Premiership round up - Week 25

Man United v Portsmouth - 5:0 - For forty minutes or so it seemed as likely that Bolton would take the lead, although the clearest missed chance fell to Berbatov. But Rooney started to build a good win for ManU with a fine header five minutes before half time. ManU's second goal was fortunate, Nani's shot trickled over the line by deflection off Vanden Borre (o/g, 45+1). Carrick got the third with another deflection (59). Berbatov. Berbatov was allowed far too much room and scored the fourth, slotting the ball into the far corner of the net (62) and finally Bolton finished the game with another own goal (Wilson, 69, off a cross by Evra). Grant - 'We need to concentrate…'

Hull v Man City - 2:1 - An easy fixture for City (with Viera on the pitch for the first time) on the face of it, top six club against relegation candidates. But Hull are proving to be difficult opponents for the top teams and from the off Hull were positive and aggressive. Hull might have scored twice early on whilst City could hardly clear the half-way line. Finally the pressure told when Vennegoor of Hesselink laid off the ball for Altidore to pass tidily into the back of the net (31). City tried to make an immediate reply but ended the half one down. Early in the second half (54), Boateng struck the ball mightily and lo, it passed into the back of the net, unimpeded, a mighty strike, indeed. City got back into the game through Adebayor's opportunism during an untidy scramble in the Hull goal-mouth (59) but they failed to make any further impression on the game. Drawn with Chelsea, win against City, Hull look on course to stay in the Premiership.

Liverpool v Everton - 1:0 - Not much football, but a lively derby game, and not, as they say, for the faint-hearted. Pienaar was booked early for a challenge on Kuyt and might have had a second card for a challenge in which two players went in hard, but Kyrgiakos was sent off. The few half-chances in the first half led to nothing but Liverpool did not look like the side minus a man and Kuyt (55) scored the only goal of the match with his head from a corner. Yakubu might have scored an equalizer but his fine long-range shot was saved by Reina. Finally Pienaar collected a second yellow for a challenge on Gerrard, who had had moments of his own. So, 2 red cards but only one goal settled it.) - Liverpool are back in the race for fourth place. Rafa - 'I will not speak about the referee…'

Burnley v West Ham - 2:1 - A simple lob earned Burnley the lead (Nugent, 14). West Ham failed to score at least twice from good positions but Burnley were fortunate and dug in well. Then Danny Fox (on his debut) sent a curling, looping free kick sailing over Green's head for Burnley's second (55). West Ham almost retrieved a goal three times (disallowed, off the line, off the bar) before Ilan, West Ham's new boy, (80) threw the Hammers a lifeline. Mido almost won a draw with an outstretched leg but hit the post. Zola - 'We can't afford to start games the way we started today.' Carlton Cole - 'I'm getting bored of it (losing).' Join the club.

Spurs v Aston Villa - 0:0 - A typical Spurs game these days, many chances made and none taken. Besides one determined effort by Agbonlahor, Villa hardly saw Gomes at close range. A happier point for Villa than for Spurs. St Hal - 'They got some good blocks in, every time we pulled the trigger it seemed to take a deflection or hit somebody, but overall I was pleased how we played.' O'Neill - 'At times in the second half it was every man to the pumps… Man United on Wednesday, there's no respite.'

Stoke v Blackburn - 3:0 - A n early roundhouse left-footed strike by Higginbotham (8) put Stoke in front and Sidibe made it two just before half-time (45+2). Samba was sent off, reducing Blackburn to 10 men (2nd yellow) and Robinson stopped the ball well twice or it would have been two more before Etherington finally got Stoke's third (67). Stoke looked comfortable and competent at home in this, their best win of the season, whilst Blackburn seemed bereft of ideas.

Sunderland v Wigan - 1:1 - Two struggling sides met at the Stadium of Light, although Diame, in scoring his first goal for Wigan, did not seem at all stressed when he muscled his way through Sunderland's defence and pounded the ball into the goal from fifteen yards (20). Soon after Kenwyne Jones nearly got Sunderland back on terms in much the same way, but his shot was deflected wide. However, it was Jones who got the equalizer, with a well-taken header in the second half (64). Bent nearly won the game for Sunderland but his shot was blocked by his own player - Jones, again.

Bolton v Fulham - 0:0 - Schwarzer pulled off 'save of the month' without knowing much about it to deny Davies and Bolton. Bolton were on the offensive for much of the game but could not put the ball away. At the death Davies scored but was judged to have shoved a defender and the goal was disallowed. The managers, understandably, did not agree, one was fully behind the referee, one was not. Readers are invited to guess which way the managers voted.

Chelsea v Arsenal - 2:0 - Drogba started the game in awesome form and cracked in one wonderful individual goal (8) before poaching another from a corner (23). He might have had a hat-trick from a free kick as well (Almunia, obligingly, never moved). In reply Arsenal had the greater possession, struggled hard and Arshavin had one or two opportunities but Chelsea had the finishing power and walked away with the points.

Birmingham v Wolves - 2:1 - Chances went begging at either end but Wolves should have grabbed the lead with a Zubar header which went wide. Doyle opened the scoring for Wolves (42) after a deflection and a rebound off the keeper. Phillips levelled the game with a crafty take in front of goal (80) and won the game five minutes later with superb control off his chest to shoot on the volley. McCarthy - 'This is as bad as I've ever felt…'