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Tuesday August 30, 2011

United Smash Arsenal!

Aston Villa 0 Wolves 0

Wolves survived a second-half battering from Aston Villa to remain unbeaten in the Premier League in a hard-fought derby at Villa Park.
Mick McCarthy's side have now taken seven points from their opening three matches, although they were second best during the second 45 minutes.
Villa dominated territorially during that period, with Gabriel Agbonlahor causing plenty of problems with his pace while Charles N'Zogbia posed more of a threat.
But skipper Roger Johnson produced a typically rock solid performance at the heart of the Wolves back four to help snuff out the threat of the home side, who also remain unbeaten.

Wigan Athletic 2 QPR 0

QPR new boy Joey Barton watched from the stands as Franco Di Santo served up a stark warning of the size of the task ahead for the former Magpie with a winning double at the DW Stadium.
Barton was not registered in time to play Rangers' loss as they were often overrun by a home side who shone with flair and ambition from the kick-off.
Di Santo opened the scoring with a superb right-foot finish five minutes before the break and added his second after 66 minutes when he looped a deflected shot over Paddy Kenny.
The visitors had chances themselves in a bright game and Adel Taarabt hit the post twice in the first period, but Roberto Martinez's men ran out worthy winners.

Blackburn Rovers 0 Everton 1

Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta scored an injury-time penalty as Blackburn Rovers were made to pay for missing two second-half spot-kicks of their own at Ewood Park.
Junior Hoilett saw his penalty saved by Tim Howard a minute after half-time before Mauro Formica fired Rovers' second spot-kick against the post.
Arteta then delivered the killer blow in injury time, after Christopher Samba was judged by referee Lee Mason to have climbed on the back of Marouane Fellaini, to hand Everton their first league win of the season.

Chelsea 3 Norwich City 1

Chelsea avoided an early blow to their Premier League title hopes but lost Didier Drogba to a sickening injury as they struck late again to beat 10-man Norwich City.
The Canaries looked set to stun Stamford Bridge when Grant Holt pounced on a horrible error from Hilario to equalize and Drogba appeared to be knocked unconscious in an aerial challenge with goalkeeper John Ruddy.
But Frank Lampard blasted home from the penalty spot after Ruddy was sent off for bringing down Ramires and Juan Mata scored on his debut, adding to Jose Bosingwa's first goal for almost three years.

Swansea City 0 Sunderland 0

Swansea City's inability to take their chances left them still awaiting their first Premier League goal and win after drawing with Sunderland at the Liberty Stadium.
Record signing Danny Graham headed their best chance wide when unmarked inside the box, while the striker forced two fine saves from Simon Mignolet and Scott Sinclair stuck the bar.
The Black Cats, also without a win, threatened through Asamoah Gyan early on but he missed their best chance when he miscontrolled a Jack Colback pass, while debutant John O'Shea hit the bar.

Liverpool 3 Bolton Wanderers 1

Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam scored their first Liverpool goals as the Reds crushed Bolton Wanderers to move top of the Premier League on goal difference.
The summer signings struck either side of a powerful Martin Skrtel header as the hosts, inspired by the outstanding Luis Suarez, produced an electrifying performance at Anfield.
Bolton struck late on through Ivan Klasnic but generally offered little as Liverpool, backed by a raucous crowd, displayed further evidence of their rejuvenation under Kenny Dalglish.

Newcastle United 2 Fulham 1

Leon Best emerged from the Tyneside shadows to prove there is life after Joey Barton as Newcastle maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
The Ireland international was asked to stand in for the injured Ameobi and responded with a second-half double to reward Alan Pardew for his faith with the club's quest to land a another frontman ongoing.
However, the Magpies were indebted to keeper Tim Krul for three superb second-half saves from Steve Sidwell, Chris Baird and Danny Murphy before he was finally beaten for the first time in the new Premier League campaign by Clint Dempsey's 88th-minute header.

Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester CIty 5

Edin Dzeko scored four times as he and debutant Samir Nasri helped City put Spurs to the sword with a ruthless display of attacking football at White Hart Lane.
Nasri supplied the crosses for Dzeko to score his first two goals and he also played his part in the run-up to Sergio Aguero's strike, which made it 4-0 with half an hour to go.
Younes Kaboul headed home a consolation goal for Tottenham, but the afternoon belonged to Dzeko, who clinched his hat-trick by firing in from six yards on the hour before scoring his fourth - a beautiful curling effort - with the last kick of the match.

West Brom 0 Stoke City 1

Stoke City substitute Ryan Shotton scored a late winner after a mix-up between Albion's goalkeeper Ben Foster and centre-back Gabriel Tamas to settle this Premier League clash at the Hawthorns.
There appeared little danger when Jonathan Walters pumped a harmless ball into the box but Foster and Tamas allowed Shotton to nip in and score with only a minute remaining of normal time.
The goal earned unbeaten Stoke their first league win of the campaign, after two draws, and means Albion have lost their opening three matches.

Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2

Manchester United shattered Arsenal by slamming eight goals past the shell-shocked Gunners at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney walked off with the matchball, having scored his 150th United goal, then adding two more after half-time to complete his hat-trick.
Yet Rooney's efforts did not even account for half of United's staggering tally as they scored eight for the first time since 1999.
Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young, Nani and Park Ji-sung also found the net before Young completed the rout with his second.
It was Arsenal's worst ever defeat against United and the first time they have conceded eight in a league game since 1896.