LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - Reports of English premier
league matches over the weekend.
Arsenal 3 Coventry City 0
Veteran Coventry keeper Steve Ogrizovic, 42, making his
first appearance of the season, produced a series of excellent
saves but could not hold back Arsenal's second half surge.
Thierry Henry after 50 minutes, Gilles Grimandi (79) and
Kanu a minute later made the difference as Arsenal stepped-up a
gear after a flat first half.
Coventry never threatened to score and have not won away all
season.
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Leicester City 2 Leeds United 1
A well-deserved win for Leicester who were at their battling
best while Leeds looked tired. Stan Collymore put Leicester
ahead after 14 minutes but Australian Harry Kewell equalised in
the 38th -- his sixth successive scoring match.
Steve Guppy hit the winner three minutes after the break.
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West Ham United 2 Wimbledon 1
West Ham were in command against their London rivals, had
more than 20 attempts on goal but still had to endure a nervous
final 15 minutes.
Paolo Di Canio put West Ham ahead with a spectacular
scissors-kick volley after eight minutes and debutant Frederic
Kanoute, who also struck the bar with a header, got the second
after an hour.
Michael Hughes, with virtually Wimbledon's only effort,
scored a fine long range goal in the 75th minute.
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Played on Saturday
Aston Villa 2 Derby County 0
Paul Merson was again the catalyst for Villa's win with a
command performance in midfield. He set up Benito Carbone for
the opener after 40 minutes and then curled in a great cross for
the unmarked George Boateng to head the second after 57.
Villa striker Dion Dublin, who broke his neck in December,
came on to a standing ovation 10 minutes from time.
----
Bradford City 0 Manchester United 4
United repeated their 4-0 home win from December with ease.
Bradford held out for 37 minutes but then conceded two in
four minutes to Dwight Yorke - a bullet header from a David
Beckham corner and a mis-hit cross that curled over Matt Clarke.
Clarke saved well from Yorke, Gary Neville and Beckham but
was helpless for the stunning third, vollied in from outside the
box by Paul Scholes who had been picked out by a Beckham corner.
Beckham tucked in the fourth 10 minutes from time.
----
Chelsea 1 Southampton 1
Another lean day for Chelsea strikers Chris Sutton and
Gianfranco Zola, who were both substituted.
Jo Tessam scored with a 25 metre shot against the run of
play to put Southampton ahead after 69 minutes but the lead
lasted only six minutes before a headed own goal by Dean
Richards - his second in three games - saved Chelsea's blushes.
----
Liverpool 2 Newcastle United 1
After a quiet first half this turned into a classic after
the break.
Titi Camara, starting in place of the rested Michael Owen,
made his mark with a nicely-volleyed finish to Steven Gerrard's
cross after 51 minutes.
Gerrard was through soon after but Shay Given did well to
dive at his feet and hold the ball.
Liverpool appeared to have paid a heavy price when Alan
Shearer rose to head home an Aaron Hughes cross in the 67th
minute but substitute Jamie Redknapp, only on the pitch for four
minutes, emulated the England striker with a match-winning
header two minutes from time.
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Middlesbrough 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0
Andy Campbell lobbed Boro into the lead after 12 minutes and
looked set for his second soon after before he was brought down
in the box by Kevin Pressman. The keeper escaped with a yellow
card and took full advantage to save Juninho's subsequent
penalty.
The win took Middlesbrough's unbeaten run to six but
Wednesday, who sacked manager Danny Wilson in midweek, look
doomed.
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Sunderland 2 Everton 1
Nicky Summerbee put Sunderland ahead with a free kick after
nine minutes but Nicky Barmby equalised with a great volley in
the 38th.
Kevin Phillips then curled in his 26th goal of the season to
earn Sunderland their first win of the year and gain some
revenge for their 5-0 Goodison defeat in December that started
their dire run.
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Watford 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Watford keeper Alec Chamberlain had a clearance charged down
by Chris Armstrong and the ball fell into the striker's path for
him to tap-in after 51 minutes.
But battling Watford equalised through Allan Smart 12
minutes from time.