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RESULTS
Aston Villa 3-3 Everton
Man City 1-3 Fulham

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)

606: DEBATE

To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111 . (Not all contributions can be used)

By Caroline Cheese

1815: Ten games, 40 goals, now that's what I call a Premier League weekend. Under absolutely no circumstances should you go missing MOTD2 on BBC1 at 2215 BST . In just over 48 hours, we'll see the culmination of the Champions League quarter-finals. When the football's this good, why bother with an actual life?

1811: There'll be some unhappy Manchester City fans out there, I would imagine. Why not tune in to the soothing sounds of DJ Spoony on BBC 5 Live's 606 ? He might even recall the early part of his career and spin a UK garage tune.

From sensationalbodhran on 606: "City have had one transfer window to spend money. However, they need a manager with vision, rather than a work ethic. Three Brazilian internationals on the books, none starting."
Join the debate on 606

1805: But what about Fulham? Dickson Etuhu has family bragging rights after Fulham come from behind to secure a deserved win - their second away victory of the season, and indeed their second in a row. They are up to eighth, a point behind West Ham.

1804: Resounding boos at Eastlands as the final whistle goes. Pressure on Mark Hughes after that defeat in Hamburg on Thursday.

1803: FULL-TIME Man City 1-3 Fulham

From John R, Essex, via text on 81111: "Re 1704: Hate to say I told you so, but..."

1800: Fulham boss Roy Hodgson makes his third change, sending Olivier Dacourt on for Danny Murphy.

1759: A quick aside. To answer some queries: the Villa game kicked off at 1400 BST after a request from Aston Parish Church that it didn't clash with its Easter Sunday service. That meant the City game was put back by 10 minutes so the two games didn't overlap. Magic.

1758: The City fans are heading for the exit. You can't really blame them. The hosts have been poor.

1756: There won't be a hat-trick for Clint Dempsey. He and Bobby Zamora come off in a double change as Zoltan Gera and Diomansy Kamara come on.

1755: Chance for an immediate reply. Ched Evans rises magnificently at the far post to meet a cross from the right but Mark Schwarzer makes a super stop from the downward header.

1753: GOAL Man City 1-3 Fulham
Micah Richards is caught out of position and he is still chasing back when Bobby Zamora plays a short ball through for Clint Dempsey to slot in his second and Fulham's third. That surely seals it with six minutes remaining.

1751: City beginning to string some passes together now, Robinho trying to influence the play from midfield. Less than 10 minutes remaining.

1746: Big chance for Fulham. Micah Richards clips Clint Dempsey's heels as the American tries to get on the end of a ball down the left wing. Shay Given punches Simon Davies' free-kick into a crowd of players and the ball loops up for Brede Hangelande but the big defender somehow heads over with the goal at his mercy.

1742: Danny Murphy beats Nigel de Jong on the left and cuts the ball back from the byeline for Andy Johnson. The striker has time to measure the shot but sees it blocked.

1738: Danny Sturridge plays in fellow sub Robinho with a peach of a ball. The Brazilian's shot is fumbled by Mark Schwarzer to spark panic among the visiting fans but he chases back to collect.

1734: Robinho and Daniel Sturridge are on for Kelvin Etuhu and Martin Petrov.

1732: Looks like Daniel Sturridge and Robinho will be entering the fray shortly.

1729: GOAL Man City 1-2 Fulham
Nedum Onuoha's weak clearance puts City in trouble and Dickson Etuhu makes him pay with a sizzling strike from the edge of the box. Great hit, and that's his first goal for Fulham - against his former club.

From CreatingSpace on 606: "Not only did Zabaleta turn the ball over he didn't even track back! That goal sums up City's problems. So consistently inconsistent."
Join the debate on 606

1726: Valeri Bojinov, who has been pretty ineffective today, comes off to be replaced by Ched Evans.

1721: GOAL Man City 1-1 Fulham
Pablo Zabaleta's attempted pass flicks off Clint Dempsey and into the path of Bobby Zamora, the ball breaking for Dempsey to arrow in the shot. Shay Given concedes at Eastlands for the first time in a City shirt.

1720: Lively-ish start from City. Martin Petrov wins a free-kick on the left after Dickson Etuhu pulls on his shorts. The Bulgarian's delivery is easily cleared.

1716: Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson get this second half under way.

1715: There they are. Drama over. Robinho has been warming up with his fellow subs during half-time.

1714: Fulham's players are on their way back out at Eastlands. But where are Manchester City?

