England Weekend Review

by Alex Abnos & Sean O'Conor - November 25, 2007

 
▪ Rangers Rule in Falkirk

Tim Howard received a windfall of offensive support in a win over Sunderland, the Royal Americans were edged out in stoppage time at Man City and Derby's Benny Feilhaber made a cameo in a loss to Chelsea.

▪ Freddy Caps Benfica Win
▪ ASD Match Report: AaB Tops FCM
 

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BLUES KEEP DERBY REELING
Derby had a big test in front of them and once again failed to deliver in Saturday's 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Pride Park.

Benny Feilhaber played six minutes as a late second half substitute for the Rams, while fellow American Eddie Lewis wasn't named in the match day squad.

It was a game that was notable not so much for the events on the field, but rather the events off of it, as the fans at Pride Park booed and jeered Chelsea's England national team players following the country's failed qualification for Euro 2008.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were all singled out for abuse, but that didn't prevent the Blues from going up 1-0 in the 17th minute via Salomon Kalou.

Derby found it nearly impossible to mount any serious challenge through the rest of the game, which allowed Wright-Phillips to double the advantage with 17 minutes left by tapping in the rebound after a Lampard shot had hit the post.

Scoring

CHE - Salomon Kalou 3 (Steve Sidwell) 16'
CHE - Shaun Wright-Phillips 1 72'

Line-ups

DC - Stephen Bywater; Andy Griffin, Claude Davis, Darren Moore, Dean Leacock, James McEveley, Craig Fagan (Robert Earnshaw 86'), Matt Oakley (Benny Feilhaber 84'), David Jones, Kenny Miller, Giles Barnes (Steve Howard 75')

CHE - Carlo Cudicini; Julian Belletti, John Terry, Tal Ben-Haim, Ashley Cole, Mikel John Obi, Frank Lampard (Claudio Pizarro 90'), Steve Sidwell (Michael Essien 75'), Shaun Wright-Phillips, Andriy Shevchenko, Salomon Kalou

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TOFFEES BEAT UP ON SUNDERLAND

Everton used their home field advantage to the fullest extent on Saturday as the Liverpool side produced a stunning offensive display in their 7-1 shellacking of woeful Sunderland.

The Toffee's offense was so well oiled that even goalkeeper Tim Howard got in on the action, garnering an assist on Everton's first goal after only 11 minutes.

It was Ayegbeni Yakubu that got things started off right, as Howard's long boot from his own half bounced though the Sunderland defense and to the onrushing Nigerian. His finish only needed an awkward bounce off of a Sunderland defender to float over goalkeeper Craig Gordon's head and into the back of the net.

Everton's second came just five minutes later, as Phil Neville's flick in the box was controlled by Tim Cahill, who took a clever bouncing touch past three Sunderland defenders and produced a nice sliding finish.

The Toffee's third came a bit later in the half, but it was equally as good a goal as Steven Pienaar worked a nice give-and-go on the right side with Nuno Valente before firing an unstoppable first-time shot past Craig Gordon.

It wasn't all tears for Sunderland, however, as Dwight Yorke made things interesting with a goal of his own right at the death of the first half.

However, the goal mattered little as Cahill and Yakubu would add their second goals on the afternoon, while Andrew Johnson and Leon Osman made sure that the result became increasingly embarrassing for Sunderland.

Scoring

EVE - Ayegbeni Yakubu 4 (Tim Howard) 11'
EVE - Tim Cahill 2 (Phil Neville) 16'
EVE - Steven Pienaar 2 (Nuno Valente) 42'
SUN - Dwight Yorke 1 (Kenwyne Jones) 45+
EVE - Tim Cahill 3 (Joseph Yobo) 61'
EVE - Ayegbeni Yakubu 5 72'
EVE - Andrew Johnson 2 (Phil Neville) 79'
EVE - Leon Osman 3 (Phil Jagielka) 84'

Line-ups
EVE - Tim Howard; Phil Neville, Joseph Yobo (Phil Jagielka 80'), Joleon Lescott, Jorge Nuno Valente, Tim Cahill (Victor Anichebe 73'), Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman, Lee Carsley, Mikel Arteta, Ayegbeni Yakubu (Andrew Johnson 73')

SUN - Craig Gordon; Ian Harte, Danny Higginbotham, Paul McShane, Dean Whitehead, Carlos Edwards, Dickson Etuhu (Ross Wallace 46'), Dwight Yorke (Danny Collins 46'), Grant Leadbitter, Kenwyne Jones, Michael Chopra (Andrew Cole 66')

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CITEH PIPS READING AT THE DEATH
Reading thought they had wrapped up a valuable point at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday, but their opponents had other ideas as Manchester City took all three points with a stoppage time goal from Stephen Ireland.

Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey both played the full 90 for Reading, and both found themselves at the center of attention early on.

First it was Convey, who squandered a brilliant chance to put the Royals on top early as a high floating ball fell to him unmarked at the edge of the penalty area. However, the American's volley was high and wide of the goal - before long, City would take the lead.

The opening goal didn't happen without a fair bit of effort, however, with Elano first hitting the post, then hitting his own rebound straight into the onrushing Hahnemann, before Emile Mpenza once again shot straight into Hahnemann on the second rebound. Finally, as Hahnemann once again failed to control the shot, Martin Petrov took care of business, blasting his shot into the Reading goal.

The Royals would equalize before the half was done, however, as James Harper took advantage of being unmarked at the top of the box with a low piledriver from Convey's square pass that left the goalkeeper Isaksson with no chance at a save.

City would get their own in the end, though, as Ireland hit a brilliant volley in injury time after a trio of headers at the top of the box to give City a dramatic late win.

Scoring
MC - Martin Petrov 4 11'
REA - James Harper 2 (Bobby Convey) 43'
MC - Stephen Ireland 2 (Geovanni) 90+4'

Line-ups
MC - Andreas Isaksson; Vedran Corluka (Sun Jihai 43'), Micah Richards, Richard Dunne, Javier Garrido, Fernandes Gelson, Dietmar Hamann, Stephen Ireland, Martin Petrov, Elano (Geovanni 58'), Emile Mpenza (Georgios Samaras 46')

REA - Marcus Hahnemann; Graeme Murty, Ibrahima Sonko, Ivar Ingimarsson, Nicky Shorey, Stephen Hunt, Brynjar Gunnarsson, James Harper, Bobby Convey, Kevin Doyle (Shane Long 85'), Dave Kitson

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ROVERS SHARE SPOILS AT THE COTTAGE
Fulham lost a lead for the 13th time this season as Blackburn twice came from behind to tie 2-2 in front of 22,826 at Craven Cottage.

A fascinating statistic doing the rounds before kickoff showed the West Londoners would be top of the Premier League if games lasted only 45 minutes and the Cottagers' knack at failing to stay in front was proved once more on Sunday.

Clint Dempsey and Brad Friedel both went the 90 for their respective clubs, Paul Konchesky having been preferred by Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez ahead of Carlos Bocanegra, who stayed on the bench.

After ex-DC United Ryan Nelsen had misjudged a Dempsey cross and knocked over Diomansy Kamara, Danny Murphy gave the Cottagers the lead in the 51st minute with a measured penalty which sent Friedel the wrong way.

Australia international Brett Emerton leveled six minutes later for Rovers, finishing off a crossfield lance from Stephen Warnock with a far post finish past Antti Niemi.

Fulham regained the advantage in the 63rd minute when Kamara, initially offside when Murphy fed Simon Davies on the right, kept running and met the Welshman's through ball to prod past Friedel from close range.

Blackburn, undaunted by a questionable concession, struck back with 11 minutes left on the clock. Jason Roberts, an early replacement for the injured Benni McCarthy, dodged his way between a sleepwalking Konchesky and Dejan Stefanovic to cross for an incoming Warnock to side-foot home at the far post.

Fulham sit 12th in the Premier League and next travel to Manchester United a week from Monday, while ninth Blackburn host Aston Villa on Wednesday evening.

