RECAP: WEEKEND ENGLISH ACTION Sunday, March 5, 2006
Man City's Claudio Reyna made an assured return from injury, while Bobby Convey followed up a strong midweek display with a screamer for relentless Reading.
Tottenham 3-2 Blackburn
Two Champions League hopefuls produced an electric display, from which Brad Friedel and Blackburn will feel unlucky not to have taken at least a point.
A Robbie Keane double looked to have given Spurs a decisive lead by halftime, but Florent Sinama Pongolle struck on 43 minutes to give Rovers hope.
Blackburn, superb after the break, finally levelled the scores through Craig Bellamy with little more than 20 minutes to go and went looking for the winner.
Spurs grabbed all three points with a superb sucker-punch just three minutes later, breaking up the pitch for Mido to convert Aaron Lennon's driven cross.
Though he wasn't at fault for any of Spurs' goals, Friedel will be hoping for a more miserly showing when his side entertain Aston Villa next Saturday.
Jonathan Spector kept his place in Charlton's backline as they grinded out another goalless draw at Anfield.
Goal-shy Liverpool had their chances, but encountered Thomas Myhre in superb form.
The Norwegian keeper pulled out all the stops to deny Djibril Cisse, Peter Crouch and Robbie Fowler, who had a late strike dubiously ruled offside.
The next test of the Addicks' new-found defensive resilience is Thursday's visit of Middlesbrough to The Valley.
Manchester City 2-1 Sunderland
Claudio Reyna made a confident return to first team action, playing 81 minutes of a comfortable win over doomed Sunderland.
Giorgios Samaras struck twice in the opening 10 minutes to put Citeh firmly in the driving seat, after defensive howlers from the shambolic Wearsiders.
Sunderland managed to claw one back after 25 minutes when Kevin Kyle converted a Julio Arca free kick, but anything other than a win for Stuart Pearce's men would've been a travesty.
The Black Cats' misery was compounded with five minutes to go, when defender Gary Breen saw red for his second bookable offense.
Reyna's journey back to full match fitness continues with an away day at Portsmouth next Saturday.
Burnley 0-3 Reading
Bobby Convey volleyed home a thunderbolt to open the scoring for Reading after just 10 minutes as they continued their irresistable march towards the Premiership with a dismantling of Danny Karbassiyoon's Burnley.
With Marcus Hahnemann rarely troubled, the Royals continued to turn the screw.
Ibrahima Sonko extended their lead with a towering header, but not before Leroy Lita had been stretchered off with a broken ankle.
The £1 million striker fell awkwardly while shooting, and will be out for the rest of the season.
Dave Kitson tapped in a Stephen Hunt cross in the final minute to make it something of a trouncing, and extend the gap at the top to 14 points.
Cardiff City 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Frank Simek went the distance as Wednesday succumbed to yet another defeat, setting up a tense relegation run-in.
Cameron Jerome gave Cardiff the lead after 19 minutes, converting a corner with Wednesday keeper Chris Adamson blinded by the sun.
The Owls battered City throughout the second half and were deserving of at least a point, but found Graham Alexander in unbeatable form.
Marcus Tudgay, Deon Burton and Leon Best were all thwarted by the Cardiff keeper as the home side clung to victory.
Paul Sturrock's side now have a week to prepare for their home clash with Queens Park Rangers.
Millwall, with Zak Whitbread a fixture at the heart of their defense, snatched three massive points with an injury time winner from Marvin Williams.
Ben May gave the home side the lead just after the half hour mark, but Chris Coyne equalized straight after the interval after linking up with Steve Howard.
Williams came off the bench and left it late to make his mark, stabbing the ball home deep in injury time to give the Lions the win.
Millwall's battle to beat the drop sees them travel to Ipswich on Saturday.
Notes
Jay DeMerit was an unused sub for Watford's 2-2 draw with Derby.
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