Results round up 24-08-02

McViegh
By Paul Holmes
August 24 2002

Results round up from Saturday August 24 as Norwich go top of the table after ending Gillingham's 100% record and Wolves put four past Derby.

Bradford 0 Grimsby 0

The two teams fought out a bore-draw at Valley Parade. Bradford could have won the game had Grimsby 'keeper Danny Coyne not preformed heroics. Bradford bossed the game with midfielders Paul Evans and Tom Kearney pulling the strings.

Grimsby started with new signings Steve Kabba and Robert Taylor up front but Taylor lasted just 19 minutes before hobbling off injured.

Burnley 0 Sheff Utd 1

Burnley continued their poor start to the season with The Blades taking full points from Turf Moor.

Iffy Onura's deflected shot was enough to win the game although credit must fall to keeper Paddy Kenny who denied Glen Little, Alan Moore and Lenny Johnrose to keep his clean sheet.

Burnley are still rooted to the bottom of the table with no points.

Coventry 1 Palace 0

Lee Hughes grabbed the points for The Sky Blues in what looks to be his final game before his move back to West Brom.

Hughes was fouled in the penalty area by Darren Powell after just 5 mintues and converted the kick himself. Coventry were forced to play with 10-men when Youssef Safri was shown the red card after 64 minutes but the result was never in doubt with only Danny Granville causing problems with a shot fired straight at Morten Hyldagaard in the Coventry goal.

Derby 1 Wolves 4

Wolves blew Midlands rivals Derby apart at Pride Park, firing 4 past 'keeper Mart Poom.

The score-line doesn't tell the full story though. The game was pretty much an even event with both teams taking spells of possesion.

Wolves were then forced to make a change with Paul Ince coming off due to injury.

Derby fired back on the stroke of half-time through Malcolm Christie. The England U-21 was given a simple finish after George Twiggs cross.

With 13 minutes remaining Kevin Cooper scored a screamer from 20 yards to give Wolves the lead and on 86 minutes Alex Rae completed his brace with a 30-year thunderbolt.

In injury time Kenny Miller made it 4 with a close range finish.

Leicester 2 Reading 1

The Foxes took all 3 points at The Walkers Stadium despite selling Matthew Piper to Sunderland in the week.

Leicester got off to the best possible start with two goals in the first five minutes! First Brian Deane smashed home after Paul Dikov's headed lay-off. Two minutes later Dikov made it two from the spot after John Mackie fouled him in the box.

Reading fought back with Jamie Cureton firing home from 12 yards after Andy Impey's clumsy challenge on Nicky Forster. The win was always going to be Leicester's though with Dikov controlling the play.

Millwall 1 Ipswich 1

Millwall fought for a well deserved point against free scoring Ipswich at The New Den.

Millwall youngster Ben May gave The Lions the lead after just 4 minutes, tapping in from 2 yards after clever play from Neil Harris.

Ipsiwch equalised through Darren Bent's scorching shot but not before Millwall had a Tim Cahill goal ruled out for offside.

Ipswich were then forced to hold onto their point with Millwall pushing further and further as the game went on.

Norwich 1 Gillingham 0

Norwich raced to the top of the table after ending Gillingham's 100% record.

Paul McVeigh scored the only goal of the game, converting Gary Holt's cross on 40 minutes. The game could have gone either way after the goal with both teams guilty of missing chances. The Gills can count themselves unlucky to have left Carrow Road with nothing after good long spells of pressure.

Portsmouth 3 Watford 0

Portsmouth, inspired by Paul Merson, hit Watford for three.

Merson's class was clear to see from the opening minutes.

It was Merson who opened the scoring from the penalty spot, on 42 minutes, after Jason Crowe was hacked down by Marcus Gayle.

Seconds before the break it was 2-0 with Svetoslav Todorov slamming home after Deon Burton caused panic in the defence.

Burton completed the scoring two mintues into the second half with a cool finish past Alec Chamberlain after Todorov returned the favour with a clever through ball.

Watford's misery was complete when Alan Nielsen was first booked for unsporting behaviour and then shown red for abusive language.

Preston 4 Stoke 3

Preston took the spoils in a seven goal thriller.

It was Stoke who took the lead through a a Clive Clarke's penalty.

Preston's Scotland international Graham Alexnader missed a penalty before David Healy then hit two quick goals and Jamaican Ricardo Fuller made it 3-1.

Clarke than converted another spot kick to make it 3-2 and give the visitors hope.

In injury time Stoke drew level through Andy Cooke after Kris Commons corner.

However Richard Creswell made it 4-3 in the 95th minute after Michael Keane's low cross.

Sheff Wed 1 Rotherham 2Ronnie Moore's man continue their fantastic start to the season after coming from behind against Wednesday.

The Owls took an early lead on 8 minutes through Chris Armstrong's 18-yard drive.

Rotherham responded with an Alan Lee penalty on the half-hour after Ashley Westwood brought down John Mullins.

With both sides going for the win, numerous chances were created but none taken. And the game seemed to be heading for a draw when substitute Darren Garner fired home with a 30-yard belter in the dying seconds to give Rotherham the full points.

Walsall 2 Nottm Forest 1

Walsall grabbed the three points against 10-man Nottm Forest with a last minute goal.

Walsall had taken the lead in the first half through a Danny Sonner penalty. Forest thought they had earnt a point though after David Prutton's deflected shot on 83 minutes.

But winger Darren Wrack stretched to tuck home in the closing minutes.

Wimbledon 1 Brighton 0Troubled Wimbledon fought out their first win of the season against Brighton.

Just 628 Wimbledon fans watched the game as a Neil Shipperley penalty earnt the win after Danny Cullip fouled Wayne Gray in the area.