With many thanks to Brian Judson, without whom this feature would not be possible.
Friday, August 23rd, 2002
Chelsea v Manchester United 2-2
This match was played on Friday night at the request of the police because
of the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend. It was televised live on Sky
so, doubtlessly, many saw the match. Gallas put Chelsea ahead in the 3rd
minute after De Lucas had been fouled. It seemed to me that Carroll
misjudged the flight of the ball. Beckham equalised for the Mancunians in
the 26th minute. Silvestre made a long crossfield pass that found Beckham
unmarked. He cut in and unleashed a left-footed shot that Cudicini could
not prevent flying into his net. Zenden restored Chelsea's lead in the
45th minute after Petit, Babyaro and Lampard had swapped passes, leaving
Zenden free to drill the ball into the roof of Carroll's net. It was
midway through the second half when the Mancunians equalised as tempers
began to rise. It was Giggs who scored the equaliser in the 66th minute
after Silverstre's long run produced the pass from which Giggs equalised.
At the death, Giggs saw his goalbound shot deflected away from danger by
van Nistleroy, who could not get out of the way in time.
Saturday, August 24th, 2002
Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers 0-1
Yorke scored the only goal of the game in the 13th minute. Dunn provided
the pass from which Yorke scored with Yorke's shot trickling in by Vasen's
post. Blackburn should have added to the gathering gloom at St Andrews by
scoring at least two more goals but wasted the chances that came his way.
They should certainly have scored in the 19th minute when Dunn sent Cole
away and the n saw Duff miss a chance to score. In the end, it was Friedel
with some superb goalkeeping that kept Blackburn alive.
Bolton Wanderers v Charlton Athletic 1-2
For the second consecutive Saturday, Bolton scored the first Premiership
goal of the day and then proceeded to throw the game away. Djorkaeff put
them ahead after only 2 minutes when Kiely could only parry a long range
shot from Warhurst only to see Djorkaeff tap the rebound home.
Bart-Williams equalised as a result of a 26th minute penalty after N'Gotty
had pushed Rufus. Euell grabbed the winner for the Addicks in the 71st
minute when Johansson cut the ball back for Euell to strike.
Liverpool v Southampton 3-0
The Reds made their intentions clear from the start when they only
required three minutes to score. Heskey broke away down the left wing in
the 3rd minute and Diouf took advantage of some sloppy defending by Telfer
to score. Diouf added a second in the 51st minute when Xavier's long
throw-in was headed on by Heskey for Diouf to head home. Murphy round off
the scoring in the 90th minute when Liverpool were awarded a penalty after
Cheyrou was brought down by Bridge. Southampton look favourites for the
drop with one of the new boys at this early stage of the season.
Manchester City v Newcastle United 1-0
Huckerby scored the only goal of the game in the 36th minute. That came
when he headed home a misdirected clearance by Jenas. Huckerby, however,
should have scored on at least four other occasions. In the second half,
Newcastle piled on the pressure and Dyer missed two open goals, missing
both when it looked simpler to score. But, after the game, Bobby Robson
admitted that Newcastle had not played well enough to win.
Middlesbrough v Fulham 2-2
This was a game Middlesbrough really should have won! They were cruising
and were well in control before Fulham snatched two late goals. Maccarone
put them ahead in the 32rd minute when he pounced on a loose ball to slam
the ball past van der Sar. Maccarone struck again in the 51st minute when
he headed the ball behind van der Sar. But deep in injury time, Davis and
Sava both scored in the 90th minute to deny Middlesbrough a deserved win.
Maccarone has been substituted six minutes before time and had been given
a standing ovation as he had gone off.
Sunderland v Everton 0-1
The Toffees emerged winners at the Stadium of Light after Phillips missed
a penalty for the fourth consecutive time. Kevin Campbell gave Everton the
lead in the 28th minute when Radzinski headed down Gravesen's cross for
Campbell to slide in. Shortly before the penalty in the second half, Reyna
did have the ball in the net for Sunderland but the effort was ruled out
as he was offside. Quinn was then impeded as he tried to reach Butler's
corner but Wright blocked Phillips' penalty kick.
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa 1-0
Full report available here.
West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United 1-3
The Baggies are under no illusions now that it is going to be a long hard
winter. If they finish fourth from bottom, it will be a magnificent
achievement. Kewell gave Leeds the lead in the 39th minute
when Albion's defence went to sleep and allowed Mills to dash the whole
length of the right wing to provide a simple chance for Kewell to score.
Bowyer added the second in the 52nd minute when Kewell back-heeled Smith's
through-ball into Bowyer's path and Hoult had no chance of stopping the
rising shot. Viduka scored the third goal in the 70th minute when a cross
from Bowyer enabled Viduka to waltz round Hoult and tap the ball into the
empty goal. Marshall scored a consolation goal for the Baggies in the 90th
minute when he was left unmarked by the Leeds defence.
West Ham United v Arsenal 2-2
The Champions were given a terrific fright by the Hammers and were lucky
to escape with a share of the points. Cole put the Hammers ahead in the
44th minute when Kanouté provided the pass from which Joe Cole curled home
with a brilliant first-time shot. Kanouté extended their lead in the 53rd
minute when Defoe raced down the right flank and beat Ashley Cole to the
ball. Cutting in, Kanouté then eluded Keown to poke the ball behind
Seaman. Henry reduced the arrears in the 65th minute when Henry ran into
space and unleashed a rising drive that flew into the net behind the
luckless James. Wiltord then snatched a dramatic equaliser in the 88th
minute when he played a one-two with Kanu before forcing the ball behind
James.
Pos. Pl. W. D. L. F-A. GD Pts
1 Leeds 2 2 0 0 6-1 5 6
2 Liverpool 2 2 0 0 4-0 4 6
3 Fulham 2 1 1 0 6-3 3 4
4 Arsenal 2 1 1 0 4-2 2 4
5 Chelsea 2 1 1 0 5-4 1 4
6 Everton 2 1 1 0 3-2 1 4
7 Man Utd 2 1 1 0 3-2 1 4
8 Spurs 2 1 1 0 3-2 1 4
9 Blackburn 2 1 1 0 1-0 1 4
10 Newcastle 2 1 0 1 4-1 3 3
11 Charlton 2 1 0 1 4-4 0 3
12 Man City 2 1 0 1 1-3 -2 3
13 M'brough 2 0 2 0 2-2 0 2
14 S'derland 2 0 1 1 0-1 -1 1
15 So'pton 2 0 1 1 0-3 -3 1
16 West Ham 2 0 1 1 2-6 -4 1
17 A. Villa 2 0 0 2 0-2 -2 0
18 West Brom 2 0 0 2 1-4 -3 0
19 B'mingham 2 0 0 2 0-3 -3 0
20 Bolton 2 0 0 2 2-6 -4 0
