Rafael Van Der Vaart
It was the Rafael Van Der Vaart show once again at White Hart Lane on Saturday, as Tottenham beat Aston Villa 2-1.
Mark Albrighton turned in Emile Heskey’s cross to give the visitors an early lead, but Van Der Vaart nodded in Peter Crouch ’s header to level on the stroke of half-time. And the Dutchman completed an eventful week by grabbing the winner with 15 minutes to play, collecting Crouch’s knock-down, beating Richard Dunne and crashing home.
At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland absolutely pummeled Manchester United in the first half, but were unable to get the breakthrough, Boudewijn Zenden coming closest when his strike hit the post. The visitors came back into it in the second period, but despite the introduction of Dimitar Berbatov, Bebe and Javier Hernandez, the game ended goalless.
At Upton Park, meanwhile, Clint Dempsey came back to haunt Robert Green, half-volleying smartly past the England goalkeeper from 12 yards to give Fulham a first-half lead against West Ham. But Frederic Piquionne headed in Victor Obinna’s cross for his second goal in as many games to grab a deserved point for the Hammers early in the second half.
Nonetheless, West Ham go back to the bottom, while Fulham and Manchester United remain the only Premiership teams unbeaten in the league this season.
At the Britannia Stadium, Stoke continued their impressive run, beating Blackburn Rovers 1-0.
Jon Walters got the only goal with a neat finish from Matthew Etherington's through-ball just after the interval.
Everton got their first win of the season, beating Birmingham 2-0 at St. Andrews and lifting a huge weight from boss David Moyes’ shoulders. The Toffees went in front after 54 minutes, with Roger Johnson knocking Leon Osman ’s cross into his own net. And Tim Cahill sealed the victory in the last minute, heading home Leighton Baines' centre.
West Bromwich Albion missed a chance to go second in the table, drawing 1-1 at home to Bolton Wanderers . Swedish forward Johan Elmander fired the visitors into the lead just past the hour, and James Morrison headed home Peter Odemwingie’s cross to equalize after 74 minutes.
And at the DW Stadium, Wigan Athletic got a vital 2-0 win against fellow strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers .
Wolves captain Karl Henry put the visitors up against it by getting himself sent off after 11 minutes for flying in dangerously on Jordi Gomez .
Gomez gave the hosts the initiative after 65 minutes, curling in a free-kick from the edge of the box. And Wigan sealed the win four minutes from time, with Christophe Berra’s attempted interception of Charles N’Zogbia’s pass coming off Hugo Rodallega and rolling in past the helpless Marcus Hahnemann.