Mackems Heading For Relegation!

 

A Stewart Downing penalty and a Tuncay Sanli strike, his second in two games, earned the Teessiders the win - their first in the Premier League since September 1 - and also denied the Gunners the chance to stretch their one-point lead at the top of the table.

The home side took the lead as early as the fourth minute when Gary O'Neil's ball sent Jeremie Aliadiere into the area and Kolo Toure clumsily brought down his former team-mate, who was going away from goal.

Referee Howard Webb rightly pointed to the spot and Downing stepped up to beat Manuel Almunia low to his left.

Tuncay should have doubled Boro's lead just five minutes after half-time, but after timing his run to perfection to get on to a pass from Fabio Rochemback, he fired agonisingly wide of the far post.

Gareth Southgate's men continued to pose problems for the Gunners and George Boateng saw a thumping right-foot shot flash wide of the upright.

But Boro deservedly took a two-goal lead on 73 minutes when Tuncay rammed the ball home from an acute angle after Rochemback's powerful effort was parried into his path by Almunia.

Tomas Rosicky fired low into the corner deep into stoppage time, but it was too little too late for Arsene Wenger's men.

Tottenham's Jermain Defoe showed Sven-Goran Eriksson what he was missing at last year's World Cup by coming off the bench to condemn Manchester City to a 2-1 defeat, denying them a place in the top four.

Eriksson famously chose to take Theo Walcott rather than Defoe to Germany - and Defoe gained some sort of revenge at White Hart Lane.

Rolando Bianchi cancelled out Pascal Chimbonda's controversial opener before Defoe grabbed the winner with seven minutes left, just after Stephen Ireland was given a straight red card for a lunge at Young-Pyo Lee.

Bolton's revival continued at the Reebok Stadium as Gary Megson's men recorded their biggest win of the season, 4-1 against neighbours Wigan to leave the Latics deep in relegation trouble.

Paul Scharner headed into his own net to give the Trotters the lead and although Denny Landzaat equalised for the visitors, Kevin Nolan put Bolton back in front before the break, with Kevin Davies and Nicolas Anelka, who also missed a penalty, finishing off an easy win.