Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Sunday | November 30, 2008
Home : Sport
More suffering for Sunderland while Aston Villa, Fulham draw

Stoke City's Ricardo Fuller scores from a penalty spot during their Premier League match against Hull yesterday. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. - AP

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

BOLTON RALLIED to beat Sunderland 4-1 yesterday and heap more pressure on manager Roy Keane as he took charge of the team for the 100th time, and Aston Villa were held to a 0-0 draw by Fulham in the Premier League. Johan Elmander scored twice for Bolton, who also got goals from Matthew Taylor and Gary Cahill. Djibril Cisse scored for Sunderland.

"It was very poor again. Individual mistakes have cost us for three of the four goals and obviously it is very hard one to take again," Keane said. "We are giving teams a helping hand and maybe one or two players lost confidence in the second half."

Squandering chances

Villa were unimpressive up front with midfielder Gareth Barry squandering three good chances, while goalkeeper Brad Friedel didn't concede for a third straight match as he made a record 167th consecutive Premier League appearance.

Also, Wigan came from behind to beat bottom-place West Bromwich Albion 2-1 and win back-to-back league games for the first time under manager Steve Bruce. Newcomers Stoke and Hull played to a 1-1 draw, while Middlesbrough and Newcastle failed to score in a 0-0 draw in the northeast derby.

Cisse gave Sunderland a perfect start in the 11th minute, scoring off the post after being fed by Steed Malbranque, but Taylor rose above Pascal Chimbonda a few minutes later to meet Gretar Steinsson's cross with a looping header and equalise.

Cahill put Bolton ahead in the 21st when Kevin Davies headed down Andy O'Brien's free kick and then had referee Chris Foy to thank for keeping the lead intact.

Kenwyne Jones headed off the crossbar and Cisse volleyed in the rebound, but Foy disallowed it, ruling that Jones had pushed Jlloyd Samuel.

Slack defending from Danny Collins allowed Bolton to take a 3-1 lead when Elmander scored from a tight angle in the 39th. Elamander's second goal came in similar fashion in the 55th. Dean Whitehead stumbled over a clearance, allowing Kevin Nolan to feed the Sweden striker to complete a miserable day for Keane.

"We are very concerned and as manager it's my job to put it right," Keane said.

Jamaicans in action

Jamaica's Marlon King scored just before half-time for Hull, swivelling and curling in his fourth goal of the campaign. But Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill fouled another Jamaican, Ricardo Fuller, who converted from the penalty spot in the 73rd.

West Brom lost a fourth straight match despite Ishmael Miller scoring the club's first goal in 344 minutes in the 47th after Wigan defender Titus Bramble failed to clear.

But like Bramble, West Brom's Paul Robinson failed to pick up Henri Camara's run and Emile Heskey was able to put the ball back into the striker's path to equalise in the 61st. With three minutes left, Emmerson Boyce scored Wigan's winner when he headed home a corner from substitute Jason Koumas.

Newcastle moved out of the relegation with their point at Middlesbrough, a day after manager Joe Kinnear was given a contract until the end of the season.

Obafemi Martins hit the crossbar for Newcastle in the 35th, while Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given saved well from Justin Hoyte with 15 minutes left.

Today, Chelsea host an Arsenal side in disarray as they bid to break away from Liverpool at the top of the standings, with the Reds not in action until tomorrow against West Ham. Also today, Portsmouth host Blackburn and Everton are at Tottenham.

Home | Lead Stories | News | Business | Sport | Commentary | Letters | Entertainment | Arts &Leisure | Outlook | In Focus | Social | International | Auto |