Leeds United continued their climb back up the Premiership table as they started 2003 in the winning style they ended 2002. Goals either side of the interval from Eirik Bakke and Mark Viduka means Leeds have now taken 13 points from their last five games, winning three in succession for the first time in nine months.
It was sweet revenge for Leeds following a 2-1 defeat at St Andrews at the end of August, and made for an unhappy belated birthday for Blues boss Steve Bruce who turned 42 yesterday. To compound Bruce's problems - his side have now won just one of their last seven games - Michael Johnson and Martin Grainger have joined the club's lengthening injury list.
Republic of Ireland international Gary Kelly crossed to Australia striker Mark Viduka who headed down to Bakke to nod home the opener after just six minutes. Irish striker Clinton Morrison should have equalised for Blues after 15 minutes but goalkeeper Paul Robinson made the save, with Damien Johnson also denied by Kelly on the line. Then on 66 minutes Kelly crossed again and this time Viduka, five yards out, turned the ball home.
Elsewhere, there were predictable boos for former Southampton boss Glenn Hoddle and jeers aplenty for ex-Saints defender Dean Richards. But in a pantomime atmosphere at St Mary's this afternoon there were only cheers for Southampton's leading man James Beattie. The burly striker notched his 13th Premiership strike of a superlative season nine minutes from time to send Southampton surging clear of Tottenham in the league table and send Saints fans home dreaming of a European place come May.
Everton midfielder Li Tie and Manchester City defender Sun Jihai delighted an estimated TV audience of 300 million people in their native China. Both players played a part at Goodison Park, each having a hand in one of their side's goals in a 2-2 draw. Li Tie's contribution was the more dramatic as he laid the ball on for Tomasz Radzinski to get the equaliser in stoppage time. City had gone ahead through Marc-Vivien Foe in the 82nd minute after Nicolas Anelka had cancelled out Steve Watson's opener for the home side.
At Ewood Park, second-half substitute Keith Gillespie provided the inspiration for Blackburn's 1-0 win over Middlesbrough as his 57th-minute cross found its way to Dwight Yorke, who slotted home the opener. It could have been 2-0 seconds later as James McEveley blasted a long-range shot off the crossbar with Mark Schwarzer beaten. Middlesbrough, who have not scored an away goal since November 6, came closest in the first-half when Mark Wilson released Massimo Maccarone into the penalty area but, under pressure from Lucas Neill, the Italian fired wide.
Aston Villa took another stride away from the relegation zone as goals from the in-form Dion Dublin and substitute Darius Vassell pushed Bolton further into the mire. Dublin made the early breakthrough and then substitute Vassell killed off the hopes of a spirited Bolton side 10 minutes from time.
Fulham's game against West Brom at Loftus Road was postponed this morning because of a waterlogged pitch, while a 1.45pm pitch inspection at The Valley resulted in Charlton v West Ham also being called off, meaning the Hammers stay bottom of the table.
Filed by Shane Murray
