LONDON, Jan 13 - Brief reports of Premier League
matches played on the weekend:
PLAYED SUNDAY
BOLTON WANDERERS 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 2
Bolton Wanderers thought they had secured a vital point in
their relegation struggle until Rovers substitute Jason Roberts
surged from the halfway line to rifle a last-minute winner.
Kevin Nolan's spectacular volley put Bolton in front near
the end of a dull first half but Rovers, chasing a UEFA Cup
spot, improved after the break.
Christopher Samba's downward header levelled it up before
Roberts shrugged off some weak challenges to fire the clincher.
- - - -
SUNDERLAND 2 PORTSMOUTH 0
Former Manchester United midfielder Kieran Richardson shone
throughout, scoring twice, to hand Sunderland their fifth lesgue
victory of the season, all at home.
After 33 minutes he slotted in a neat inside pass from
Kenwyne Jones and then beat Pompey keeper David James with a
cool finish a minute from halftime.
Portsmouth wasted some second-half chances while Richardson
rattled the crossbar with a long-range drive.
- - - -
PLAYED SATURDAY
ARSENAL 1 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1
Arsenal failed to win at home in the league for only the
second time in 12 matches despite Emmanuel Adebayor putting them
1-0 up with a debatable penalty after 21 minutes.
Birmingham, who had not won at Arsenal since 1957, equalised
in the 48th with a Garry O'Connor header.
- - -
ASTON VILLA 3 READING 1
Villa left Reading still without an away league win this
season after two goals by John Carew and one by Martin Laursen.
Carew nodded Villa in front in the 22nd minute and Laursen
added another header early in the second half. Carew tapped in
the third before James Harper replied for Reading.
- - -
CHELSEA 2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0
Brazil defender Juliano Belletti gave Chelsea a 19th-minute
lead when he hit a 35-metre, right-footed scorcher past Radek
Cerny, preferred in goal to England keeper Paul Robinson.
New signing Nicolas Anelka made his debut as a 58th-minute
substitute and hit the bar in the closing stages but it was
Shaun Wright-Phillips who clinched the points for Chelsea with
their second goal nine minutes from time.
- - -
DERBY COUNTY 0 WIGAN ATHLETIC 1
Wigan won away for the first time this season after
substitute Antoine Sibierski scored the only goal after 82
minutes, one minute after coming on.
Derby, with five players making their debuts, were reduced
to 10 men when defender Claude Davis was sent off for a second
bookable offence in the 59th.
- - -
EVERTON 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0
Mikel Arteta set up Joleon Lescott for a 31st-minute goal
that was enough to seal all three points for Everton.
City attacked throughout the second half in search of an
equaliser but could find no way past Tim Howard in goal.
- - -
MANCHESTER UNITED 6 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0
Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a hat-trick, Carlos Tevez hit two
goals and Rio Ferdinand notched the other as Manchester United
scored six in the second half to go back on top of the table.
Ronaldo opened the scoring with a low free-kick through
Newcastle's wall. He added his second following a well-worked
move before completing his treble on 88 minutes.
Manchester United old boy Alan Smith was sent off for
managerless Newcastle in stoppage time.
- - -
MIDDLESBROUGH 1 LIVERPOOL 1
Middlesbrough, beaten once at home by Liverpool in their
last eight meetings, took the lead after 26 minutes when George
Boateng scored with a scrappy goal.
Liverpool struggled for long periods but equalised when
Fernando Torres netted his 17th goal of the season with a
powerful shot after a solo run in the 71st minute.
- - -
WEST HAM UNITED 2 FULHAM 1
Simon Davies put Fulham ahead with a direct free kick after
eight minutes but West Ham pulled level when Dean Ashton headed
in a cross from Freddie Ljungberg after 28.
West Ham turned the match around with 21 minutes to play
when Anton Ferdinand scored after good work by Mark Noble.
Fulham have now gone 28 away league matches without a win.
(Reporting by Mike Collett and Martyn Herman, Editing by
Tony Jimenez)