corner and Ramsey rounded off the scoring with ten minutes remaining.
Everton 2 – Tottenham Hotspur 2
Across North London Spurs dropped two points when Everton came back from two goals down courtesy of marauding runs from right back Seamus Coleman.
Jermain Defoe opened the scoring after 47 minutes before Michael Dawson’s diving header from a corner made it two in two games for the normally goal-shy defender.
Louis Saha volleyed a Coleman centre to give the Toffees momentum, which Tim Cahill increased when he stooped to head Leighton Baines cross-shot four minutes from time.
Spurs almost snatched victory late-on as Wilson Palacios burst into the box, beating Tony Hibbert to the ball to earn a penalty but Tim Howard provided the extra-time heroics keeping out the in-form Defoe’s spot kick.
Portsmouth 2 – Burnley 0
Second-half substitute Nwankwo Kanu proved the difference between these two bottom-half sides, setting up Herman Hreidarsson to open the scoring.
Aruna Dindane atoned for his first-half penalty miss, heading Jamie O’Hara’s free kick to complete the scoring with six minutes left.
Blackburn 0 – Liverpool 0
Elsewhere Steven Gerrard could not cap his 500th appearance for the Reds as their top four chances were dented again, as Blackburn shut up shop to celebrate Sam Allardyce’s homecoming.
Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog were both guilty of missed chances as Gerrard worked tirelessly to no avail at Ewood Park.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 – Bolton Wanderers 1
Nenan Milijas’s 30-yard strike gave Wolves a welcome victory over fellow strugglers Bolton at Molineux.
The Serbian midfielder added to Jody Craddock’s early strike. Johan Elmander’s close range finish gave Bolton hope but they squandered numerous chances to equalise.
Aston Villa 3 – Hull City 0
Injury to Hull’s Jimmy Bullard marred a routine victory for Aston Villa at Villa Park. After hurting his left knee, Bullard tried to continue before leaving the field in tears.
Goals from Richard Dunne, James Milner and a late John Carew penalty sealed the points for Martin O’Neill’s side.
Wigan Athletic 2 – Birmingham City 3
Birmingham continued their three-game winning run thanks to a second-half double from Sebastian Larsson.
Charles N’Zogbia opened the scoring for Wigan before Larsson struck twice and Christian Benitez netted. Jordi Gomez struck late but Roberto Martinez will take little consolation after another injury to keeper Chris Kirkland.
Fulham 1 – Sunderland 0
Bobby Zamora handed the Cottagers victory after seven minutes in the battle of 2009’s most inconsistent Premier League teams.
After his sixth goal of the season, Roy Hodgon claims 28-year-old Zamora could provide an alternative to Emile Heskey in England’s World Cup squad for South Africa.
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