STANDINGS
Monday 21st September 1998
FA Carling Premiership
Blackburn (1) 3 Chelsea (1) 4
Sutton 22, 80 (pen) Zola 15
Perez 58 Leboeuf 51
(pen)
(Perez s/o 68) (Le Saux s/o 68)
Flo
83, 86
Seven goals, two red cards, high drama and more talking points than you know
what to do with, so here goes.
Terrific entertaining and free flowing first half as the chances began early
and continued throughout. Within the opening five minutes Gary Flitcroft
struck a crisp shot wide for Blackburn and Poyet`s header hit the outside of
the post at the other end and true to form a goal arrived soon after as
Chelsea were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area and GianFranco Zola
stepped up to take a perfect text book free kick past Flowers giving him
little chance. Zola then almost made in 2-0 when his shot beat Flowers but was
cleared off the line by young Scot Callum Davidson after fine work by Leboeuf
and Casiraghi had put Zola clear. It was a clearance that was doubly important
as Blackburn equalised within two minutes following a weak header from
Lebouef, Dahlin found Chris Sutton who side stepped the last defender and beat
De Goey with ease. Blackburn then took command as half time approached,
Flitcroft had an effort turned over by the Dutch keeper and really should have
done better from 8 yards when he can a clear shot at goal after good hold up
play by Sutton. The second half was as dramatic as we`ve seen this season.
Firstly Zola was clipped by Flowers in the area and although there was
contact, the Italian made the most of it and a penalty was awarded, Leboeuf
converted it in customary powerful style. The lead lasted seven minutes when
Davidson`s long throw was somehow hooked across goal by Flitcroft and helped
into an empty net by Sebastien Perez. After Dahlin had almost made it 3-2,
stopped only by a stunning save by De Goey, Perez was then involved in an
incident which will be discussed for some time to come. On the far touchline,
Le Saux held back Perez and then lashed out and thumped Perez in the face, Le
Saux was rightly and correctly sent off, however for some reason the ref also
booked Perez who having already been booked earlier, also had to walk.
Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson was already angry at the earlier penalty incident
was now totally livid. Ten minutes from time though his anger eased slightly
when Dahlin was fouled by Duberry in the area for another penalty, this time
for Blackburn and Chris Sutton made no mistake to make it 3-2. Within five
minutes it was turned around again as first Laudrup & Poyet combined down the
right, the Dane crossed and substitute Tore Andre Flo flicked in the equaliser
and then Flo latched onto a long through ball to go clear of the defence and
beat Flowers easily to make it 4-3 to Chelsea and they almost made it five
when Laudrup screwed a shot inches wide and Flo was denied an unlikely hat
trick twice by Flowers. Amazing game!!
Sunday 20th September 1998
FA Carling Premiership
Arsenal (2) 3 Man United (0) 0
Adams 14 (Butt
sent off 51)
Anelka 44
Ljundberg 84
Games between these two are rarely dull, often contraversial and recently at
least result in an Arsenal win. The London club have now beaten United in
their last four meetings and we also witnessed Nicky Butt sent off unluckily
for the secobd time in four days,.
Arsenal began by far the stronger and Schmeichal had already saved efforts
from Dixon & Overmars when they took a deserved lead. Young Stephen Hughes
produced a Beckham-like free kick delivery into the area and Tony Adams leapt
to beat Stam and the Schmeichal who`d left his line, to head into the yawning
net. United took their time to find any rhythm but almost levelled it on the
half hour when Beckham was desperatly unlucky to see his shot rebound off the
post, across goal and spin wide. Beckham also had a volley high & wide and two
free kicks that Seaman dealt with and that was just about the sum total of
United`s efforts at goal. Arsenal continually gave the visiting defence
problems, Ray Parlour struck a dipping volley inches wide and Nik Anelka saw
his shot pushed wide by Schmeichal in a one-on-one, although just before the
interval we had a carbon copy of the chance and again Schmeichal saved only
for the Frenchman to snap up the rebound and blast into the net to put Arsenal
two up at the break. The second half began with tempers high, Beckham was
lucky to get away with a kick/stamp on a grounded Winterburn and then on 51
mins Butt saw a red card as he brought down a goal bound Vieira, although
there looked to be cover coming behind him, the ref adjudged that it was a
professional foul on off he went, Roy Keane was booked for protesting and he
was also slightly lucky to stay on as he almost lost his rag again near the
end of the game. As a contest the game practically ended there and then, there
were other chances, Beckham had a couple more long range attempts and
Blomqvist tried his luck also whilst Schmeichal was kept busy in another one
on one with Anelka. The scorer of the second goal was substitued to make way
for Frederik Ljundberg and the Swedish striker added a third goal when he
lobbed the United keeper after latching onto a mis hit pass by Hughes, the
Swede was then also booked minutes later for a foul, however that was the only
blot on a superb day and a fine result for Arsenal.
Saturday 19th September 1998
FA Carling Premiership
Coventry (1) 1 Newcastle (3) 5
Whelan 4 Dabizas 15
Shearer
42, 89
Speed
43
Glass
58
Alan Shearer`s first away league goals since January 1997 helped Newcastle
to a compresensive victory at Highfield Rd. Newcastle have now scored nine in
two games. Sexy Football!!!
Derby (1) 2 Leicester (0) 0
Shnoor 34
Wanchope 51
The East Midlands derby went in favour of the home side with in goal in each
half by two of Derby`s foreigners, just a day after Jim Smith said that there
were too many overseas players in the Prem.
Leeds United (0) 0 Aston Villa (0) 0
Third against top and the best two defences in the league were largely on top.
Leeds hit the woodwork twice and Villa missed two late sitters.
Liverpool (1) 3 Charlton (1) 3
Fowler 32 (pen), 82 Rufus 24
Berger 67 Mendonca 61
Jones
83
Robbie Fowler back with a goal and Richard Rufus scoring his first ever goal
in 147 games for Charlton were the two first half milestones at Anfield and
the second half went into overdrive as Fowler scored again late on only to be
denied with a minute. Charlton are obviously not the pushovers everyone
expected.
Middlesbrough (2) 2 Everton (0) 2
Ricard 27, 34 Ball 47 (pen)
Collins
48
Superb second half recovery by Everton after Hamilton Ricard had again
produced a double first half strike.
Nottm Forest (0) 0 West Ham (0) 0
Goalless at the City Ground although Ian Wright had a great chance late on to
win it for West Ham.
Southampton (0) 1 Spurs (1) 1
Le Tissier 64 Fox 28
No Walker (out of favour) or Baardsen (ill) in goal for Spurs today, so
veteran keeper Hans Segars took his place between the sticks. Matt Le Tissier
grabbed his 200th career goal to equalise the first half effort by Fox to earn
Saints first point of the season.
Wimbledon (1) 2 Sheff Wed (0) 1
Euell 1, 50 Di Canio 84
Quickest goal of the day award (52 seconds) goes to Jason Euell of the Dons
and his second early in the second half wrapped up the points despite a late
rally by the visitors.
--
Gary Dowden - Joint Administrator (ISFA)
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