ASTON VILLA 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 0
A scruffy goal from Dion Dublin after 11 minutes was enough to lift Aston Villa up two places to fourteenth, one above their bitter rivals, Birmingham City. The game however, was spoiled as a spectacle following Boros Mark Wilsons sending off after twenty-seven minutes for two bookable offences and despite a late flurry from Boro Villa were worthy winners.
Villa boss Graham Taylor, was diplomatic in his post match choice of words regarding referee, Rob Styles. He said: "Ive often noticed that when teams are down to ten men they become more tactically aware and difficult to play against. I was cross that our extra mana was not made to count. Ulises De La Cruz should have been our outlet, maybe hes lost some confidence but I wasnt happy with him.
"Since we lost in the Worthington Cup to Liverpool followed by two league defeats the players were well aware of how important this game was. If the referee had come in at half time to call it a day, the players would have accepted it!'
Steve McLaren was not so reticent in his feelings towards Styles however; He said: "I just asked him to show a little common sense. Maybe it worked because we kept ten men on in the second half but I was very frustrated because there was not a dirty tackle in the game, although it was hectic and frantic.'
SOUTHAMPTON 2 SUNDERLAND 1
Jo Tessems strike, in the fourth minute of injury time kept Sunderland in the bottom three. James Beattie had earlier given the Saints the lead but Tore Andre Flo equalized just four minutes later and it was a cruel way for stubborn Sunderland to lose the game.
Howard Wilkinson was upset but not downbeat as he said: "It was an undeserved defeat in the circumstances – particularly after our second half performance – but we have to move on. Things are very difficult but we have proved today that we have character. At the moment that is our biggest ally – without it we wont bounce back.'
Gordon Strachan was delighted with is teams performance, which has lifted them to the heady heights of seventh and felt it was pay back for earlier games this season. He said: "We had three late goals go against us early in the season but after today I think you can say we got them all back. We are a team who fight back and that is excellent. We will now try and catch the team in front of us but it is good to get into the New Year unbeaten at home and everybody is involved in that.'
The game will probably be remembered for Saints coach Dennis Rofe, and his opposite number Steve Cotterill having a slanging match on the touchline, which caused the game to be held up for a minute until normal service had been resumed!
BLACKBURN ROVERS 2 WEST HAM UNITED 2
The Hammers moved level on points with West Brom following their last gasp equalizer at Eewood Park. Jermaine Defoe pounced with four minutes remaining to cancel out strikes from Damian Duff, thanks to an horrendous David James blunder, and Andy Cole for Rovers and a Martin Taylor own goal for the Irons.
Despite only having three wins all season, United boss, Glenn Roeder is convinced his team can escape the drop. He said: "This was a brave performance especially after conceding the first goal in such a manner early on. This is a really important for us to have taken because we have taken some real below the belt sucker punches this season. I thought we showed a lot of character too come back twice.'
However, Rovers boss Graeme Souness was disappointed with his sides showing after the two previous games had seen a victory aver Manchester United and a draw at Anfield. He surmised: "This is the worst we have performed all season. I can only put that down to tiredness as we have come off the back of two good performances. We were not a t the races and Im angry we were 2-1 up with five minutes left to play and we let them back into it.'
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0
The Baggies performed as well as they have done this season but still found their old bugbear coming back to haunt them – a lack of goals. Kevin Lisbies sixth minute header from a rare Russell Hoult error gave Charlton the points and despite Albion having ten corners and hitting the woodwork twice they just couldnt find the finishing touch.
Manger Gary Megson was justifiably upset after the game about both the result and the transfer window restrictions. He said: "I dont think we have dominated a game like that all season. The transfer window has been n absolute nonsense for us this season. We are not a club who could have afforded to sign five or six players at the start of the season and keep them on the sidelines while paying big wages. When it became clear that we needed an injection of quality we couldnt do anything in the transfer market and players who are available now will look at our position in the table and wont fancy us.'
That position is worsening by the week and only goal difference separates them from 20th place and with only sixteen goals this season the problem is there for everyone to see. How to rectify it is the problem?
FULHAM 0 MANCHESTER CITY 1
The Cottager slipped to fifth from bottom as their barren run continues. A 1-0 defeat against City was not what the doctor ordered as Nicolas Anelkas strike six minutes from time left Fulham looking nervously over their shoulders. Ex Fulham boss and now messiah at city, Kevin Keegan waxed lyrical about Anelka after the game when he said: "He missed one but kept going and came up with an excellent finish. But then he is a world-class striker. And the team showed the sort of qualities we are going to need to get up to the top six in the table. We didnt have it all our own way but created four or five chances against a team I think is in a flae position. Our target is the top six. I want to stretch the players. We havent got the distractions other teams have so lets keep going for it.'
Fulham boss Jean Tigana was more sullen after the game and was not happy with his teams slump – or their defending. He said: "It was five men against two when they got their goal and I am very disappointed. In the end one mistake caught us out but that is football. The fact is we are 16th in the table, this was a big game and the result hurts. It is difficult to take because the players keep giving 100% but I must keep my focus on the next game.'
The big problem for Fulham, like Albion is their lack of goals and if that problem is not addressed then it could be long season for the men from Harrods!
