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Silent Gunners Arsenal falls to Charlton, Sunderland pounds Ipswich
Updated: Monday January 01, 2001 5:48 PM
LONDON (AP) -- Manchester United began 2001 in the same form that saw the club dominate English Premier League soccer in 2000 -- soundly beating West Ham 3-1 at Old Trafford on Monday and extending its league lead to 11 points. Needing less than three minutes to pull ahead on a goal from Danish striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer -- his fourth in three matches -- the defending champions took full advantage of second-place Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Charlton earlier New Year's Day. It's also been a very Merry Christmas for Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips. Scoring his fifth goal of the four-match holiday stretch and adding a vital assist, Phillips oversaw a 4-1 win against Ipswich at the Stadium of Light. His sparkling play led Sunderland to three wins and a draw, vaulting the club into third place in the English Premier League standings. "It was a real good performance," Sunderland manager Peter Reid said. "We passed the ball and the movement was terrific. And I've got to say that Kevin Phillips was absolutely outstanding." While Sunderland was hot, Arsenal was not. Continuing to struggle in away from Highbury, Gunners limped to another away loss. Thierry Henry, Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord and David Seaman all sat out with injuries, and the north London club's second-team players could not match on-form Jonatan Johannson, who scored his third goal in two matches. Man United's win gave it 50 points to Arsenal's 39. Sunderland also has 39 but sits third on goal difference. Ipswich is a point back in fourth and Liverpool moved up to 36 points and fifth place with a 2-1 home win over Southampton. The Monday daytime matches ended: Charlton 1, Arsenal 0; Chelsea 1, Aston Villa 0; Coventry 1, Manchester City 1; Derby 1, Everton 0; Leeds 1, Middlesbrough 1; Leicester 1, Bradford 2; Liverpool 2, Southampton 1; Sunderland 4, Ipswich 1. Tottenham hosts Newcastle on Tuesday. West Ham, playing without ill striker Paulo Di Canio, did little to help its chances at Old Trafford as Stuart Pierce put the visitors in a 2-0 hole by scoring an own-goal while attempting to divert a cross by Phill Neville late in the first half. Perfect spacing and crisp passing kept Man United in control in the second, and a thundering header by Dwight Yorke off a cross by skipper Roy Keane in the 58th minute put the match away. Hammers striker Frederic Kanoute managed a late goal to avoid a shutout. Sunderland at first looked the next victim of Ipswich's surprise charge up the table when Marcus Stewart scored his third goal in as many matches in the fifth minute. Argentine international Julio Arca leveled it before halftime on a free kick, and Phillips took charge in the second half. A long ball by defender Jody Craddock was flicked on by Daniele Dichio to Phillips, who controlled with his chest before steering his shot past Ipswich's stranded 'keeper, Richard Wright. Five minutes later Phillips surged past defender Mark Venus on the right and squared the ball for Dichio, who scored on his first-ever Premiership start. Stephan Schwartz added another goal two minutes before injury time. Leeds' new addition Robbie Keane salvaged a point at home against Middlesbrough with a 48th minute penalty shot. The home side struggled against Boro's 5-3-2 formation, the latest twist of new head coach Terry Venables' rescue effort. The defensive positioning led to only one meaningful chance for Boro in the first half -- a 50-yard through ball by Paul Okon that Alan Boskic slipped past 'keeper Paul Robinson. Liverpool remained nearly perfect at Anfield when Markus Babbel headed home the winner in the 86th minute. Steven Gerrard scored early for the home side, and Trond Soltvedt equalized for Southampton in the 20th minute. Aston Villa's David James suffered nightmarish deja vu against Chelsea. Just like in last season's FA Cup final, a major blunder by the goalkeeper led to defeat against the Blues. James was under no pressure when his clearance of a back pass was inexplicably delivered to opposing striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who recovered to lob the England international. Basement dweller Bradford notched its first away victory of the season against faltering Leicester, loser of two straight. A goal by Eoin Jess, and a rare mistake by Foxes 'keeper Tim Flowers on Wayne Jacobs' free kick made it 2-0 within the first 30 minutes. A penalty shot by Muzzy Izzet halved the lead, but Leicester ultimately failed to equalize. Coventry salvaged a draw against Manchester City when Marc Edorthy scored his first goal for the club in the 72nd minute. Derby defeated Everton when Italian midfielder Stefano Eranio's cross in the 20th minute was picked up by Deon Burton for the score. In the English First Division, league-leader Fulham dropped its first away game in a surprise 2-0 defeat at lowly Stockport. Bolton and Blackburn failed to capitalize as both lost in away matches. The division's full results were: Birmingham 0, Nottingham Forest 2; Burnley 1, Wolves 2; Norwich 1, Blackburn 1; Portsmouth 0, Gillingham 0; Preston 0, Bolton 2; Sheffield Wednesday 1, Grimsby 0; Stockport 2, Fulham 0; Tranmere 1, Sheffield United 0; West Brom 1, Barnsley 0
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