Football Kits Online

The Premiership title race took a new twist this weekend, as inconsistent Arsenal pulled off a 2-1 defeat over joint leaders Chelsea, in the London derby. Chelsea had taken the lead on 31 minutes, when Johan Djourou put through his own goal but a Robin van Persie second half brace gave the Gunners a vital three points, meaning Liverpool have the chance to go clear at the top, should they get a result against West Ham on Monday. The first of van Persie’s goals appeared offside, but there was nothing controversial about the second, an excellent turn and shot which nutmegged Lampard before beating the helpless Cech.

The other big derby of the weekend took place at Eastlands, as City entertained United in the 150th competitive meeting of the Manchester sides. Wayne Rooney scored the only goal, his 100th for the club, following up Michael Carrick’s effort after 42 minutes. United’s third away win of the season was somewhat marred by the dismissal of Cristiano Ronaldo, who inexplicably handled from a Rooney corner and picked up a second yellow card. Despite having ten men for the last 20 minutes, City were unable to find an equaliser, in front of 47,320. The result leaves United five points behind Chelsea, with a game in hand, while City lie in 14th.

David Moyes celebrated 300 games in charge of Everton with a 1-0 victory, away at Tottenham. Steven Pienaar fired the only goal of the game after latching onto a quickly taken free kick, his shot deflecting in of the legs of Corluka. It was a solid performance and the visitors dominated for the most part, but Spurs had chances to get something late on, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell and Bale all testing Howard. Everton lost Yakubu to injury and it seems he may miss the rest of the campaign.

A real game of two halves was witnessed by 18,111 at Fratton Park. 0-0 at half time, the second half exploded into life, Crouch heading home the opening goal on 49 minutes. Four minutes later, Defoe doubled the home side’s lead over Blackburn, but Derbyshire’s looping header and Tugay’s 20 yard effort drew the visitors level. Papa Bouba Diop forced a good save from Robinson, but Davis was on hand to score from the rebound, lifting it over the goalie with just ten minutes remaining, sealing a victory which leaves Blackburn on their worst run in ten years, stuck firmly in the bottom three, while Pompey move to eighth.

Fulham battled for a point at Villa Park, as in form Villa missed out on the chance to move up to third in the table, squandering countless chances in a 0-0 draw. Fulham were content to sit back and counter, Dempsey even forcing a couple of smart saves from Friedel, but Villa had chances of their own, Sidwell and Barry guilty of missing the clearest. Villa are fifth after this result, Fulham sit tenth.

Another 0-0 draw was contested by neighbours Middlesbrough and Newcastle at the Riverside. Martins hit the bar in the first half and Butt sent a free kick just wide, with Hoyte forcing Given into a good save at the other end. A scrappy match in awful conditions, this won’t be remembered as a classic by the 32,160 who attended.

Emmerson Boyce scored his first goal in three years to condemn WBA to another defeat, in front of 17,054 at Wigan’s JJB Stadium. Albion had taken the lead early in the second half, when Ishmael Miller capitalised on a Titus Bramble error but Henri Camara drew the sides level on 61, with an acrobatic volley, facing away from goal. Kirkland was keeping his side in the game, making four excellent second half saves and with just five minutes remaining, Wigan quashed Albion’s hopes of getting anything from the game, as Boyce headed home a Koumas corner for a 2-1 win. Albion stay bottom, while Wigan move to 11th.

Sunderland drop into the relegation zone after Bolton ran riot at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats led after 11 minutes, courtesy of a Djibril Cisse strike, but goals from Matt Taylor, Gary Cahill and a brace by Johan Elmander saw Bolton 4-1 up after just 55 minutes, causing many Sunderland fans to leave. Roy Keane was left questioning his future, stating "I ask myself every day if I'm the right man for Sunderland". Bolton are now in ninth place.

Stoke and Hull shared the points in the fog at the Brittania. Marlon King opened the scoring for the Tigers on the stroke of half time, Hull’s first shot of the match, following a bright start by the home side. On 73 minutes though, Myhill fouled Ricardo Fuller in the box, who got up to score the penalty and earn his side a point. Hull remain a top six side, whilst Stoke are three points clear of the drop zone, in 13th position.

1992 was the year that Boutros Boutros-Ghali became UN Secretary General, Bill Clinton became US President and Denmark won the European Championships. It was also the last time the “big four” had all failed to score a goal on the same day.

