Premier League reports
By tvbp1985
@tvbp1985 (999)
China
November 25, 2006 7:13pm CST
(adds Bolton v Arsenal)
LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Brief Premier League reports on Saturday:
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1 EVERTON 1
New Charlton manager Les Reed watched his side come from behind to draw level and nearly snatch victory in his first home game in charge since replacing Iain Dowie.
Everton broke the deadlock after 51 minutes of a dour affair at The Valley when Mikel Arteta's free kick was deflected by Charlton's Icelandic defender Hermann Hreidarsson into his own net. Ireland midfielder Andy Reid rifled home the equaliser after Everton's Nuno Valente lost possession.
- - -
ASTON VILLA 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1
Martin O'Neill's Villa had to settle for a point after coming from a goal down against a modest Boro side.
Villa's defence thought striker Malcolm Christie was offside when he collected the ball from Yakubi Aiyegbeni and opened the scoring in the 43rd minute. However, there was still time before the break for Villa midfielder Gareth Barry to level from the penalty spot after a foul by Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer on Stilian Petrov.
- - -
FULHAM 0 READING 1
Reading continued their impressive first season in the top-flight with another victory, albeit this time against an opponent with only 10 men for most of the game.
The turning point came after only 16 minutes when a professional foul by Ian Pearce in the area on Reading's Kevin Doyle led to a red card for the Fulham defender and a penalty which Doyle coolly converted.
- - -
LIVERPOOL 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0
Liverpool needed inspiration and their captain provided it in the closing stages when Steven Gerrard stormed forward to score with a fierce shot from the edge of the area.
It was a much-needed win for a Liverpool side who had taken only a point from their last two games and need to make up lost ground in the race to secure a Champions League place.
Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt was behind the breakthrough, intercepting a pass from City midfielder Joe Barton and releasing the skipper to push forward in the 67th minute.
- - -
WEST HAM UNITED 1 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0
West Ham's first game since the midweek takeover by an Icelandic consortium ended in triumph for manager Alan Pardew and new chairman Eggert Magnusson, who was given a warm reception from the Upton Park crowd.
Defender Hayden Mullins got the only goal in the 35th minute, nodding home a Matthew Etherington corner which had been headed on by Anton Ferdinand.
- - -
BOLTON WANDERERS 3 ARSENAL 1
Bolton's former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka brought his old club to their knees with two superb goals in a win that must have killed off their already faint title hopes.
Senegal midfielder Abdoulaye Faye, left unmarked at the near post for El Hadji Diouf's corner, headed Bolton in front after nine minutes. Two goals in rapid succession then made for a thrilling finish to the half. Anelka beat keeper Jens Lehmann with a shot from over 25 metres and Gilberto threw the visitors a lifeline by heading home a corner in stoppage time.
Freddie Ljungberg later hit the post with a header and an Anelka effort was scrambled off the line by Lehmann. But the French striker settled it in the 76th minute, released by Ivan Campo and running through to drill his shot past the advancing Lehmann. Arsenal, missing injured Thierry Henry, then hit the woodwork twice through Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas.
- - - -
Playing Sunday: Manchester United v Chelsea (1600), Newcastle United v Portsmouth (1330), Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic (1500)
No responses

