Middlesbrough 2 Portsmouth 0
Middlesbrough scored twice to make sure that they will be playing top flight football next season with the result over Portsmouth who themselves haven’t won for 3 games but are more likely looking forward to the Fa cup final against Cardiff in a couple of weeks at wembley.
Middlesbrough didn’t start the first half like a team who could win this football match.They started very nervous & Portsmouth had all the play & should have really took it to Middlesbrough & put the game out of reach in the first 25 minutes.Distin who was playing well put in a great cross field pass which was brought down by Mvuemba who then put in a superb cross only to see Baros shot easily blocked & the rebound fell to Johnson who fired his shot well wide of the goal.
Portsmouth had Middlesbrough on the back foot & was trying to score but wished they didn’t fall to Baros who still hadn’t scored since his loan move & don’t look like doing so.Like after 20 Min’s Mvuemba had the ball looked up & picked him out with a love easy pass only for Baros to fire it hard & over the bar from 10 yards no wonder Liverpool got rid of him.Middlesbrough had no attacking & didn’t look like they could score & they are only better then Derby in that respect. Gareth Southgate
After half an hour they did start to force something & Alves & Downing had long range shots which did trouble the Portsmouth Ashdown a bit but not to much.But with portsmouth now becoming wasteful Middlesbrough took there chance.They had a corner which Rochemback took he floated it over & Chris Riggot who was just called back from loan at Stoke powered a header past Ashdown & into the net to send them one up at half time.
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Blackburn 3 Derby 1
Blackburn kept up there good form & a place in the intertoto cup within reach as they come from behind against bottom club Derby who are now officially the worse football club & point scorers & goals scored in the premiership since it began. Sunderland must be breathing a sigh of relief after this game as they had that tag until now & with teams getting stronger i pity teams coming up from the championship.
Darby started the game better & looked good with Blackburn not looking to threatening but Derby looked like they wouldn’t score.But they did take the lead in the 20th minute when Carroll make a long clearance which went straight to Kenny Miller who’s control was brilliant & he slotted the ball passed Brad Friedel into the right hand part of the goal to put Derby 1 up & everyone wondering could this be the day but it wasn’t to be.
Blackburn then had some chances of there own to peg Derby back like Jason Roberts should have done better but instead of a powerful shot he spent to much time thinking about it.Bentley tried to chip Carroll minutes later but he was only just wide.Derby were hanging on but unfortunately it didn’t last long.Blackburn’s buy of the season Santa Cruz got them back level when he collected the ball & side footed it past Carroll to put both team level at the break. Mark Hughes
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Aston Villa 0 Wigan 2
Wigan secure Premiership safety thanks to 2 goals from Antonio Valencia that left a Aston Villa side fighting for 5th spot & Uefa cup football next season in the balance from this unexpected result of the day.
Right from the off Wigan showed they were here to spoil the day as they started very well showing some good football which Steve Bruce had brought to the club.Olof Mellberg who was starting his last home match for Villa had to make some important tackles & it took Villa until the 20th minute to actually create a chance. Martin O’Neill
A great free kick from Ashley Young found the head of Zak Knight which was heading towards goal only for Chris Kirkland to pull off a fine save.Villa started to get into the match more & the impressive Barry started to get hold of midfield & create chances.He had one himself but Kirkland made another fine save & then Agbonlahor should have done better but could only drag his shot wide.Villa tried for the rest of the half but found Wigan in determined mood.
Reading 0 Tottenham 1
Reading are pinning all there hope’s on there home game against Derby next Sunday & hoping Fulham don’t beat Portsmouth after another loss in the premiership.They have only managed to win 3 times since christmas & since they last scored is amazing & it stands at 550 football match minutes.
The first half was all Tottenham & the fans were wondering if Reading even turned up as it was chance after chance for Tottenham & you could see why Reading were in the bottom three after this game.It didn’t take Darren Bent long to cause some trouble as his speed took him behind the defence & force a stop from Marcus Hahnemann.Tottenham then dominated the possession & the game & it took only 16 minutes for them to score.That man Bent again with his speed ran at the defence & passed it to Keane who went passed two defender’s & had a delightful shot which ended up into the corner of the net. Steve Coppell
Reading knowing there plight just couldn’t get going & with Tottenham playing so well it was hard to do so. Keane then had a free kick which had the keeper using a strong hand to get it away followed by Malbranque who scored a lovely second goal but the linesman ruled it offside where on the replayed you could see it wasn’t so Reading survived there.With Rosenior doing a superb tackle to keep out Keane & with Rita & Doyle trying there best at the other end but finding the Tottenham defence in superb form they went off at half time looking like a relegated team.
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Bolton 2 Sunderland 0
Bolton can breath a huge sigh of relief with this fantastic win against Sunderland with puts them 3 points above the relegation zone with 1 game left but there goal difference is way better then teams down the bottom so they should be okay.
During the first half you could see why Bolton was down there fighting as trying to score a goal was becoming hard work & with all there battling & possession .Even though they had Nolan back from suspension & Diouf playing his last home game there passing & movement wasn’t really together & it looked like another frustration afternoon.
But 5 minutes before half time they had hope Nolan got hold of the ball found some space & time & put in a cross from the right which Diouf picked up & had lots of time to control the ball how he wanted it & smash a low hard shot passed the hands of Craig Gordon & into the net to send the Bolton fans dreaming of staying up. Roy Keane
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