(Adds late Aston Villa v Fulham match)
By Trevor Huggins
LONDON, Oct 21 - Brief reports from English
Premier League matches on Saturday:
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0 WATFORD 0
A scrappy game between the two bottom clubs will have left
neither side particularly buoyant, though at least Watford
claimed an away point and Charlton picked up a point after five
straight defeats.
Charlton made all the first-half running and kept up the
pressure after the break. But both sides looked nervous in front
of goal and the lack of composure when it counted kept Charlton
bottom with just four points from one win, one draw and seven
defeats under new manager Iain Dowie. Watford are still without
a league win in nine matches since gaining promotion.
- - - -
CHELSEA 2 PORTSMOUTH 1
Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko scored his first goal in
10 games and his first at Stamford Bridge, setting the champions
on their way to a victory that sent them three points clear at
the top.
Portsmouth made a bright start but keeper David James was
soon being kept busy drawing fine saves from both Dutch winger
Arjen Robben and Shevchenko.
The Ukrainian had a strike disallowed for off-side but
finally broke the deadlock with a 55th minute shot that took a
deflection on its way in off Pompey defender Sol Campbell.
Germany captain Michael Ballack headed them into a 2-0 lead
just two minutes later after good work by striker Didier Drogba,
but the visitors were kept in the game when Zimbabwean striker
Benjamin Mwaruwari scrambled the ball home after 69 minutes.
- - - -
EVERTON 2 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0
Everton had few difficulties with Neil Warnock's side, even
before the visitors were reduced to 10 men midway through the
first half at Goodison Park.
A header by Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta, off a Phil
Neville cross, put Everton 1-0 up after 13 minutes. United's
task was made harder after 32 minutes when defender Claude Davis
was red-carded for bringing down England striker Andy Johnson in
the area and James Beattie converted the resulting penalty.
Everton held on to win for the first time in five matches since
Sept. 9.
- - - -
WIGAN ATHLETIC 4 MANCHESTER CITY 0
Wigan Athletic had a dream start with two goals in the
opening three and a half minutes.
Former England striker Emile Heskey crashed home a shot on
the bounce after 67 seconds and they doubled their lead soon
after when City defender Richard Dunne nodded a free kick by
Australian midfielder Josip Skoko past his own keeper Nicky
Weaver.
Senegal striker Henri Camara punished City for sloppy
defending in the 65th minute, prodding home a cutback by
Leighton Baines, and Ecuador midfielder Luis Antonio Valencia
blasted their fourth just two minutes later to complete the rout
and give Wigan their first league win since Aug. 26.
- - - -
ASTON VILLA 1 FULHAM 1
Villa have not lost in the league this season but a fifth
draw in their last six league games will be somewhat frustrating
for the Villa Park faithful.
They took the lead with a generously-awarded penalty in the
24th minute after Bulgarian midfielder Stilian Petrov was
man-handled by Fulham defender Liam Rosenior. Gareth Barry
rocketed home the spot-kick but German defender Moritz Volz
fired an equaliser for Fulham on the stroke of halftime.
- - - -
Playing Sunday: Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers (1400),
Manchester United v Liverpool (1200), Middlesbrough v Newcastle
United (1400), Reading v Arsenal (1500), Tottenham Hotspur v
West Ham United (1400)