Bolton were unlucky to draw 1-1 with Southampton. Stelios Giannakopoulos gave them the lead after 25 minutes when he headed home from El-Hadji Diouf’s cross as Bolton swamped the Saints in the first-half. Nigel Quashie twice had to clear off the line, but after the break it was a different story as Saints got their act together. Kevin Phillips fired them level on 69 minutes, but Kevin Davies hit a post for the Trotters and both goalkeepers pulled off outstanding saves to ensure neither side would grab maximum points. Middlesbrough snatched a fortuitous draw against Fulham when Bolo Zenden converted a late, late penalty – their first of the season – to keep alive their hopes of Uefa Cup football next season. The spot kick was controversially awarded by Cup Final referee Rob Styles for a foul by goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar on Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink. But the challenge appeared to have been made outside the Fulham penalty area, and there was also some doubt in Fulham minds about whether the challenge was illegal. Earlier, Brian McBride had deservedly fired Fulham ahead with a right-foot strike, while the always dangerous Luis Boa Morte hit the crossbar with a free-kick. But at the other end, Hasselbaink went close for Boro with a header. The race for fourth place – currently led by Everton – hotted up again with Liverpool’s 2-1 victory art Portsmouth, while at the other end of the table, a dramatic encounter at Carrow Road saw Norwich City triumph 2-1 against Newcastle United. But Crystal Palace lost 1-0 at Blackburn. However, West Bromwich Albion maintained their recent, possibly life-saving unbeaten run, with a 1-1 draw at Tottenham. Stuart Pearce did his job prospects the world of good as his Manchester City side gained an emphatic 3-0 victory over Birmingham City, whose city rivals Aston Villa drew 0-0 at home to Charlton Athletic.



At Stamford Bridge, Arsenal started like champions and could have been two up within the first ten minutes. Robert Pires volleyed a Jose Reyes knockdown against the underside of the Chelsea crossbar and shortly afterwards screwed his shot just wide from a great chance when the ball broke to him in the area. But Chelsea gradually came into it and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba forced Jens Lemann into saves. In the second half there more chances, with Chelsea having the best of them. But they were unable to break their 10-year League jinx against the Gunners, who kept another clean sheet, maintained their unbeaten run in London derbies that stretches back to November 2001, but almost certainly conceded their Premiership crown to Chelsea by not collecting all three points. Manchester United lost further ground on Arsenal by losing to fourth-placed Everton in a fill-blooded North-West derby that saw veteran Duncan Ferguson score the decisive goal on 54 minutes with a stooping header. Ferguson had also scored the last time Everton beat United in the League – ten years ago. On his return to Goodison, Wayne Rooney repeatedly tested Nigel Martyn but to no avail, and things went from bad to worse for United when Gary Neville was sent off for kicking the ball into the crowd and Paul Scholes saw red for a second crude and bookable challenge. That dismissal sparked a heated touchline exchange between the two managers, but only Toffees boss David Moyes had anything to shout about at the end. Liverpool kept up the pressure on their neighbours in the race for Champions League qualification by winning 2-1 on the south-coast. Lomana Lua Lua had the ball in the net for Portsmouth after 40 seconds but an offside flag ruled his effort out, and within three minutes the Reds were ahead. Fernando Morientes stabbed the ball home from close range in a packed goal-mouth. But Pompey equalised when Diomansy Kamara bundled the ball in after Steve Finnan had blocked Arjen De Zeeuw’s header. However, the Champions League semi-finalists were not to be denied, and on the stroke of half-time John Arne Riise’s cross was headed past Jamie Ashdown by Luis Garcia, enjoying a rich vein of scoring form. The battle to avoid relegation intensified with Norwich beating Newcastle in a thrilling game. Moroccan midfielder Youssef Safri put the Canaries ahead with a spectacular 45-yard strike after taking a pass from Thomas Helveg. It looked as though that would be enough for Norwich until substitute Patrick Kluivert found the net for the Magpies in the 90th minute. But in the fourth minute of injury time, Helveg produced a superb long pass which Dean Ashton rose to head home with precision. Manchester City produced an impressive display against Birmingham City - after Clinton Morrison had an early ‘goal’ disallowed for a marginal offside - and ran out 3-0 winners thanks to a Robbie Fowler header, a rare goal from Richard Dunne (also a header) and a penalty converted by Antoine Sibierski. At Villa Park, Alan Curbishley’s Charlton Athletic stopped the rot with a disciplined defensive display that ensured the desired clean-sheet. And while only Aston Villa looked to have the ambition to win the game, they lacked the wit or the imagination to do this, so a goalless draw was the inevitable result.

Babe of the week - ELISHA CUTHBERT



I Mother Earth is a Toronto based band. In descriptions of their music, the word "psychadelic" is often mentioned, in reference to both their music and trippy lyrics. They incorporate heavy percussion into their hard edged rock sound. The band is comprised of four members -- Guitarist Jagori Tanna, his brother Drummer Christian Tanna, Bassist Bruce Gordon and Lead Singer Brian Byrne. Brian is a new addition to the band, with the departure of former lead singer Edwin in April, 1997. The band also has a full-time touring percussionist, Daniel Mansilla. Although he's not an official member of the band, Daniel plays an important role in IME's sound, both in studio and during live shows. I Mother Earth have released three records, including 1993's Dig and Scenery and Fish, released in 1996, Blue Green Orange was released on July 13, 1999. Two years later saw the release of The Quicksilver Messenger.





Song for the day - "Rain Will Fall" - I MOTHER EARTH