Newz Forum: SOCCER: Barclays Premiership results 05/02/05

Norwich midfielder Damien Francis scored a dramatic late winner against West Brom in an entertaining clash between the bottom two teams of the Barclays Premiership.

Robert Earnshaw had given the Baggies a 41st-minute lead after Jonathan Greening had set him up, but away 'keeper Russell Hoult gifted the Canaries an equaliser after failing to deal with Craig Fleming's header. Kieran Richardson, who is on loan from Manchester United, restored the lead at the second attempt early in the second half after Robert Green saved from Earnshaw, giving his side hope of lifting themselves off the bottom. But Gary Doherty levelled again, flicking home from a free-kick, and Francis struck with five minutes remaining to lift the Canaries above Southampton in the table.


Crystal Palace's survival hopes were dented after a controversial Bolton winner at Selhurst Park. Kevin Nolan's strike won the lunchtime kick-off clash, although it was unclear if his close-range volley had crossed the line before Emmerson Boyce cleared. Andrew Johnson had Palace's best chance to level, stabbing wide from five yards after latching onto Dougie Freedman's cross in the second half.


Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes made it two goals in two games to help his side beat Fulham 3-1 at Anfield. The Spain striker struck after nine minutes with a near-post header after good work from Luis Garcia but Andy Cole levelled seven minutes later for the Cottagers, nodding in from Luis Boa Morte's cross. Sami Hyypia restored the lead by heading in at the far post from Steven Gerrard's free-kick after 63 minutes, and Milan Baros lashed a third with 13 minutes left in the game.


Roy Keane inspired Manchester United to a 2-0 against Birmingham at Old Trafford, cutting Chelsea's lead at the top back to eight points. Cristiano Ronaldo, celebrating his 20th birthday today, set up his captain to score from close range after 55 minutes, and Wayne Rooney added a second after a poor backpass from Kenny Cunningham. Loan striker Walter Pandiani smacked the crossbar with a volley just before the break but could not make it goals in successive games for the Blues.


Arsenal showed no hangover from the crushing mid-week defeat by Manchester United as a first-half scoring blitz killed off Aston Villa 3-1 at Villa Park. Freddie Ljungberg, Thierry Henry and Ashley Cole fired the Gunners into a 3-0 lead and Juan Pablo Angel grabbed a second-half consolation for Villa. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had publicly written off his side's hopes of retaining their crown after the 4-2 reversal at the hands of the Red Devils. But that message has clearly not been transmitted through to his players who played with a belief and conviction that they could still overhaul Chelsea.


Mido scored twice on his Tottenham debut to give his new side three points against Portsmouth, winning 3-1. Diomansy Kamara opened the scoring for the visitors after 28 minutes against the run of play, heading Patrik Berger's corner past Paul Robinson. But Mido headed in after 34 minutes following good work from Simon Davies, then tapped in at the far post in the second half after Jermain Defoe set him up. Robbie Keane lobbed a third after Andy Reid, another Spurs new signing, had hit the bar after cutting in from the left.


Charlton grabbed a hard-earned point against Newcastle thanks to Dennis Rommedahl's spectacular strike. Kieran Dyer opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half with a deflected shot past Dean Kiely. But Rommedahl struck in the next minute, with his drive going in off Shay Given's upright, and Graeme Souness' side were jeered off at St James' Park as it finished 1-1.


Franck Queudrue scored the only goal of the game as Middlesbrough took the points against Blackburn at the Riverside. The French left-back cut inside from the flank and found the far corner with an accurate shot. Boro had to hold on at the end after midfielder Ray Parlour was dismissed after receiving his second yellow card.

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