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill on the 3-3 draw with Everton: "One of us had to win to keep the challenge alive for fourth so things are looking slightly less than rosy on that front. But at the end of the day, we've fought back from two goals behind. It was a fantastic match. We're great going forward but we're not strong enough defensively at the moment."

1704: A surprisingly chipper John R from Essex texts in to remind us that Fulham gave Manchester City a 2-0 start in this game last season and still won 3-2. That was the game that kickstarted the Cottagers' great escape.

From Curl It Like Wilshere on 606: "This game is bad, might go and look at the golf.... sigh."
Live text - The Masters

From Bluedan, Eastlands, via text on 81111: "Nigel de Jong filling the midfield henchman role to a tee. Someone give him a bowler hat. He's Oddjob! It's uncanny."

1659: HALF-TIME Man City 1-0 Fulham

1658: Boos for Mark Halsey from the City fans. The referee unintentionally gifts possession back to City, before Valeri Bojinov appears to be fouled in the centre circle. Nothing given. Fulham win a corner, from which Halsey awards City a free-kick, so I think that makes it all square.

From Dave, Kettering, via text on 81111: "As a Spurs fan, I don't want this match to end. Either way we will slip a place in the table! Sigh..."

1653: Goals normally bring games to life. Not this game.

Pat Nevin on BBC 5 Live: "Do you think there's a bead of sweat on Micah Richards right now? He's standing there on his own, doing nothing. His body language is absolutely atrocious. It's as if it's too much bother for him. That's sad to see."

From feshelu on 606: "Well, that caps it folks, no 0-0 games in the Premier League this weekend... bliss!"
Join the debate on 606

1645: Nigel de Jong gets a couple of meaty challenges in to bring City to life. Valeri Bojinov fires a long-range shot just wide.

1641: GOAL Man City 1-0 Fulham
Stephen Ireland picks up the ball in his own half and idles forward. He looks left and right for the pass but decides to go for the shot himself, his effort looping off Dickson Etuhu to beat Mark Schwarzer. A goal from absolutely nothing.

Everton boss David Moyes on Villa's penalty in the 3-3 draw: "I don't want to criticise the referee as the FA has got enough of my money. The foot was high, but did he make contact with his head? I don't think so. I think it was a harsh decision."

1634: Manchester City win two corners in quick succession. That is all though. Good defending from Fulham to be fair.

1632: Ho-hum.

1629: "Look at this passing move," says an optimistic City supporter to my right just as Stephen Ireland plays the ball forward to absolutely no-one.

Pat Nevin on BBC 5 Live: "I'm keeping an eye on one or two City players and they're just walking through this game."

1625: Man City boss Mark Hughes is on the edge of his technical area, telling his team to wake up I would think. They are playing at walking pace at the moment - a stark contrast to what we have just witnessed at Villa Park.

1620: Andy Johnson wants a penalty after falling under Richard Dunne's challenge, but he's out of luck - probably would have been harsh. Seconds later, City's defence are all at sea again but Clint Dempsey slips as he shoots and the ball flies well wide.

1618: Richard Dunne slips as he goes to clear and Bobby Zamora suddenly has the ball in front of goal - but Shay Given closes down quickly and the shot loops off the keeper and behind for a corner.

1617: Now Valeri Bojinov's turn to have a go from distance. Too high.

1615: Bobby Zamora dummies Clint Dempsey's square ball and Andy Johnson has a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box but he is closed down quickly.

1613: Referee Mark Halsey gets us under way. Finally.

1610: Come on then. We're meant to be kicking off now. Poor punctuality - even with this mystery 10 past four kick-off.

1606: Fulham have won one away league game all season, but Roy Hodgson reckons their reputation as poor travellers is harsh. "Our good performances, of which I could rattle off a few, have been draws. There are other teams that have sneaked wins who don't have to answer the questions I have to answer every week."

1605: Manchester City have won four league games in a row at home, while Shay Given hasn't conceded a league goal at Eastlands since signing for City.

From Jay, Liverpool fan bored in work, via text on 81111: "What a weekend of goals. I bet you the Man City game is 0-0. Ha ha."

1601: Hello Danny the Stat ... "Ooh, Cheesy, sometimes I wish I couldn't just rate the players, but rate the match as well. Sometimes. Anyway, I can't. I just have to learn to deal with it. For the record, Tim Cahill's still top of the player pops with 7.95, but Steven Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini, John Carew and Gareth Barry aren't so far behind. Get involved, number fans..."
Aston Villa v Everton Player Rater

1558: And breathe... A cracker of a game ends all square, meaning Villa stay fifth, a point ahead of Everton and now eight points behind fourth-placed Arsenal. The Gunners will be smiling tonight.