Scoring
FUL - Danny Murphy 2 (PK) 51'
BLA - Brett Emerton 1 (Stephen Warnock) 57'
FUL - Diomansy Kamara 2 (Simon Davies) 63'
BLA - Stephen Warnock 1 (Jason Roberts) 79'

Line-ups
FUL - Antti Niemi; Chris Baird, Dejan Stefanovic, Aaron Hughes, Paul Konchesky, Simon Davies, Stephen Davis, Danny Murphy (David Healy 83'), Hameur Bouazza (Shefki Kuqi 67'), Diomansy Kamara (Seol Ki-Hyeon 83'), Clint Dempsey

BLA - Brad Friedel; Andre Ooijer, Ryan Nelsen, Christopher Samba, Stephen Warnock, David Bentley, Aaron Mokoena (Steven Reid 89'), Tugay, Brett Emerton, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Benni McCarthy (Jason Roberts 8')


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DEFOE PENALTY MISS SAVES HAMMERS

Londoners West Ham and Tottenham finished one apiece at Upton Park although Spurs' England striker Jermain Defoe will be having nightmares over missing an injury time penalty against his old club.

Jonathan Spector replaced Nolberto Solano for the final eight minutes and helped keep Tottenham at bay as West Ham won a point to stay just inside the top half of the Premier League.

After the visitors dominated the opening, West Ham took the lead on 20 minutes.

Luis Boa Morte stole the ball from Younes Kaboul in midfield before releasing Solano, and the Peruvian probed deep on the right before squaring for Carlton Cole to tap into an unguarded net.

Spurs equalized in the 67th when Hammers keeper Robert Green mistimed his punch to a looping Jermaine Jenas free kick and center back Michael Dawson rose highest to nod into the goal.

West Ham fought back and came closest to snatching the three points when George McCartney had a header cleared off the line by Jenas.

Then, having had an earlier penalty claim for a Green foul on Robbie Keane waved away, Juande Ramos' side looked to have been blessed when Hammers' Lucas Neill shoved over Defoe with seconds of injury time remaining.

But Green's reflex dive to his left was swift enough to allow him to tip Defoe's kick away to safety and send the majority of the 34,966 fans home happy.

The Hammers, still in 10th, travel to Chelsea on Saturday. Tottenham welcome Danny Califf's Aalborg on Thursday in the UEFA Cup.

Scoring
WHU - Carlton Cole 3 (Nolberto Solano) 20'
TOTT - Matthew Dawson 1 (Jermaine Jenas) 67'

Line-ups
WHU - Robert Green; Lucas Neill, Daniel Gabbidon, Matthew Upson, George McCartney, Nolberto Solano (Jonathan Spector 82'), Hayden Mullins, Mark Noble (Scott Parker 63'), Matthew Etherington, Carlton Cole, Luis Boa Morte (Dean Ashton 72')

TOTT - Paul Robinson, Pascal Chimbonda, Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul (Darren Bent 54'), Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Jermaine Jenas, Didier Zokora, Steed Malbranque, Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane (Jermain Defoe 78')


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OWLS HELD AT QPR

The woodwork may well have been the most worn-out participant on the field in Sheffield Wednesday's 0-0 away draw with Queens Park Rangers as it was hit four times in a fruitless searched for goals.

Wednesday's Akpo Sodje and Burton O'Brien hit the crossbar at the beginning and end of the game, respectively, while Scott Sinclair and Mikele Leigertwood had similar bad luck for QPR.

Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant had a big role to play as well, making several key saves down the stretch to preserve the point for Wednesday.

Frank Simek started and played the full 90 for the Owls, who now sit mid-table after an early season struggle.

Line-ups
QPR - Lee Camp; Robert Malcolm (Sampsa Timoska 65'), Michael Mancienne, Damion Stewart, Chris Barker, Martin Rowlands, Mikele Leigertwood, Akos Buzsaky, Rowan Vine, Dexter Blackstock (Marc Nygaard 82'), Scott Sinclair

WED - Lee Grant; Frank Simek, Richard Hinds, Michael Johnson, Tommy Spurr, Jermaine Johnson (Wade Small 80'), Steve Watson, Yoann Folly, Burton O'Brien, Akpo Sodje (Deon Burton 57'), Marcus Tudgay

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LIONS HAND JACKETT FIRST VICTORY

Goals from Jamie O'Hara and Ali Fuseini hauled Millwall out of the League One drop zone as they overcame Yeovil Town 2-1 at the Den.

Zak Whitbread went the 90 for the Lions, whose new coach Kenny Jackett toasted three points in his first home game in charge.

