[gman93]

Andriy Shevchenko scored his first Stamford Bridge goal as Chelsea moved back to the top of the Barclays Premiership with a comfortable 2-1 win over high-flying Portsmouth.
The back-to-back champions had been frustrated by a combination of wasteful finishing and heroics from David James in the Pompey goal until Ukraine striker Shevchenko broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with his second goal of the season.

Michael Ballack netted his first Barclays Premiership goal two minutes later to secure the win which extends Chelsea's unbeaten run to seven games and takes them three points above Manchester United, who play Liverpool on Sunday.

Benjani Mwaruwari pulled one back for Pompey but they have now lost all seven Premier League encounters with Chelsea and, after a promising start to the season, have now lost three of their last four games in the league.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho made three changes to the team which beat Barcelona in midweek, opting to rest Claude Makelele on the bench, restore Arjen Robben to the starting line-up and bring in Paulo Ferreira at right-back in place of Khalid Boulahrouz.

Portsmouth were without first-choice full-backs Glen Johnson, who was not allowed to play as part of his loan deal from Chelsea, and skipper Dejan Stefanovic, ruled out with a knee injury.

But they started brightly and won two corners in the opening two minutes before in-form striker Kanu, with six Barclays Premiership goals to his name already, sent a sixth-minute header narrowly off target.

The Blues' first opportunity came in the ninth minute when Robben fired in a left-wing cross which Didier Drogba volleyed just over.

The Holland winger then had a great chance to put the home side ahead after being put through on goal by Frank Lampard, but James raced out to deflect his attempted chip just wide.

From the resulting corner, James parried Shevchenko's free header to safety as the Blues began to assert their authority.

Chelsea thought they had taken the lead in the 26th minute when James punched the ball into his own net under pressure from Drogba, but referee Mark Clattenburg ruled the Ivory Coast man had fouled the former England keeper.

Hilario, deputising again for injured first-choice keepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini, was by now a virtual spectator on his 31st birthday as Pompey struggled to create any clear-cut chances.

James, in contrast, was having a busy afternoon and had to be at his best to tip Shevchenko's curling shot round the post, before blocking Robben's drive soon after.

Robben was causing all sorts of problems for the Pompey defence and had another chance to open the scoring but, after finding himself in acres of space on the left of the box, shot straight at James.

Chelsea had the ball in the net for a second time four minutes before the break but Shevchenko was correctly ruled offside after Linvoy Primus had been dispossessed on the edge of his box.

Johnson's replacement Noe Pamarot then picked up the first booking of the match for bringing down Shevchenko on the by-line.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp made one change at the break, bringing on Sean Davis for Kanu in an attempt to shore up the midfield, where Chelsea were beginning to overrun the visitors.

But it was not long before James was called into action again as he tipped Shevchenko's header over the bar, with Clattenburg then producing his second yellow card of the game when Pedro Mendes brought down Michael Essien on the edge of the box.

It was one-way traffic and it came as no surprise when Shevchenko put the champions ahead with his first goal since the 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on August 23.

Robben beat his man down the left and cut the ball back for the club-record signing from AC Milan, whose left-footed cross took a slight deflection off Sol Campbell as it arrowed into the bottom corner.

Shevchenko was booked for his celebrations but within two minutes Chelsea had doubled their lead through Ballack, back in Barclays Premiership action after serving his three-match ban for a red card against Liverpool.

Matthew Taylor failed to clear Robben's angled cross and Drogba headed the ball back across goal to give Ballack a simple finish. The Germany midfielder was also shown the yellow card for his over-exuberant reaction.

Drogba had a goal disallowed for offside as the champions threatened to run riot, though Hilario was required to make an instinctive near-post save from Gary O'Neil.

Redknapp sent on veteran striker Andy Cole for the ineffective Manuel Fernandes, while Mourinho replaced Robben with Joe Cole in an attempt to preserve his side's two-goal lead.

But Benjani gave Pompey renewed hope when he converted from eight yards with 20 minutes left.

Carvalho blocked a shot from Cole but Taylor prevented the Blues from clearing the ball and Benjani pounced to drive past Hilario.

Ballack should have put the game beyond Pompey's reach with a quarter of an hour left but James somehow clung onto his powerful strike from the penalty spot.

Makelele came on for Shevchenko to further bolster Chelsea's midfield before James was called into action for the umpteenth time to tip over Drogba's stinging drive.

Boulahrouz replaced Ballack in the final minute as Chelsea repelled a late Pompey rally to maintain their unbeaten home record and return to the Barclays Premiership summit.

[gman93]

Wigan Athletic romped to a 4-0 victory over an injury-hit Manchester City side after stunning their visitors with an electrifying start.
Emile Heskey's strike and a Richard Dunne own goal put the Latics 2-0 ahead inside four minutes before Henri Camara and Antonio Valencia rounded off the win in the second half.

