Chelsea failed to take the opportunity to top the Premiership table this evening after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Geremi opened the scoring for the hosts with a stunning curling free-kick on 33 minutes that gave Carlo Cudicini no chance in the goalmouth. Chelsea equalised on 42 minutes when defender John Terry headed home Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's corner-kick. Both sides will have rued missed chances to take all three points as they battled hard in the second-half for a winner, but in the end had to settle for the draw.
Manchester City fought back superbly to take a share of the points at Charlton to deny their hosts a fifth successive win. Charlton took the lead thanks to their first attack in the second half when Kevin Horlock gave away a penalty after fouling Kevin Lisbie in the box. Jason Euell converted the spot-kick and Claus Jensen then made it 2-0 from a Lisbie pass on 63 minutes.
But Manchester City didn't lie down and Marc-Vivien Foe struck twice to save Kevin Keegan's side a point. His first strike came when he turned in an Ali Benarbia cross after73 minutes while his second arrived with just three minutes remaining on the clock.
It also finished all-square at St Mary's as Southampton and Newcastle drew 1-1. It was an entertaining, open game but the first goal did not arrive until the 50th minute when Craig Bellamy fired a blistering drive beyond Paul Jones to put the Magpies a goal up. However, Newcastle's joy was short-lived as Chris Marsden slotted home from close range two minutes later to earn his side a share of the points.
Everton returned to winning ways with an impressive 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park. Rovers took the lead after just six minutes when Andy Cole pounced after Richard Wright failed to collect David Thompson's free-kick. However, Everton were back on level terms when Wayne Rooney's effort hit the post and the rebound was slotted home by Republic of Ireland international Lee Carsley. Wonderkid Rooney then got on the scoresheet himself when he raced on to a long ball from Wright down the field and and blasted home to put his side 2-1 ahead on 25 minutes. Rovers' chances of getting at least a point were dealt a severe blow when Lucas Neill was sent off after a second yellow card on 74 minutes and the scoreline remained at 2-1 until the final whistle.
Ten-man Aston Villa snatched victory in the dying minutes of their encounter with West Brom when Tomas Hitzlsperger scored a stunning late goal to earn them a 2-1 win. Darius Vassell had put them ahead after 16 minutes when he pounced on a rebounded Hitzlsperger free-kick. The Baggies drew level when Jason Koumas curled in an equaliser after 29 minutes and it was looking good for the visitors when Steve Staunton was sent-off for Villa for a second bookable offence. However, Hitzlsperger pounced at the death to deny the Baggies a much-needed point.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