1557: FULL-TIME Aston Villa 3-3 Everton

1556: Stiliyan Petrov sends over a cross with the outside of his right foot, James Milner wins the header at the far post but can't control it. That's it surely.

1553: Into four minutes of added time and Tim Howard makes a good save to deny Nathan Delfouneso.

From Paul, a ref from London, via text on 81111: "Re Roo at 1543: If there's contact it's a pen, no contact equals dangerous play and an indirect free-kick."

1551: Zat Knight is laughing despite taking an elbow in the face from clumsy Marouane Fellaini. The Belgian - who has quite a collection of yellow cards - gets a final talking-to from Howard Webb.

1550: John Carew flicks a header on and Nathan Delfouneso is inches away from applying the finish. Two-and-a-half minutes of the 90 remaining.

1549: Villa defender Curtis Davies has taken a knock on the head in a challenge with Marouane Fellaini, which means we will get a rare chance to draw breath as he receives treatment.

From Arsenal fan via text on 81111: "Please draw, I beg you, please, please, please draw!"

1546: TEAM NEWS Man City v Fulham
The big news for Manchester City fans is that Robinho drops to the bench for Mark Hughes's injury-hit side and Martin Petrov returns on the left after six months out with a knee injury. Valeri Bojinov replaces Danny Sturridge up front, Nigel De Jong returns in midfield after being ineligible in midweek and Javier Garrido starts at left-back instead of Wayne Bridge. City also bring in Kelvin Etuhu for the injured Shaun Wright-Phillips. Etuhu, making his first Premier League start since August, will line up against his elder brother Dickson Etuhu. Fulham name the same side that lost to an injury-time goal by Liverpool last weekend.

From Roo, London, via text on 81111: "Re 1529: I once did a similar thing during a school match a few years ago, and the ref gave an indirect free-kick in the area. Have the rules changed? Or does our silver-haired pie-guzzling man in the middle know better than Howard Webb?"

1543: Ashley Young causing Everton problems with his tricky running. Two free-kicks in quick succession for Villa, but Everton survive. Louis Saha replaces Jo for the Toffees.

1542: To those of you telling me Steven Pienaar scored against Spurs earlier this season, I say this: that goal was given as a Vedran Corluka own goal by our old friends, the Dubious Goals Committee.

From Gavin in Cornwall via text on 81111: "Even if these two teams don't make the top four, they've put on arguably the best two Prem matches this season for entertainment."

1536: Martin O'Neill leaps like a salmon after seeing Ashley Young drag a shot inches wide of the post. Still 15 minutes remaining in this remarkable game.

1535: David Moyes is still waging a war with the fourth official. He is a very frightening man when he's angry.

1533: TEAMS Man City v Fulham
Man City: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Garrido, Etuhu, Zabaleta, Ireland, De Jong, Petrov, Bojinov. Subs: Hart, Robinho, Elano, Fernandes, Evans, Sturridge, McGivern.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Gera, Kamara, Dacourt, Stoor, Baird.

1530: And now David Moyes is at boiling point. On the counter-attack, Leighton Baines crosses from the right for Jo, who appears to be hauled down by Curtis Davies. No penalty.

1529: GOAL Aston Villa 3-3 Everton
Big debate in BBC Sport towers, but I say that's harsh. Joleon Lescott heads the ball into the air and then tries to clear it with an overhead kick - which catches Stiliyan Petrov, who was behind Lescott. Howard Webb points to the spot - to David Moyes' bemusement - and Gareth Barry smashes in the penalty.

1527: Penalty to Aston Villa

1526: And here is the Danish international. Jacobsen replaces Tony Hibbert, who gets a break from tracking Ashley Young.

1525: Lars Jacobsen will be on for Everton shortly. He's just getting some final instructions from David Moyes.

1522: Some early team news from Eastlands: Robinho does not feature in Manchester City's team.

1517: GOAL Aston Villa 2-3 Everton
What have we here? A classic? Villa just have time to see a limping Gabby Agbonlahor replaced by Nathan Delfouneso before James Milner gets his side right back in it with a stunning strike. Tim Cahill holds back Gareth Barry and Milner steps up to bend a ferocious 25-yard free-kick around the wall and inside the post. A smasher.

1515: GOAL Aston Villa 1-3 Everton
Phil Neville passes to the edge of the area, Leon Osman stepping over it for Steven Pienaar , who takes a couple of touches and bends a lovely right-foot shot past a shocked Brad Friedel. What a way to open your account for the season.

