Saturday January 14
West Brom v Norwich
Norwich took home all three points with a 2-1 victory over a home-shy West Brom at the Hawthorns.
Midfielder Andrew Surman gave the visitors the lead minutes before half time when he accepted Wes Hoolahan's cross following a fast break for his second goal in as many games.
The Baggies levelled through Shane Long on 69 minutes - 6 minutes after he replaced striking partner Peter Odemwingie. The Ireland international converted a penalty won by Jerome Thomas, after he was fouled by the promising Daniel Ayala.
But 10 minutes from time, the Canaries broke yet again on the fast break, this time Grant Holt was the provider for Steve Morison to head into the top right corner for the winner.
West Brom 1-2 Norwich
Manchester United v Bolton
Paul Scholes started, and scored, as Manchester United went equal top of the league with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Trotters 'keeper Adam Bogdan was super in the opening period - first denying Nani, before pulling off a great reaction save from Danny Welbeck. But his biggest moment came when United were awarded a penalty on 15 minutes after Zat Knight denied Welbeck a clear goal scoring opportunity, only to warrant a yellow card. Wayne Rooney stepped up to be denied his second penalty in consecutive weeks - Bogdan guessing the right way with a wonderful stop.
The 'keeper received no support from his Gary Cahill-less back four and finally succumbed to the pressure just before the break, when Nani's deflected cross fell to Rooney, who found returning legend Scholes unmarked at the back post to strike home for a 1-0 half time lead.
Rooney continued to have an off day with miss-timed passes and wayward shots, but his slight touch on 74 minutes gave Danny Welbeck the lead to put United 2-0 ahead. Both assister and scorer suffered slight knocks, the latter substituted immediately.
Michael Carrick, with yet another stellar performance in midfield rounded off the win on 83 minutes when he accepted Ryan Giggs' pass, before curling his left foot shot from 25 yards into the bottom left corner.
Manchester United 3-0 Bolton
Tottenham v Wolves
Tottenham lost contact with the leaders when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Mick McCarthy's Wolves.
The Spurs started brightly with a chance to Modric early, but it was McCarthy's men who took the lead on 22 minutes, when Steven Fletcher followed up a Roger Johnson header following a corner.
And Wolves could have doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break, when Matt Jarvis broke down the left and found David Edwards at the centre of the box, but the midfielder sliced a golden opportunity wide of Brad Friedel's goal.
The home side remained on top of play, and could count themselves unlucky when Gareth Bale's skewed shot was tapped home by Emmanuel Adebayor, however the referee's assistant controversially deemed the striker offside at point of contact.
It only seemed a matter of time before Spurs drew level, and they did on 51 minutes, when Gareth Bale squared for Luka Modric, who powered his shot past 'keeper Wayne Hennessey from beyond the box.
Despite his assist, Bale was unusually quiet, yet Redknapp's men continued to channel attacks through the star. And when he had the chance to curl home a free kick at the death, the Wales winger skied his effort over the bar.
Tottenham 1-1 Wolves
Chelsea v Sunderland
Despite a less than convincing performance, Chelsea recorded an important three points with a 1-0 victory over an impressive Sunderland outfit at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues took an early lead after just 13 minutes, when Juan Mata clipped a ball to the back post for Fernando Torres, who acrobatically side-volleyed against the cross bar - the rebound fortuitously bouncing off Frank Lampard and into the net.
The Black Cats were never out of the game, and on 65 minutes they should have equalised, when following a fast break, Sebastian Larsson squared for James McLean to miss the impossible from the centre of the box.
Martin O'Neill's men were super in the second half and went agonisingly close to finding a leveller, firstly through Craig Gardner, then a desperate effort from Nicklas Bendtner went marginally wide.
Despite a sub-par display, Andre Villas-Boas will be delighted with three points, and the long-awaited return of key midfielder Michael Essien, who made an appearance as a substitute.
Chelsea 1-0 Sunderland
Aston Villa v Everton
Victor Anichebe cancelled out Darren Bent's opener to give Everton a vital away point against Aston Villa.
The Toffees should have taken the lead on the half hour mark when Landon Donovan crossed for Louis Saha, who was infringed in his header attempt and unable to make any contact with the ball.
But it was Bent who gave the Villains the lead 10 minutes after the break. The striker controlled, then volleyed home a rebound from a Stephen Ireland shot, despite close attention from Phil Neville.
Saha could not provide his manager with his first goal of the season, which forced David Moyes to introduce Anichebe, and it proved to be a master stroke when the Nigerian obliged to man-of-the-match Donovan's through ball to slip his finish under Shay Given 20 minutes from time.
Aston Villa 1-1 Everton
Blackburn v Fulham
Despite losing a man early, Blackburn recorded a stunning 3-1 victory against a hapless Fulham at Ewood Park.
The first action of the match came on 23 minutes when Yakubu was shown a straight red card by referee Anthony Taylor for his challenge on Danny Murphy. This forced Rovers manager Steve Kean to re-shuffle his side, which saw midfielder Radosav Petrovic substituted for striker David Goodwillie, with David Dunn dropping back into midfield.
The Rovers held tight, and were fortunate when 'keeper Paul Robinson pulled sublimely denied Phillipe Senderos' header from close range.
And just before half time, the home side took a shock lead. Dunn won a free kick in a dangerous area - Morten Gamst Pedersen curled a left foot strike into the bottom left corner for a 1-0 half time buffer.
Rovers fans could not believe their luck when just after the break, Dunn made it two. Goodwillie's shot was well blocked, however it ricocheted to the midfielder to slam home into the bottom left corner.
But against his old side, Damien Duff pulled one back for the visitors when he accepted Danny Murphy's pass to send his right foot strike into the bottom right corner with plenty of time left.
However it only proved to be a consolation as Steven N'Zonzi played a lofted through ball for Mauro Formica to seal a memorable 3-1 victory being a man short for a large portion of the match.
Blackburn 3-1 Fulham
Liverpool v Stoke
Liverpool had just one shot on target in 90 minutes to record their seventh home draw of the season, this time 0-0 against a stubborn Stoke City.
Kenny Dalglish began with Andy Carroll and Craig Bellamy on the bench, despite not having Luis Suarez available due to suspension. However, Carroll was introduced on the hour mark for Stewart Downing to provide a presence and a spark in the final third, which was commanded by the Potters' for most of the afternoon.
The Reds best chance came when Dirk Kuyt put his diving header wide of the goal 13 minutes before time.
Despite never looking like scoring, Tony Pulis' well-disciplined troops were superb in defence to deny the Reds and scrounge a draw.
Liverpool 0-0 Stoke
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