A bizarre weekend of results saw league leaders Chelsea held to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge, by Newcastle. The match wasn’t without incident though as Chelsea had a goal controversially ruled out for offside as well as a Lampard free kick, which looked as though Given may have carried the ball over the line. The Blues have now failed to win at home in three of their last four matches with Joe Kinnear describing his side’s efforts as “magnificent”.

Liverpool, second in the table on goal difference, also drew 0-0 at home. Fulham were the visitors to Anfield and they came to frustrate, as Liverpool dominated possession and created many more chances, but the Cottagers were never really troubled. Liverpool’s best chance was squandered by Robbie Keane, shooting straight at the goalkeeper from well inside the 18-yard area. Gerrard was absent with an injury, but Torres returned to the side and forced Schwarzer into two smart saves. Roy Hodgson was “really happy” with the result, commenting: "A 0-0 score is a good result at Anfield”.

A third 0-0 draw was witnessed by 42,585 at Villa Park in the later kick off, as Aston Villa entertained Manchester United. An open game saw a handful of good chances for both sides; Agbonlahor tested van der Sar early on and a fierce drive from Ronaldo was perhaps United’s best effort. O’Neill’s men are now a point clear of Arsenal in fourth place, leaving the manager stating his intentions: “It is exceptionally hard to break into the top four but we are aiming for that”.

Arsenal’s misery continued as they were soundly beaten by Manchester City. Gallas was dropped from the squad entirely after his midweek comments, which questioned his team mates and their attitudes. Although the Gunners enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, City were far more effective with the ball and Stephen Ireland opened the scoring just before half time, after Clichy had sliced a clearance. Robinho doubled the advantage on 56 minutes, not long after having a shot cleared off the line, as he chipped the keeper. The 3-0 win was sealed in stoppage time as youngster Daniel Sturridge slotted home from the spot, after Djourou had fouled him.

At the other end of the table, Stoke secured a valuable three points at home to struggling WBA, with a 1-0 win. City had dominated the game but it seemed as though Albion would be going home with a point, at least until Mamady Sidibe popped up on 84 minutes to head home a Danny Higginbotham cross. Miller fired over the bar for WBA and Teixeira squandered a chance at the death, but Stoke were good value for their win, which moves them four points clear of the drop zone, whilst the Baggies remain rooted to the foot of the table.

The first of two Sunday games saw Spurs host Blackburn, the other two sides in the bottom three. It was the home side who started brightest and on nine minutes, Aaron Lennon picked Martin Olsson’s pocket and put it on a plate for Pavlyuchenko, who made no mistake. Later in the first half, Olsson fouled Lennon and was awarded a second yellow card, effectively ending the tie as a contest. Spurs really ought to have scored many more, Huddlestone hitting two long range efforts over the bar, Pavlyuchenko hitting the post and Frazier Campbell heading wide. Blackburn’s best chance came as Santa Cruz got down low to head towards goal, but Gomes was more than equal to it. Spurs now move out of the bottom three at the expense of Wigan, who play Everton on Monday.

The other Sunday match saw West Ham travel to Sunderland. The Black Cats were in for a miserable afternoon of long balls to an off the boil Cisse and West Ham deserved their 1-0 win. The goal came courtesy of Valon Behrami after twenty minutes, when his shot struck the foot of Kenwyne Jones and deflected past Fulop. Sunderland had a decent shout for a penalty turned down in the first half and enjoyed a lot of the ball, but were generally wasteful in possession, in front of 35,222 at the Stadium of Light.

Pre-season relegation favourites Hull City continue to punch above their weight, twice battling back to earn a 2-2 draw at Fratton Park. Pompey took the lead on 20 minutes as Crouch headed home a Kaboul cross, before Michael Turner headed the Tigers level from a corner. Both sides hit the crossbar before Glen Johnson fired a fine volley past Myhill. Hull battled on and at the death substitute Dean Windass headed goalwards, the effort lacking power, but pressure from the experienced striker caused Noe Pamarot to bundle into his own goal. Hull remain in sixth place, three points ahead of Portsmouth in eighth.

Middlesbrough’s five match unbeaten run ground to a halt as they hosted Bolton at the Riverside. Wanderers started much the brighter and were 2-0 up inside ten minutes, Gretar Steinsson heading the opener after only eight minutes. The advantage was soon doubled, as Taylor fired home for the visitors, via the post. With thirteen minutes to go, Pogatetz got one back for Boro after a goalmouth scramble and it appeared the home side were back in the game, but just a minute later, Elmander wrapped up a 3-1 win, smashing the ball past Turnbull in the Boro goal. Bolton move up to 12th, a point behind Boro in tenth.