Middlesbrough 2 Aston Villa 5
They say football is a funny old game! Aston Villa travelled to the Riverside having not won an away game all season, scoring just four goals in the process, whilst Middlesborough were defending the Premiership's only unbeaten home record. However, Graham Taylor's side turned the form book upside down and took all three points with a stunning 5-2 victory.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 24th minute, Darius Vassell making no mistake after capitalising on Stuart Parnaby's error and seven minutes later Villa doubled their lead when Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer was somehow beaten by debutant Joey Gudjonsson's speculative 40-yard free-kick.
But Steve McClaren's side rallied, scoring two goals in two minutes just after the half hour mark. Geremi's cross was headed on by Joseph Desire Job and the unmarked Massimo Maccarone headed past Enckelman and shortly after Jonathon Greening slipped the challenge of Mellberg before firing the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Three minutes after the interval, however, Villa regained the lead in slightly fortuitous fashion, Thomas Hitzlsperger's shot appeared to be going harmlessly wide but the ball fell conveniently to Gareth Barry who made no mistake from close range.
Boro went in search of the equaliser once again and Nemeth headed wide from the edge of the six yard box before Maccarone went down inside the box under the challenge of Johnsen but referee Dermot Gallagher waved the play on.
Villa's fourth, and Vassell's second, came nine minutes from time, the England international showing excellent footwork before firing past Schwarzer into the top corner, and in the third minute of injury time Dion Dublin completed the rout when he rose highest to head home Samuel's cross.
Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor was delighted that his side had finally managed to end their dismal away record. "It's the end of an embarrassing record. That was our first away win in the Premiership season and we are very pleased about it," he said. "I couldn't believe that we were 2-0 up and just threw it away, but great credit to the players for overcoming that."
Meanwhile Middlesborough manager Steve McClaren was left bemoaning the absence of central defenders Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu, as well as strikers Alen Boksic and Noel Whelan.
"It's very disappointing for us and we defended badly as a team. We made lots of mistakes and it just shows the strength, or lack of it, of our squad," said the Boro boss. "We missed players such as Ugo and Gareth and our side was very young and inexperienced."
Southgate was absent due to a bout of flu, and asked if he is likely to be fit for the weekend trip to Newcastle, McClaren replied: "God I hope so!."
Bolton 1 Everton 2
Steve Watson kept Everton on course for a European place after scoring both goals to sink struggling Bolton at the Reebok. The home side were left to reflect on a host of missed chances and Sam Allardyce's men have now won only two of their 12 league matches at home.
Transfer-listed Bolton striker Michael Ricketts should have put the home side in front as early as the first minute but he failed to convert Henrik Pedersen's excellent right-wing cross and minutes later Youri Djorkaeff delivered a free-kick into the box and Ivan Campo steered the ball narrowly wide.
Everton took the lead in the 33rd minute in spectacular fashion. American international Brian McBride headed on to Watson and he struck a brilliant overhead kick beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen into the corner of the net.
Bolton surged forward in search of the equaliser and on 38 minutes Gardner almost pulled them level, only for his looping header to land on the roof of the net and within a minute of that missed chance Everton had doubled their lead. McBride's shot was beaten away by Jaaskelainen and Watson reacted quickest to turn in the rebound.
Bolton battled hard in the second half and both Bergsson and substitute Joseph Jobo were unlucky not to score before Bergsson pulled a goal back from close range deep into injury time, but it was too little too late as the Toffees held on for the win.
After the game Everton assistant manager Alan Irvine admitted that David Moyes' side were now eyeing a place in Europe. "We are safe now and that was our first target. We can build on that now and set new ones. We were fairly comfortable for most of the game and should have killed it off earlier."
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce admitted that he is aiming to bring in a couple of new faces before the transfer window closes on Friday, revealing that he broke off his preparations for the game to try and seal a deal with Valencia striker Salva Ballesta.
"We have a chance with Salva," said Allardyce. "It's not certain but I have pushed hard most of the day and made progress. I have made progress with some others as well but not as far as that one."
As for the latest defeat, Allardyce added: "After Everton's first goal you could see the confidence drain out of our team. There was little we could do about that strike but we should have done something about the second goal. We have 13 games left and we need to pick up at least one point a game if we are to survive."