Charlton loan item James Walker sent the visitors into the lead with a 50th minute goal, rifling a diagonal drive past Lions' keeper Lenny Pidgeley.

The introduction of Neil Harris and Adebayo Akinfenwa after 62 minutes galvanized the home team's attack and it was former US Under-21 international Whitbread who almost drew the Lions level with a glancing header from a O'Hara's corner on 67 minutes.

The Londoners' pressure eventually told with just under 20 minutes remaining. Fuseini's probing on the right flank allowed the Ghanaian to whip in a cross which was half-cleared by Terry Skiverton into the path of O'Hara, who lashed his shot gleefully into the bottom corner.

Glovers goalie Steve Mildenhall was now under siege and having saved from Akinfenwa at close range and watched a Bryan Hodge 30-yard effort rebound off the crossbar, found it third time unlucky as Fuseini's long-range piledriver whistled past him to send most of the 8,105 crowd into raptures.

A delighted Den handed Millwall a standing ovation as the Lions climbed out of the relegation zone into 20th place. The Lions host Bournemouth in the FA Cup second round on Saturday.

Scoring
YEO - James Walker 2 49'
MIL- Jamie O'Hara 2 71'
MIL- Ali Fuseini 2 82'

Line-ups
MIL - Lenny Pidgeley; Marcus Bignot, Zak Whitbread, Zoumana Bakayogo, Jay Simpson (Neil Harris 63'), Ali Fuseini, Brian Hodge, Jamie O'Hara, Will Hoskins (Adebayo Akinfenwa 63'), Gary Alexander

YEO - Steve Mildenhall; Lee Peltier, Terry Skiverton, Terrell Forbes, Nathan Jones, Anthony Barry (Gary Dempsey 69'), Matty Rose (Zoltan Stieber 84'), Darren Way, James Walker, Lloyd Owusu, Paul Warne (Justin Cochrane 75')


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SPIREITES FIGHT BACK TO DENT DONS
Milton Keynes Dons remain top of League Two despite going down 2-1 at home to Chesterfield on Saturday in front of 9,638 at Stadium:mk.

Jemal Johnson went 81 minutes for the Dons, who took a 10th minute lead when Mark Wright connected with Lloyd Dyer's cross from the left.

Felix Bastians equalized for the Spireites in the 33rd when the German latched onto Adam Rooney's punt to rifle past Dons' French keeper Willy Gueret.

The Derbyshire visitors began the second half strongly in the ascendant and the rattled Dons conceded a second goal seven minutes after the restart.

Jamie Lowry's cross found Jamie Ward in the box, and as the Dons defense retreated, the diminutive forward crashed home the decisive goal.

Paul Ince's team might have rescued a point in injury time when Danny Swailes saw his header saved spectacularly by Chesterfield keeper Barry Roche; Keith Andrews' follow-up score was ruled out for handball.

MK Dons travel to 21st place Dagenham & Redbridge on December 4th.

Scoring
MKD - Mark Wright 4 (Lloyd Dyer) 10'
CHE - Felix Bastians 1(Adam Rooney) 33'
CHE - Jamie Ward 1 (Jamie Lowry) 52'

Lineups
MKD- Willy Gueret; Drissa Diallo (Colin Cameron 69'), Sean O'Hanlon, Danny Swailes, Dean Lewington, Mark Wright, Keith Andrews, Alan Navarro, Lloyd Dyer, Aaron Wilbraham (Kevin Gallen 62'), Jemal Johnson (Drew Broughton 81')

CHE - Barry Roche; Jamie Lowry, Janos Kovacs, Kevin Gray, Gregor Richardson, Adam Rooney, Derek Niven, Peter Leven, Felix Bastians (Alan O'Hare 85'), Jamie Ward, Jack Lester (Steve Fletcher 69')


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ON THE SIDELINE

Johann Smith did not dress for Bolton's 1-0 upset of Manchester United on Saturday.

Eric Lichaj remained an second team spectator as Aston Villa blanked Middlesbrough 3-0.

Injured center back Jay DeMerit missed out as Watford fell 3-2 at Barnsley.

Charlton posted a 2-0 win at Preston North End without recovering defender Cory Gibbs.

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