|
Premier League reports
03/05/2008 20:34 - (SA)
London - Brief reports of Premier League
matches played on Saturday:
ASTON VILLA 0 WIGAN ATHLETIC 2
Wigan seriously dented Villa's hopes of pipping Everton for
fifth place and a berth in next season's UEFA Cup.
Antonio Valencia put the visitors ahead with a long shot
that took a deflection off Wilfred Bouma after 52 minutes and
added a second 11 minutes later that put Wigan on the way to
only their second away league win of the season.
- - -
BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 DERBY COUNTY 1
Kenny Miller gave relegated Derby the lead when he reacted
first to a huge clearance from goalkeeper Roy Carroll to score
only their 20th league goal of the campaign.
But as so often this season poor defending cost Derby the
match. Roque Santa Cruz scored for the fourth successive game to
equalise for the home side just before halftime and Jason
Roberts then punished some typically poor Derby defending a
minute after the break to put Rovers ahead.
Santa Cruz scored his 19th league goal of the season when he
headed home David Bentley's cross 13 minutes from time to extend
Derby's run to 31 league matches without a win.
- - -
FULHAM 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 0
Fulham climbed out of the bottom three for the first time
since Dec. 23 and sent Birmingham closer to the drop after
winning this relegation clash at Craven Cottage.
Brian McBride headed home a Jimmy Bullard free kick after 52
minutes to put Fulham ahead and Eric Nevland's well taken solo
goal three minutes from time sealed a critical victory.
- - -
MANCHESTER UNITED 4 WEST HAM UNITED 1
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to take his season's tally to
40 goals while former Hammers Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick
scored the others as United moved to within three points of
retaining their title.
Ronaldo opened the scoring after three minutes and added the
second in the 24th before Tevez made it 3-0 two minutes later.
Dean Ashton pulled one back for West Ham in the 28th and, after
Manchester United winger Nani was sent off for headbutting Lucas
Neill, Carrick made it 4-1 just before the hour mark.
- - -
MIDDLESBROUGH 2 PORTSMOUTH 0
Goals from Chris Riggott, recalled from a loan spell at
Stoke City, after 40 minutes and Tuncay Sanli in the 53rd gave
Middlesbrough victory over the FA Cup finalists and ended their
relegation worries after a run of five matches without a win.
- - -
READING 0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1
Reading dropped back into the bottom three for the first
time since the beginning of March and now face relegation after
a sixth successive game without a goal.
Tottenham scored the winner after 16 minutes when Robbie
Keane netted his 23rd goal of the season after good approach
work by Darren Bent. Spurs also had a Steed Malbranque goal
disallowed after the officials wrongly ruled it out for offside.
- Reuters
|