Stuart Pearce's inexperienced side, which included debutants Matthew Mills and Michael Johnson, had no answer to the onslaught as their three-game unbeaten run came crashing to a halt.

Heskey scored the opener after full-back Emmerson Boyce overlapped down the right and delivered a low cross which the former England man met superbly on the half-volley to beat Nicky Weaver with only 63 seconds on the clock.

And it went from bad to worse when the hosts doubled their lead after an aberration from Dunne - who had already allowed Heskey to dart in front of him for the opener.

This time, the recalled Josip Skoko's inswinging free-kick from the left seemed to be heading straight for Weaver, who called decisively but was forced to watch as Dunne headed the ball into his own net for the softest of own goals.

Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland was forced into action for the first time with a brave claim from Joey Barton's cross, but it was all Wigan and Heskey sent an intuitive shot on the turn just wide after City failed to clear a bouncing ball.

A wayward Bernado Corradi drive and a tame header by the same player represented City's only efforts of note in the opening quarter of the match.

Skoko limped off with a hamstring injury just before the half-hour mark to be replaced by Holland international Denny Landzaat.

Wigan then went close from Kevin Kilbane's near-post corner, Paul Scharner beating Weaver to the ball but heading narrowly across the face of goal, the ball squirming through the legs of Camara at the far post.

Corradi wasted the visitors' best chance of the half 10 minutes before the interval from a teasing Trevor Sinclair cross, the Italian losing Fitz Hall with some clever movement but heading over the bar from six yards.

Samaras was lectured by referee Phil Dowd after leading with his arm in an aerial challenge with Valencia before Dietmar Hamann picked up the game's first yellow card for a lunge at Hall.

Hall suffered an ankle injury in the challenge and was replaced at half-time by debutant Andy Webster, while Hamann gave way to striker Paul Dickov as City boss Pearce changed formation and sought a way back into the match.

But it was Wigan who were first to threaten as Scharner headed wide from Kilbane's deep cross.

Corradi was still struggling to find his range with headers and his next effort had to be chased down by Samaras to prevent another goal kick.

Kirkland fumbled Barton's deflected free-kick under pressure from both Corradi and Latics skipper Arjan de Zeeuw, before Webster was booked seven minutes into his Barclays Premiership career for a foul on Corradi.

Pearce introduced Darius Vassell in place of Mills on the hour for his comeback from injury and he had an immediate opportunity to make an impact, screwing his shot across the face of goal after the chance was brilliantly carved out by 18-year-old Johnson.

Camara, though, killed the game off in the 65th minute after great work by England hopeful Leighton Baines.

The full-back surged into the box onto Kilbane's through-ball, beat Micah Richards and pulled the ball across to the near post, where Stephen Jordan actually beat Camara to the ball but could only lash it against the shins of the Senegal striker and into the net.

And Valencia added the fourth with a superb finish as Wigan again scored twice in three minutes. Webster started the move in his own half, winning a challenge against Barton and searching out Heskey on the right touchline.

The striker picked out Valencia breaking from midfield, and the Ecuador international took one touch before lashing the ball fiercely inside the far post from the corner of the penalty area.

Barton continued to try to inspire his side, curling a free-kick narrowly wide and seeing another effort blocked by Baines.

Corradi saw yet another headed attempt saved in stoppage time, and Kilbane then mishit a right-footed effort high and wide as the game neared its conclusion

[theo kawala]

what a win by wigan and well done shevchenko and ballack

[gman93]

Everton ended a run of four Barclays Premiership games without a victory against 10-man Sheffield United.
Mikel Arteta headed them into the lead early on but it was the 33rd-minute dismissal of Claude Davis and the James Beattie penalty which immediately followed that changed the game.

Davis was sent off for the foul on Andy Johnson that resulted in the spot-kick award, but for much of the second half the Blades made a credible fight of it.

The visitors threw men forward but their efforts ultimately proved fruitless.

Everton were forced to use central defender Joleon Lescott at left-back and switch Phil Neville from midfield to the right side of defence due to the injuries to Tony Hibbert and Nuno Valente, while veteran David Weir made his first start of the season.

Simon Davies was given another chance on the right flank while Beattie came in up front alongside Johnson.

The former Crystal Palace striker’s pace and tenacity twice threatened to embarrass Davis and Phil Jagielka before Everton took a 13th-minute lead.

Davies’ determined run across midfield ended with a ball to Neville, who fired over a cross despite being fouled by Leigh Bromby.

The linesman flagged but referee Dermot Gallagher waited just a few seconds to see where the move would end - and it proved a good move as Arteta headed low into the corner of the goal.

Beattie twice went close, Davis pressuring him into a hasty effort - and the next time Davis applied some pressure, it ended in a red card and a penalty.

In the 33rd minute Davies and Arteta combined to send Johnson racing away, with Davis in pursuit.

The England forward went crashing in the box and Gallagher instantly pointed to the spot and dismissed Davis, before Beattie blasted in the spot-kick.

