Premiership Results
Tuesday 20th December
19.45	Wolves	2-2	Norwich
20.00	Blackburn	1-2	Bolton
Wednesday 21st December
19.45	Aston Villa	1-2	Arsenal
19.45	Man City	3-0	Stoke
19.45	Newcastle	2-3	West Brom
20.00	Everton	1-0	Swansea
20.00	Fulham	0-5	Man Utd
20.00	QPR	2-3	Sunderland
20.00	Wigan	0-0	Liverpool
Thursday 22nd December
20.00	Tottenham	1-1	Chelsea

Premiership table
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Man City	17	9	0	0	28	4	5	2	1	25	11	38	44
2	Man Utd	17	6	1	1	23	11	7	2	0	19	3	28	42
3	Tottenham	16	6	1	1	17	8	5	1	2	15	11	13	35
4	Chelsea	17	6	0	2	21	12	4	3	2	14	8	15	33
5	Arsenal	17	6	1	1	14	5	4	1	4	19	20	8	32
6	Liverpool	17	3	5	0	10	6	5	1	3	10	7	7	30
7	Newcastle	17	4	3	2	12	11	3	3	2	11	11	1	27
8	Stoke	17	4	2	2	12	9	3	1	5	6	19	-10	24
9	Norwich	17	4	2	2	16	12	1	4	4	11	19	-4	21
10	West Brom	17	2	1	5	7	11	4	2	3	12	15	-7	21
11	Everton	16	3	2	4	9	10	3	0	4	8	9	-2	20
12	Aston Villa	17	3	2	4	11	11	1	5	2	8	12	-4	19
13	Fulham	17	3	3	3	14	14	1	3	4	4	9	-5	18
14	Swansea	17	4	3	1	10	2	0	3	6	6	19	-5	18
15	Sunderland	17	2	3	3	12	10	2	2	5	9	11	0	17
16	QPR	17	1	4	4	8	15	3	0	5	9	16	-14	16
17	Wolves	17	3	2	4	13	15	1	1	6	6	17	-13	15
18	Wigan	17	1	4	4	9	16	2	1	5	6	14	-15	14
19	Bolton	17	1	0	7	10	21	3	0	6	12	18	-17	12
20	Blackburn	17	2	0	7	12	19	0	4	4	12	19	-14	10

Manchester City secured top spot for Christmas, Man United eased past Fulham and Arsenal left it late at Aston Villa.

Luis Suarez could not help Liverpool to victory at Wigan as the Reds were held to a goalless draw at the DW Stadium, with Charlie Adam's second half penalty miss proving costly.

West Brom got the better of Newcastle after a five-goal thriller at St James' Park, while Sunderland's late sucker punch earned them a 3-2 win at Queens Park Rangers.

Everton picked up three precious points after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea at Goodison Park.










Blackburn hit rock bottom of the Premier League and the pressure was turned up on manager Steve Kean following a calamitous loss to Bolton at Ewood Park.

Already under intense scrutiny, with the local paper calling for his head yesterday, the Scot was roundly abused by the home fans from the moment Mark Davies struck his fourth-minute opener.

Nigel Reo-Coker added another before the break and, although Yakubu pulled one back in the middle of a much-improved second-half display, Bolton leapfrogged their relegation rivals, who will spend Christmas Day rooted to the bottom of the table.

Only one side has avoided being relegated in May from that position and it is hard to see Kean inspiring Blackburn the way Bryan Robson famously did at West Brom.

Blackburn Robinson, Lowe, Samba, Hanley, Pedersen, Hoilett, Dunn, Nzonzi, Vukcevic (Rochina 65), Formica (Goodwillie 65), Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Petrovic, Blackman, Roberts, Henley.

Booked: Formica, Lowe, Dunn.

Goals: Yakubu 67.

Bolton Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Alonso (Robinson 57), Mark Davies, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Klasnic (Pratley 81), Ngog (Sanli 72).
Subs Not Used: Bogdan, Eagles, Kevin Davies, Boyata.

Goals: Mark Davies 5, Reo-Coker 30.

Att: 25,570

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).






Wolves twice came from behind to rescue a precious point in their battle for Premier League survival against Norwich at Molineux.

Former Wolves midfielder Andrew Surman broke the deadlock only for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who replaced the axed Kevin Doyle, to level before half-time.

Substitute Simeon Jackson restored Norwich's lead with his first touch but Ronald Zubar's first goal of the campaign rescued Wolves from a second home defeat in four days.

Wolverhampton Hennessey, Zubar, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Jarvis, Milijas, Henry, Hunt (Hammill 75), Fletcher, Ebanks-Blake (Doyle 80).
Subs Not Used: De Vries, Guedioura, Stearman, Elokobi, Forde.

Booked: Zubar, Hunt.

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 37, Zubar 82.

Norwich Ruddy, Naughton, Martin, Whitbread, Tierney, Fox (Johnson 75), Crofts, Surman, Hoolahan (Bennett 87), Morison, Holt (Jackson 75).
Subs Not Used: Rudd, Wilbraham, Barnett, Pilkington.

Booked: Naughton, Martin.

