Premier League round-up

Arsenal win derby, while Ashton on target for Hammers

By Mark Buckingham   Last updated: 15th September 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Premier League round-up

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Arsenal went top of the Premier League with victory in the North London derby, Manchester United won at Everton and Dean Ashton scored as West Ham United beat Middlesbrough.

Liverpool maintained their unbeaten record with a draw at Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic were held by Fulham, Sunderland beat Reading and Birmingham City overcame Bolton Wanderers.

Saturday's final game saw Chelsea frustrated by a resolute Blackburn at Stamford Bridge.

In a tight game at Goodison Park, chances were at a premium, with Man Utd midfielder Paul Scholes clearing Everton striker Andy Johnson's header off the line early in the second half.

The breakthrough came inside the final 10 minutes when Nemanja Vidic slipped his marker to head home Nani's corner at the near post.

Everton's Merseyside rivals Liverpool were involved in a similarly close encounter against Portsmouth, which finished 0-0 at Fratton Park.

Jose Reina preserved Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season as he saved Kanu's first-half penalty, while Andrei Voronin struck the bar for the visitors in the second half.

Arsenal came from behind to continue their derby hoodoo over Tottenham Hotspur as Arsene Wenger's side won 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

Gareth Bale's free-kick put Spurs ahead after just 15 minutes before Emmanuel Adebayor levelled with a header from Cesc Fabregas' free-kick midway through the second half.

Fabregas' screamer put Arsenal in front before an even better goal from Adebayor took Arsenal to the top of the table.

Chelsea will feel they created enough chances to beat Blackburn, but a combination of fine goalkeeping and suspect officiating meant they had to settle for a point.

Salomon Kalou was convinced he had the scored the game's only goal in the second half but referee Howard Webb, to the dismay of Jose Mourinho, ruled off-side.

Dean Ashton scored his first goal since the 2006 FA Cup final as West Ham posted a first home win of the season by beating Middlesbrough 3-0 at Upton Park.

The striker, who missed all of last term with an ankle injury, had an early goal disallowed before Boro wasted chances to take the lead.

The Hammers went in front at the start of the second half as Lee Bowyer volleyed home after a well-worked move and it was soon 2-0 as Luke Young turned Carlton Cole's cross into his own net.

Boro continued to be profligate in front of goal, but Ashton was not so wasteful on 62 minutes when he converted Matt Etherington's cross at the far post.

Kenwyne Jones repaid the first instalment of his £6million fee as Sunderland beat Reading 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.

The pre-transfer deadline signing scored his first goal for Sunderland with a crisp finish on 29 minutes and then provided the cross for Ross Wallace to score the second on 47 minutes.

Dave Kitson glanced home Nicky Shorey's free-kick with five minutes to go, but Reading were unable to muster an equaliser.

Birmingham claimed a first league win at St Andrews this season by edging a close game 1-0 against Bolton.

The only goal arrived courtesy of slack defending from the visitors as Olivier Kapo turned home Sebastian Larsson's cross at the far post on 37 minutes.

Fulham were unable to snap their long run without an away win after drawing 1-1 at Wigan.

Clint Dempsey put the visitors ahead on 11 minutes, but Wigan levelled through Jason Koumas' penalty on 80 minutes after Mario Melchiot had been bundled over by Hameur Bouazza.

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