The Blades immediately sent on defender Chris Morgan to fill the gap left by Davis - midfielder Alan Quinn being sacrificed - before wasting two efforts to get back into the game.

First Colin Kazim-Richards deflected a Rob Hulse header goalwards, with Tim Howard making an instinctive block to keep out the effort.

A minute later Hulse got away on the left and pulled an effort across goal and inches wide of the far post.

There was still time for Davies to set up Johnson, who drilled a shot against the woodwork.

The Blades started the second period with commendable spirit, and should have scored when Tim Cahill’s misplaced pass allowed Chris Armstrong to send Leigertwood clear - but his fierce cross-shot flashed inches wide of the far post.

Everton sent on James McFadden and Leon Osman for Beattie and Tim Cahill respectively, with the Blades responding by taking off Kazim-Richards and sending on Danny Webber.

Six minutes later Steven Kabba replaced Keith Gillespie as the Blades’ three forwards kept Everton’s defenders occupied.

Osman wasted a good opening when Neville’s pass put him clear but Everton were being asked to defend and Hulse rose to head just over from a free-kick.

Michael Tonge was booked for a foul on Arteta, while a minute later Everton sent on Victor Anichebe for Neville, Davies reverting to right-back.

There had been very little to trouble Paddy Kenny in the second period and when McFadden’s 18-yard effort sailed wide with 10 minutes left, Everton were no nearer their third goal.

Webber then saw a close-range effort cannon back off Howard’s shins, with the Blades hardly looking like a 10-man team.

Anichebe could have found the net with a 60-yard run and shot over, before flashing another effort wide before McFadden’s 88th-minute header produced the first genuine save for Kenny in the half.

[gman93]

Bottom club Charlton Athletic stopped the rot with a goalless draw against fellow strugglers Watford at The Valley - but manager Iain Dowie was left with more questions than answers.
Veteran striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was relegated to the substitutes’ bench in the hope a change of formation would bring about the required victory following seven defeats in their opening eight league matches.

But despite creating several good opportunities, the finishing touch was still missing in front of goal and it was the battling Hornets - themselves yet to win in the Barclays Premiership - who will have been more happy with a hard-fought point.

Charlton had started brightly, and created the first opening of the match when Darren Bent latched onto a through-ball on the edge of the penalty area.

His angled drive was beaten away by keeper Ben Foster, on loan from Manchester United.

The goal was unguarded, but Addicks winger Dennis Rommedahl was just unable to make meaningful contact with the loose ball before it ran out of play.

With main man Marlon King out due to injury, Darius Henderson led the Hornets attack alongside Ashley Young.

While Watford tried to catch the hosts on the break, too often they opted for a long ball when they had men over.

Winger Jerome Thomas, fit again following a broken foot, was looking lively down the left for Charlton. After 13 minutes, his cut-back was drilled wide of the far post by Bent from around the penalty spot.

At the other end, Hameur Bouazza blazed high over Scott Carson’s goal when the ball dropped to him inside the penalty box following a long throw-in.

A monster drop-kick from Foster then bounced all the way through to his opposite number - and dropped just past the outside of the post.

After 23 minutes, former Charlton trainee Danny Shittu almost saw his flicked header creep under the crossbar.

Thomas - once on the books at Arsenal - then jinked his way into the left side of the area, only to drill the ball just too high.

With seven minutes to go before the break, Bent was released on the left, and his cut-back found Andy Reid. The Republic of Ireland midfielder unleashed a fierce drive, which Foster beat away down to his right.

Charlton were then awarded a free-kick on the right edge of the area after a handball.

Reid whipped the ball up over the wall, with Foster acrobatically tipping it behind for a corner.

Shittu then deflected a dangerous cross behind as the home side pressed during the closing stages of the first half.

When Watford did get a chance as Young sprinted clear on the break, his low, 20-yard strike was too central to worry Carson.

Charlton started the second half well, and almost took the lead on 53 minutes.

Bent slid a pass in for Reid, and he held off the challenge of two defenders to stab the ball under Foster.

However, Jordan Stewart was on hand to dash back and hack clear from in front of his own goal.

At the other end, it should then have been 1-0 to Watford. Young did well to get into the right side of the area, and from the by-line he cut the ball back into the path of Henderson.

However, the Watford striker somehow managed to balloon his effort over the bar from no more than seven yards out.

Tensions inside The Valley grew as the match entered the closing stages.

After 65 minutes, Charlton had a penalty claim turned down by referee Lee Mason when Amady Faye went down under Bouazza's challenge. Watford midfielder Tommy Smith then had a goal-bound effort charged down.

With 13 minutes left, Dowie turned to Hasselbaink with the veteran Dutchman replacing Thomas.

However, the goal Charlton so desperately craved just would not come.

And the afternoon could have ended in further disappointment had Smith volleyed the ball in at the far post rather than wide following a deep cross from the Watford left.

[theo kawala]

the charlton game was BORING