By Paul Holmes
August 27 2002
Results round up from Tuesday August 27 as Burnley's defeat to Sheffield United leaves them still looking for their first point and Sheffield Wednesday make Wolves fight for a point. Crystal Palace 0 Leicester 0
Despite the no goals in scoreline, Palace and Leicester created chances galore at Selhurst Park.
At times it seemed to be Paul Dikov Vs Ian Walker and Andy Johnson Vs Matt Clarke with the two strikers causing nearly all the problems for the keepers.
Palace started the brighter and could easily have taken the lead had it not been for Walker in the Leicester goal. The Foxes soon took charge though with Dikov pulling the strings and making Clarke earn his keep. The control of the game was switching all throughout the 90 minutes and each team had a case to take the spoils.
In the end a draw was a fair result although it almost wasn't after Leicester defender Gerry Taggart was sent off in the 85 minute and Palace stormed the Leicester goal but Walker and his reamaining team mates held out.
Reading 3 Burnley 0
Reading continued Burnley's misery with a convincing 3 goal victory.
It took until the second half for the first goal with Burnley keeper Nik Michopoulos in fine form. Michopoulos could do nothing to stop the opener from birthday boy Jamie Cureton on 55 minutes. After a Graeme Murty cross dropped into space in the box, the former Bristol Rovers man beat Michopoulos from 10 yards.
The Greek 'keeper was still pulling out the saves for Stan Ternent's men and held out until the 87th minute. Having already scored, Cureton played in strike partner Martin Butler who provided a cool finish to make it 2-0.
The win was complete in the dying seconds as Cureton surged forward on a 30 yard run before delightfully chipping Michopoulos.
Burnley offered very little attacking threat with the best chance falling to Tony Grant who hoofed well over the cross bar.
Sheffield United 3 Millwall 1Millwall's poor start also continued with a defeat to Neil Warnock's men.
Despite four goals the deadlock was not broken until the 76th minute. Having bossed the game, United took the lead through Carl Asaba who headed home after a mazy run and cross by Michael Tonge. Tonge was the main man for The Blades, behind every attacking move and helping out in defensive duties as well, Tottenham are one team who are reported to be interested in the 19-year-old and on this performance, a big money bid shouldn't be too far away.
The second goal arrived just 5 minutes after the first. Having already created the first, Tonge took the limelight, cutting through the Millwall defence before slamming the ball into the top half of Tony Warner's goal.
With a minute to go Paul Ifill managed to grab hope for Millwall only for Peter Ndlovu to restore the 2 goal cushion after Tonge's shot was blocked.
Wolves 2 Sheff Wed 2
Premiership chasing Wolves were made to fight for a point against Sheffield Wednesday.
Wednesday took the lead in only the 8th minute with Finnish striker Shefki Kuqi beating Michael Oakes with a good finish after good work from Trond Egil Soltdvedt.
Wolves retaliated with immediate effect with Nathan Blake slamming home after a deflected Lee Naylor free-kick, only for the linesman to signal for offside.
After several missed chances Blake pulled Wolves level with a bullet header on the hour mark. A betting man would now have probably tipped Wolves for the win.
Wednesday wanted the win though and Kuqi again gave them the lead after Leon Knights floating cross, question marks were raised about defender Joleon Lescott's marking though.
Lescott made up for his error five minutes later, finding Dean Sturridge in the box who headed home to give each side a point.