Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer came off the bench to hand Manchester
United an opening day 1-0 win over 10-man West Brom
at Old Trafford.
The
Norway striker, dropped to the bench as Sir Alex Ferguson
deployed his much-criticised 4-5-1 formation, once
again answered his manager's call when he wrapped
up a three-man move to bend the ball beyond Russell
Hoult on 78 minutes.
New-boys West Brom had held firm up to that point
but the second-half sending off of Derek McInnes turned
the game in United's favour.
Ruud van Nistelrooy endured a frustrating afternoon
in front of goal and Ryan Giggs was denied a penalty
as United struggled to break down a resilient Baggies
rearguard. But Solskjaer, so often the saviour, earned
the home side maximum points with his first goal of
the new campaign.
United's neighbours Manchester City were far from
disgraced despite crashing 3-0 at Leeds.
Nicky Barmby marked his debut on 15 minutes when he
latched on to a Lee Bowyer cross to slot home. Mark
Viduka then delivered a sucker punch on the stroke
of half-time when he beat the offside trap to finish
beyond Carlo Nash. And substitute Robbie Keane killed
the game against a spirited City side with a third
10 minutes from time as Terry Venables enjoyed a winning
start to his Elland Road tenure.
Chelsea came from behind to earn a hard-fought 3-2
win at Charlton. Paul Konchesky fired the Addicks
in front on seven minutes - only to be sent off for
an alleged elbow on Enrique De Lucas prior to the
half-hour mark. Richard Rufus made it 2-0 with a far
post header - but Gianfranco Zola halved the deficit
with a sweetly-struck effort on the stroke of half-time.
And two goals in five minutes from Carlton Cole and
Frank Lampard stole the points for the Blues.
Fulham kick-started their season with an emphatic
4-1 win over travel-sick Bolton, who scored the fastest
goal in the Premiership on four minutes through fit-again
Michael Ricketts from the penalty spot. But the Cottagers
responded from the spot themselves through Louis Saha,
after Gudni Bergsson had fouled Luis Boa Morte.
Sylvain Legwinski put the home side ahead on 33 minutes
with a shot from 18 yards before Steve Marlet extended
the home side's margin, again from the spot, after
Bernard Mendy had tripped Boa Morte. Legwinski hit
a brace on 79 minutes to earn Fulham a deserved win.
Mark Pembridge handed Everton a deserved lead with
a rare goal against Tottenham when he fired home from
a clever Wayne Rooney pass on 37 minutes - but injury-hit
Spurs were not to be denied and Matthew Etherington
drew the visitors level with his first league goal
after the break.
Substitute Les Ferdinand shrugged off his recent injury
problems to put Glenn Hoddle's men in front, only
for Tomasz Radzinski to earn Everton a share of the
spoils nine minutes from time in an entertaining 2-2
draw at Goodison Park.
Blackburn, with Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole reunited
up front for the first time on a competitive basis
since their formidable Manchester United partnership,
failed to inspire Graeme Souness' side to a win.
On the second anniversary of benefactor Jack Walker's
death, Rovers struggled to break down a well-marshalled
Sunderland defence and lacked the necessary craft
to unlock their opponents.
And at St Mary's, Middlesbrough, who had George Boateng,
Geremi and Massimo Maccarone making their debuts,
were also held to a 0-0 draw against Southampton.