From ronaldoforthewin on 606: "My nephew is five years old, is that too young to be criticising his lack of a left foot?"
Join the debate on 606

From Adam via text on 81111: "Re 1502: As an Albion fan, that could give me hope. But no. Good match here, great football weekend. Man City at home. How many more goals to come?"

1513: Ashley Young - yes, him again - is tripped by a combination of Phil Jagielka and Marouane Fellaini. Young not too popular with the visiting fans at the moment and they very much enjoy him scooping the free-kick over the bar.

1510: Ashley Young loses his footing in the box and has the temerity to ask for a penalty. Howard Webb makes the right decision, but resists giving the Villa winger a booking.

1508: What's going on here? Tony Hibbert and Ashley Young collide in the area and referee Howard Webb appears to point to the spot as the Villa fans appeal. But Everton emerge with a free-kick because Young was apparently offside.

1507: And we're off again. No changes by either manager.

1502: Fulham up against Manchester City later in a mid-table contest - with the Europa League still in touching distance for both teams. At this stage last season, report BBC 5 Live, Fulham had fewer points than West Brom do currently - and of course, survived.

From an optimistic Villa fan via text on 81111: "Brilliant game. We should have had the second before half time but we will still win this!"

1452: An Easter treat which won't make you sick: it's Danny the Stat . "Rip-roaring first half at Villa Park and it's pretty finely-balanced - but there's a clear winner over on our Player Rater . Antipodean hot-shot Tim Cahill has a nine-bothering score of 8.57. That is, quite simply, miles clear of everyone. But don't get the celebratory chocs in yet Mr Cahill because it can all change - and you also have another half of football to play and chocolate will weigh you down."
Aston Villa v Everton Player Rater

1449: HALF-TIME Aston Villa 1-2 Everton

1448: Everton's defence are really struggling with balls into the box, John Carew causing havoc in there. Tim Howard doing a lot of unconvincing flapping.

1447: Good spell of pressure by Villa, and the home fans respond. A minute plus stoppage time remaining in the first half.

1445: Villa powerhouse John Carew holds off Joleon Lescott and turns in the box, Phil Neville forced to clear the danger.

1444: Great work from Steven Pienaar on the left. Tim Cahill spurns a shooting opportunity, instead laying off to Jo but the striker seems a bit surprised to receive the ball and Villa recover.

From Adam, Liverpool, via text on 81111: "3-2 to Villa. I can see it now. We've started the long ball game."

1439: Villa very much on the front foot now and suddenly Everton look vulnerable.

1436: GOAL Aston Villa 1-2 Everton
James Milner crosses from the right, Gareth Barry puts it back into the danger zone and the ball is pinging about before John Carew prods it home. A defensive shambles from Everton, an unexpected lifeline for Villa.

1434: John Carew wins a header from a free-kick and flicks it on for Gabby Agbonlahor but he nods the ball into Tim Howard's arms.

From CarrickCake on 606: "I feel for Villa. The side we all thought could genuinely snatch fourth spot are in freefall. Where did it all go wrong? The Stoke game, 2-0, 10 mins left and cruising. Then Stoke re-wrote the script."
Join the debate on 606

1431: Tony Hibbert gets a yellow card for pulling back Gabby Agbonlahor. Seemed a touch harsh, but no complaints from the Everton man.

Graham Taylor on BBC 5 Live: "Villa need to find out why they are being outplayed in central midfield. Are Ashley Young and James Milner not tucking in enough?"

1426: GOAL Aston Villa 0-2 Everton
And they're really rocking now. Classic Everton goal. Stephen Pienaar takes the corner from the left and Tim Cahill gets the better of marker Curtis Davies to head onto the bar and then nod the rebound over the line.

1426: Aston Villa are rocking. Jo plays in Tim Cahill but the Aussie slips as he goes to shoot and his weak effort is deflected behind for a corner.

1423: And almost two. Stephen Pienaar cuts inside Luke Young with alarming ease and shoots narrowly wide of Brad Friedel's right-hand post.

1422: GOAL Aston Villa 0-1 Everton
Aston Villa's defence loses Marouane Fellaini and the big-haired Belgian can't miss as Leighton Baines slides the ball in the from left for the tap-in.

1418: Everton win a corner which wasn't after the ball comes off Jo, challenging with Curtis Davies. It's cleared only to Phil Neville who smashes a swerving half-volley which Brad Friedel does well to tip over.

1417: Everton midfielder Leon Osman skips over a challenge and gets to the edge of the box. Shot blocked.