Goals: Surman 12, Jackson 76.

Att: 27,067

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).








Yossi Benayoun's late goal earned Arsenal a 2-1 win at Aston Villa as Marc Albrighton made history with the 20,000th Premier League goal, via an equaliser that ultimately proved in vain.

Arsenal made the breakthrough on 17 minutes when Robin van Persie scored his 34th goal of 2011 from the penalty spot after Theo Walcott had been tugged back by Ciaran Clark.

Albrighton drew Villa level on 54 minutes and made history in the process as he grabbed the 20,000th Premier League goal when he beat Per Mertersacker to a loose ball to fire into the net.

Benayoun came off the bench to grab the winner three minutes from time as he headed home Van Persie's corner to pile the misery on struggling Villa.

To compound Villa's misery Alan Hutton was sent off in the closing seconds for a second bookable offence.

Aston Villa Guzan, Hutton, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Albrighton (Delfouneso 88), Ireland (Bannan 45), Clark, Petrov, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Collins, Delph, Weimann, Williams.

Sent Off: Hutton (90).

Booked: Clark, Hutton.

Goals: Albrighton 54.

Arsenal Szczesny, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Walcott, Ramsey (Benayoun 81), Frimpong (Rosicky 66), Arteta, Gervinho (Arshavin 80), van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Squillaci, Chamakh.

Booked: Coquelin, Mertesacker, van Persie.

Goals: van Persie 17 pen, Benayoun 87.

Att: 35,818

Ref: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire).





Leon Osman scored the only goal to earn Everton their third win at Goodison Park this season as Swansea's away-day struggles continued.

The Swans have picked up only three points on their travels and, although their miserly defence withstood a flurry of chances at the end of the first half, they could not prevent Osman heading in Royston Drenthe's corner on the hour mark.

The visitors had only one chance of note but Danny Graham should have made it count rather than heading straight at Tim Howard, while Swans keeper Michel Vorm twice saved well from Everton substitute Magaye Gueye.

Everton Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Heitinga, Baines, Coleman (Gueye 31), Fellaini, Neville, Drenthe (Cahill 80), Osman, Saha (Stracqualursi 75).
Subs Not Used: Mucha, McFadden, Distin, Barkley.

Booked: Gueye.

Goals: Osman 60.

Swansea Vorm, Richards, Williams, Caulker, Taylor (Rangel 45), Routledge, Gower (Agustien 46), Britton (Lita 74), Allen, Sinclair, Graham.
Subs Not Used: Tremmel, Dobbie, Monk, Moore.

Booked: Williams, Routledge.

Att: 32,004

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).




Manchester United remain on City's tails after a stunning 5-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

United made a flying start with Danny Welbeck giving them the lead after just five minutes when he converted Nani's pull back.

The visitors doubled their advantage just before the half hour mark when Nani glanced in Ryan Giggs' inswinging cross.

Nani repaid the compliment two minutes before the break as he crossed for Giggs to score with a deflected shot over David Stockdale.

United were hardly out of second gear in the second half, but Wayne Rooney made it 4-0 two minutes from time as he capped his 300th Premier League appearance with a superb goal from fully 30 yards out.

Dimitar Berbatov had the final word as he grabbed his 50th goal for United with a sublime backheeled effort.

Fulham Stockdale, Baird (Kelly 74), Senderos, Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Ruiz, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey (Zamora 85), Dembele, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Etheridge, Gecov, Duff, Hughes, Frei.

Booked: Baird.

Man Utd Lindegaard, Smalling, Jones (Young 20), Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Welbeck (Berbatov 76), Young (Park 58).
Subs Not Used: De Gea, Hernandez, Rafael Da Silva, Fryers.

Goals: Welbeck 5, Nani 28, Giggs 43, Rooney 88, Berbatov 90.

Att: 25,700

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).





Manchester City cemented their place at the top of the table for the festive period with a comfortable 3-0 win over a lacklustre Stoke at the Etihad Stadium.

The home side forged ahead just before the half hour mark and there was a hint of controversy about it, as Sergio Aguero poked the ball home from two yards in a seemingly offside position after Thomas Sorensen could only parry Vincent Kompany's shot.

Man City added a second on 36 minutes as Adam Johnson made the most of a rare spot in the starting XI with a stunning shot past Sorensen from 25 yards out.

City made the game safe on 54 minutes as Aguero netted his second of the contest when he tapped home Samir Nasri's cross.

Man City Hart, Richards (Savic 59), Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Barry (Milner 83), Toure Yaya, Johnson, Silva (Balotelli 68), Nasri, Aguero.
Subs Not Used: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Toure, De Jong.

Booked: Richards, Johnson.

Goals: Aguero 29, Johnson 36, Aguero 54.

Stoke Sorensen, Huth, Woodgate (Diao 80), Upson, Wilson, Walters, Palacios, Whitehead, Shotton, Jones (Pennant 74), Jerome (Fuller 68).
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Delap, Etherington, Arismendi.

Booked: Fuller.

Att: 46,321

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).





