TNT Sports
Boro stun Chelsea
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Published 11/02/2006 at 17:29 GMT
Chelsea stumbled to only their second defeat of the season as they crashed to a shock 3-0 loss at lowly Middlesbrough on Saturday. Elsewhere, Arsenal needed a last-minute Gilberto Silva goal for 1-1 draw with Bolton, whilst LIverpool and Man United gain g
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MIDDLESBROUGH 3-0 CHELSEA
Chelsea suffered their worst defeat under Jose Mourinho as they went down 3-0 at the Riverside.
Boro opened the scoring after just a minute of play of play as Yakubu robbed Essien and laid the ball off for Rochemback who slotted the ball past Cech.
Stuart Downing doubled Boro's lead one minute before halftime. Cutting in from the left, his low effort seemed to clip the heel of John Terry, and nestle in the bottom corner.
And Chelsea's usually resolute defence was breached for a third time as Yakubu beat Terry with a dummy, and then angled his shot into the bottom corner with 20 minutes to go.
Chelsea looked far from the side that has so far crushed the league this season.
In a sluggish first half display, they seemed to lack their usual incisiveness going forward and were deservedly behind at the break.
Jose Mourinho's half time introduction of Sean Wright Phillips and Carlton Cole did spur the Champions on, but their best chances were still limited to long range drives and set pieces.
Carlton Cole came closest to netting for the London side as he lashed a loose ball against the upright, but in truth they rarely threatened Mark Schwarzer's goal.
And Chelsea's nightmare day was compounded as William Gallas limped off with what looked like a nasty muscle injury in the first half.
Middlesbrough fans will wonder how their inconsistent side can go down 7-0 to Arsenal and then weeks later overwhelm the Champions.
Chelsea will not worry too much about the impact of this result on the Premiership race, but Jose Mourinho will be concerned by the loss of form ahead of the Champions League clash against Barcelona.
ARSENAL 1-1 BOLTON
The Gunners grabbed a dramatic late equaliser for a share of the points at Highbury today thanks to a Gilberto Silva strike in the third minute of injury time.
Bolton had stolen the lead thanks to a cleverly chipped finish from Kevin Nolan in the 12th minute of the game and they managed to keep Arsenal strangely quite for the rest of the half before the home team attempted to storm back into the game in the second period.
Jussi Jaaskelainen produced an inspired display of goalkeeping to keep the Gunners at bay as they camped in the Bolton half for the entire second-half.
Time again the Finnish stopper proved equal to the best Arsenal had to offer, with his greatest moment proving to be a fingertip save from a Robert Pires free-kick that he seemed destined to not reach.
However, as the game entered injury time, Arsenal kept plugging away, and they finally got their deserved goal after Gilberto beat his marker to a Cesc Fabregas cross and finally beat the titanic Jaaskelainen.
Arsenal could even have stolen a winner in the dying seconds, which would have been harsh on a determined and stubborn Bolton side, but Ricardo Gardner was on hand to clear off the line after Thierry Henry's header had looped over the advancing keeper.
Arsenal will take the point but will have been hoping for more as they look to catch up with Tottenham in fourth place in the Premiership.
PORTSMOUTH 1 MAN UNITED 3
Man United cruised to a 3-1 victory at Portsmouth to condemn the struggling south coasters to a fifth defeat in six games.
A first half brace from Cristano Ronaldo and a Ruud van Nislterooy header where enough to kill off the new look Pompey.
Fielding 6 of their January singing's Portsmouth looked like a side struggling to gel as a team and they were comfortably dispatched by a ruthless United.
Portsmouth registered a late consolation as Park Ji-Sung bizarrely ducked out of the way of a Routledge strike allowing Mathew Taylor to steel in and head past a helpless Howard.
The one point of concern for United will be the injury which forced Edwin van der Saar off at half time, but with Chelsea's defeat the Red Devils will begin to harbour renewed hope of clawing back the 12 point gap behind the league leaders.
FULHAM 6-1 WEST BROM
Fulham thrashed West Bromwich Albion 6-1 to rack up their biggest win of the season and ease their relegation fears.
Heidar Helguson and Collins John each bagged a brace and Tomasz Radzinski also got on the scoresheet.
Curtis Davies added to the visitor's woes with an own-goal while Kevin Campbell scored a late consolation goal.
EVERTON 1-0 BLACKBURN
Everton pleased fans with a 1-0 home victory over Blackburn Rovers and continued their comeback.
Everton played 80 minutes of the game with 10 men after goalkeeper Iain Turner, making his league debut, was sent off for deliberate handball. James Beattie nailed the only goal in the first half.
ASTON VILLA 1-2 NEWCASTLE
Goals from Shola Ameobi and Charles N'Zogbia gave managerless Newcastle a 2-1 away victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Luke Moore managed to add to his tally of goals for the season but it wasn't enough for the Villains as they continue to underachieve this term.
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