Graham Taylor on BBC 5 Live: "To be fair, Young played that to a claret and blue shirt... in the crowd."

1412: Ashley Young has the attentions of Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman as he runs at pace down the left wing. Osman clips the tricky winger to give away the free-kick, but Young's delivery is hopeless.

1410: Ashley Young plays in Gareth Barry on the left, but Phil Jagielka puts the cross behind for a corner. Villa go for a short one but the eventual ball in is easily collected by Tim Howard.

Graham Taylor on BBC 5 Live: "We all make mistakes, but Howard Webb is the best referee in the country in terms of consistency."

1407: Quiet-ish start. Ashley Young picks up the ball on the left but is quickly crowded out by two Everton defenders, Phil Jagielka launching the ball long.

1402: Jo and Marouane Fellaini, of hair fame, get us under way.

Graham Taylor on BBC 5 Live: "Everton should be reasonably confident. I think it will be tight. It will be important to see how Everton's centre-backs handle John Carew."

1400: Warm handshake between David Moyes and Martin O'Neill. And I'm sure I heard O'Neill add: "And good luck next week as well." The Toffees, of course, play Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday.

1358: Here come the teams. Sounds like a decent atmosphere at Villa Park.

1356: Overcast but dry at Villa Park, where the sprinklers are out. If Villa lose today, it will be a fifth straight defeat, equalling their worst ever run in the Premier League.

From Simon, Lichfield, via text on 81111: "In Martin O'Neill we trust. Looking back over the last three years, where we where then, where we are now... anyone who complains and is a fan should be ashamed."

1347: Howard Webb is in charge at Villa Park today. The English whistler had a bit of a nightmare in the Barca-Bayern Champions League tie on Wednesday. Webby booked Leo Messi for diving when the Argentine had been clattered by Christian Lell and then didn't book Mark van Bommel for trying to re-arrange Messi's face with his shoulder.

From Butch in Didcot, via text on 81111: "Re 1336: It's so Robinho can watch EastEnders omnibus on BBC1."

1341: Everton have been sixth in the Premier League for the whole of 2009. A win today would see them go fifth above Villa.

1336: Does anyone know why Manchester City and Fulham kick off at 10 past four? Any good reason? Have City requested a later kick-off to recover from their Uefa Cup trip to Hamburg?

1332: Aston Villa come into this game with a record of no wins in nine. Their slump has been blamed by some on Martin O'Neill's decision to field a weakened team in the Uefa Cup against CSKA Moscow. O'Neill, you won't be surprised to learn, doesn't agree. "We were in the last 32 of the Uefa Cup. You get the strong impression it was the semi-final," he said. "A number of people who should know better seemed to think the Uefa Cup was there for the taking. My point is this: being in the last 32 is the equivalent of winning the third round of the FA Cup. Does that mean the FA Cup is there for the taking?"

1326: David Moyes says Everton can kiss goodbye to Champions League football if they don't win today. That would leave them 10 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, with six games remaining. The Gunners, don't forget, have still to face Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United so they may not be safe in fourth.

1324: TEAM NEWS Aston Villa v Everton
Aston Villa defender Zat Knight comes in for Carlos Cueller who has a back problem while Gabriel Agbonlahor is declared fit having struggled for most of the week with a virus.
Everton keeper Tim Howard plays despite complaining of a sore hamstring during the week in an unchanged starting XI that beat Wigan 4-0 last Sunday.

1319: TEAMS Aston Villa v Everton
Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Knight, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Salifou, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Albrighton.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Jagielka, Baines, Osman, Neville, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jo. Subs: Nash, Van der Meyde, Castillo, Saha, Jacobsen, Rodwell, Gosling.

1315: I've got an idea. How about you take a break from scoffing chocolate eggs and join me for part two of the Premier League's Easter weekend extravaganza? After yesterday's drama at top and bottom, it's time to concentrate on the battle for European places...



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Barclays Premier League Table
01 February 2010 22:00
  PGDPTS
1Chelsea233854
2Man Utd243653
3Arsenal243249
4Tottenham242042

5Liverpool241641

6Man City221441
7Aston Villa231340
8Birmingham23-134
9Everton23-132
10Blackburn24-1528
11Fulham23-227
12Stoke22-726
13Sunderland23-1024
14Wigan22-2322
15West Ham23-921
16Bolton22-1521
17Wolverhampton23-2121

18Burnley23-2320
19Hull23-2620
20Portsmouth22-1615
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see also
Aston Villa 3-3 Everton
12 Apr 09 |  Premier League
Man City 1-3 Fulham
12 Apr 09 |  Premier League