English Premier League Round-Up

March 29th, 30th

In today's Premier League games, Manchester Unietd thrashed Villa 4-0, Derby County are finally relegated as a 2-2 draw with Fulham allows them to make history for all the wrong reasons, Birmingham beat Man City 3-1 and Arsenal came back from two goals behind to win 3-2 at Bolton.....

Derby's season-long stay in the Premier League came to an end on Saturday afternoon as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham. The Rams needed to win to postpone their demotion for another week and all seemed to be going well on ten minutes when Dean Leacock's shot deflected off Emmanuel Villa and headed into the back of Kasey Keller's net. However, just fourteen minutes later, the hosts, who are still very much in with a chance of escaping the drop, levelled up with Diomansy Kamara heading in Simon Davies' cross.

The game seemed to swing in Fulham's favour thirteen minutes from time when they took the lead for the first time through Leacock's bizarre own goal. Hamuer Bouazza fizzed in a shot, but his effort hit the defender forcing the ball to loop into the air, cruise over the head of Roy Carrol and dip into the back of the net. Villa was on target again to grab the equaliser shortly after, but it wasn't enough to inspire his side on to victory and County have become the first team in the Premier League's history to be relegated in March.

The result was hardly any better news for Fulham, who are now six points from safety after Birmingham beat Manchester City 3-1 at St Andrews. The hosts had the better of the opening stages and took a crucial lead five minutes before half-time through the on-form Mauro Zarate. Franck Quedrue pinged a brilliant ball through and the Argentine forward chipped a wonderful shot over the onrushing Joe Hart to score his second goal in two games.

Zarate found the net again in the early stages of the second half, but shortly after City found one back, with Elano converting from the penalty spot after Quedrue was ordered off for a foul on Benjani. Given fresh hope, City exerted themselves for a brief period as they sensed an equaliser. However, the game was decided sixteen minutes from time when Sun Jihai brought down Gary McSheffrey for another spot kick. The midfielder stepped up and struck home, giving City a much-needed win in their bid to avoid the drop.

Sunderland also did their hopes of surviving relegation the world of good by edging out a late 2-1 win at home to West Ham. Alan Curbishley's men took the lead on eighteen minutes through Freddie Ljungberg. Carlton Cole comfortably broke through the Black Cats defence before feeding the ball through to the former Arsenal man, whose shot found its way into the back of the net courtesy of a decisive deflection off Nyron Nosworthy.

The lead didn't last long though as, just ten minutes later, Kenwyne Jones forced the leveller with a neat shot from Daryl Murphy's set-up. The hosts dominated from then on in with Murphy, Michael Chopra and Danny Collins all missing great chances. The goal did eventually come, though, with Andy Reid lashing home a cracking right-footer deep into injury time. It marked the Black Cats first back-to-back Premier League win since December 2001 and takes them seven points clear of the drop.

Indeed, their win was made even better by news of Bolton late loss at home to Arsenal. The Gunners seemed to be heading out of the title race as the hosts raced into a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to Matt Taylor's brace. Despite seeing Abou Diaby sent-off mid-way through the first half, however, Arsenal struck back in the second period, with William Gallas volleying home on 62 minutes. Robin Van Persie then converted from the penalty spot to bring the visitors level six minuets later, before Cesc Faregas blasted home a shot which deflected off Jloyd Samuel and headed in. It's a goal which could prove decisive at both the top and bottom of the table.

The Gunners still trail leaders Manchester United by six points though after Sir Alex Ferguson's side romped to a 4-0 thrashing of Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo got the first goal mid-way through the first half with a cheeky backheeled flick, and the winger set-up the second, crossing for Carlos Tevez to head home in the build-up to half-time. Wayne Rooney got on the score sheet soon after the break, rounding Scott Carson to convert into the empty net, before hitting the fourth with a fine finish from a cracking move which included all three United goalscorers. The England international thought he had his hat-trick in the latter stages as he converted an Owen Hargreaves cross, but the ref called offside and he had to settle with only the two.

Finally, Portsmouth kept their hopes of claiming a UEFA Cup spot alive with a 2-0 win at home to Wigan, which came courtesy of a brace from Jermaine Defoe, but Blackburn's hopes were hit by a goalless draw at Reading. Marek Matejovsky was sent-off in the second half for the hosts for two bookable offences, but the visitors couldn't find a winner, despite some good opportunities falling their way.

Saturday 29th March, 2008

Birmingham City (1) 3 vs Manchester City (0) 1

Bolton Wanderers (2) 2 vs Arsenal (0) 3

Derby County (1) 2 vs Fulham (1) 2

Manchester United (2) 4 vs Aston Villa (0) 0

Portsmouth (1) 2 vs Wigan Athletic (0) 0

Reading (0) 0 vs Blackburn Rovers (0) 0

Sunderland (1) 2 vs West Ham United (1) 1

Sunday 30th March, 2008

Chelsea (1) 1 vs Middlesbrough (0) 0

Liverpool (1) 1 vs Everton (0) 0

Tottenham Hotspur (1) 1 vs Newcastle United (1) 4