Chequebooks Out!
14/01/03 | by Mike Shaw

Plenty of column inches have already been devoted to a certain Lee Bowyer and his move to West Ham, so I might as well add my two-penneth. West Ham now have one of the best midfields in the country: Cole, Carrick, Sinclair and Bowyer, who incidentally are all English. Hopefully that will be all I need to say, here’s hoping he can keep his nose clean...

His high-profile was somewhat overshadowed by another English midfielder who will be well known to many of us. Jermaine Jenas stunning volley 10 minutes from time earns him 'The Ian Woan Goal of the Week Award'. He earned Newcastle a point and could have won it late had he finished a simpler chance with seconds remaining. Craig Bellamy put Newcastle 1-0 up before Joe Cole struck to equalise. Another Jermaine, Defoe put the hammers ahead with a sweet finish before JJ stepped forward to rob West Ham of the three points and deny them their first home league win of the season. A point at least lifted them above WBA off the bottom.

The Baggies lost 3-1 at home to Man U, despite Jason Koumas giving them an early lead. Ruud Van Nistelrooy levelled within a minute, Paul Scholes swept United ahead from Roy Keane’s centre and then Ole Solksjaer sealed the win.

Arsenal stay clear at the top though as they rolled over Birmingham 4-0, Thierry Henry getting his 100th Premiership goal in the process. He gave the Gunners the lead rounding Vaesen to make it 1-0, goals from Pires, a cracker from 20 yards, Lauren, a looping header and then another from Henry (100 in 181 games) completed the rout, Arsenal remain 5 clear at the top.

Chelsea won at home to Charlton to stay 3rd in a game played on Chelsea Beach…Jimmy Hasselbaink made it 1-0 Blues from the spot and Will Gallas made it 2-0 inside 15 minutes. Gudjohnsen fired a deflected 3rd before a Jason Euell penalty made it 3-1 at half time. Dean Kiely then allowed a long range effort from Le Saux to sneak in and give Chelsea a 4-1 win.

Behind Newcastle in 5th are Southampton who almost beat Middlesboro at the Riverside, a feat not accomplished by many. Two Beattie goals (who else!) gave them a 2-0 advantage, he looks awesome at the moment and surely deserves an England spot. But goals from Whelan, a goal that might in another week have been the best of the bunch (but it had to go to JJ ... unbiased opinion of course!) and then a Maccorone penalty grabbed Boro a share of the points.

Leeds recent revival came to an end away to Man City, The Goat gave City the lead and this was doubled by Jensen’s superb strike. Harry Kewell got a late consolation for Leeds.

Bolton and Fulham drew 0-0 and both sit in relegation danger, and Sunderland also drew 0-0 with Blackburn.

Villa earned a good point at Anfield, Liverpool have not won at home in 5 games, their worst ever run. They took the lead through Michael Owen before Sami Hyypia’s rash challenge gave Dion Dublin a chance from the spot and he beat Chris Kirkland, although neither side would be too happy with a draw.

Game of the week came on Sunday as Spurs beat Everton 4-3 with Robbie Keane grabbing a hat-trick. Brian McBride gave the Blues the advantage before Poyet’s header levelled for Spurs. A frantic 2nd half saw Keane give Spurs the lead, before Steve Watson pounced on a cross from Scot Gemmill. Keane then made it 3-2 as he skinned Joseph Yobo and fired home but again Everton came back through Tomas Radzinski. Keane had the last word though as he completed his hat-trick and earned Spurs the points. Anyone who saw it will tell you it was breathtaking stuff.

And so we look into the transfer window. Fowler heads to Man City, Bowyer to West Ham as Leeds look to ship players. Birmingham sign Dugarry on loan (a World Cup winner on loan…what has the world come to?). Look for Sergei Rebrov to join Fulham next week and finally, on a lighter note, after 19 appearences, which cost around £700,000 each in wages and transfer fee, Marcelinho has left Newcastle. Geordies everywhere breath a sigh of relief!