Paul Scharner's late goal earned West Brom an impressive 3-2 win over Newcastle to give Roy Hodgson some Christmas cheer.

West Brom stunned the home side after 20 minutes when Chris Brunt sent Peter Odemwingie clear on goal and the Nigerian clinically finished past Tim Krul.

Demba Ba drew Newcastle level on 34 minutes with a sublime free-kick from 25 yards with his 12th goal in 12 games.

West Brom restored their lead right on the stroke of half-time as Gareth McAuley headed home his first goal for the club after Shane Long had headed Brunt's cross back across goal.

Newcastle drew level for a second time nine minutes from time as Ba smashed home after being teed up Hatem Ben Arfa.

However, West Brom refused to lie down and Scharner netted the winner on 85 minutes with a good volley from Odemwingie's header.

Newcastle Krul, Simpson, Perch, Coloccini, Santon (Ryan Taylor 46), Obertan (Shola Ameobi 72), Vuckic, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best (Ben Arfa 61), Ba.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Williamson, Abeid, Sammy Ameobi.

Booked: Coloccini.

Goals: Ba 34, 81.

West Brom Foster, Reid (Jones 6), McAuley, Olsson, Shorey, Thomas (Dorrans 68), Mulumbu (Thorne 76), Scharner, Brunt, Odemwingie, Long.
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Dawson, Cox, Fortune.

Goals: Odemwingie 20, McAuley 44, Scharner 85.

Att: 51,060

Ref: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).






Wes Brown's first goal for Sunderland earned Martin O'Neill's men a dramatic late 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Sunderland broke the deadlock on 19 minutes as Nicklas Bendtner headed home Kieran Richardson's corner inside the six-yard box.

The visitors made it 2-0 after 53 minutes when Stephane Sessegnon raced clear on goal and dummied Paddy Kenny before rolling the ball into the empty net.

QPR reduced the arrears on 63 minutes later when Heidar Helguson beat Sunderland keeper Keiren Westwood to the ball to slide home Alejandro Faurlin's cross from the left.

The home side drew level four minutes later as Jamie Mackie netted his first goal since he broke his leg last January as he nodded home Helguson's header back across goal.

The game looked to be heading for a draw until Brown popped up with an unlikely winner in the closing stages.

QPR Kenny, Young, Gabbidon, Connolly (Bothroyd 90), Traore (Hall 80), Barton, Faurlin, Derry, Wright-Phillips (Taarabt 46), Mackie, Helguson.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Hill, Campbell, Smith.

Booked: Connolly, Faurlin.

Goals: Helguson 63, Mackie 67.

Sunderland Westwood, O'Shea, Bramble, Brown, Bardsley, Larsson (Gardner 75), Cattermole, Vaughan (Colback 71), Richardson, Sessegnon, Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Carson, Kilgallon, Ji, McClean, Elmohamady.

Booked: Sessegnon, Cattermole.

Goals: Bendtner 19, Sessegnon 53, Brown 89.

Att: 16,167

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).






Liverpool missed the chance to keep pace with the leading pack after being held to a goalless draw at Wigan.

All eyes were on Suarez at the DW Stadium but the Uruguayan could not inspire Liverpool to victory as Ali Al Habsi kept the visitors at bay.

Adam had Liverpool's best chance to break the deadlock when Gary Caldwell was adjudged to have handled Suarez's attempted bicycle kick inside the box, but Al Habsi produced a superb save to keep out the Scot's penalty.

Wigan Al Habsi, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Stam, Jones (Watson 74), Diame, McCarthy, Moses, Gomez (Rodallega 74), Sammon (Di Santo 61).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Crusat, McArthur, Lopez.

Booked: Caldwell.

Liverpool Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Kuyt (Shelvey 72), Maxi (Bellamy 72), Suarez (Carroll 87).
Subs Not Used: Doni, Coates, Carragher, Kelly.

Booked: Johnson, Bellamy.

Att: 19,230

Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).








Tottenham and Chelsea were forced to share the spoils as the battle for supremacy in the capital ended in stalemate at White Hart Lane.

Spurs started at break-neck speed, taking the lead through Emmanuel Adebayor's tap-in, but they soon faded and the Blues equalised with Daniel Sturridge's 10th of the campaign.

Ramires wasted two gilt-edged chances to give the Blues what would have been a morale-boosting victory and Didier Drogba rattled the woodwork as Spurs were made to hang on for a point.

The result means Spurs remain two points ahead of Chelsea having played one match more, but Harry Redknapp will be disappointed not to have inflicted a telling blow on their neighbours in a game they went in to as favourites.

Tottenham Friedel, Walker, Gallas, King, Assou-Ekotto, Modric, Parker, Sandro, Bale, Adebayor, Van der Vaart (Pavlyuchenko 46).
Subs Not Used: Gomes, Kaboul, Bassong, Kranjcar, Rose, Livermore.

Booked: Adebayor, Bale.

Goals: Adebayor 8.

Chelsea Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic (Ferreira 34), Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel (Romeu 45), Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba (Torres 77), Mata.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou.

Booked: Ivanovic, Ramires.

Goals: Sturridge 23.

Att: 36, 141

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

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