PremWatch 15th December 2008

This weekend's Premier League football saw the big boys struggle, and two little boys at Aston Villa come of age.

The early kick off on Saturday was at the Riverside, where Emmanuel Adebayor's simple header wasn't enough for Arsenal against Middlesbrough. Jeremie Aliadiere soon had Boro level and the game finished at 1-1.

Gabriel Agbonlahor netted twice at Villa Park and put in a breath-taking performance alongside Ashley Young as Aston Villa beat Bolton Wanderers 4-2. Johan Elmander's neat flick put Bolton ahead, but Agbonlahor's brace, an own goal from Kevin Davies and a killer goal from Young made it four. Davies grabbed a late consolation for Bolton.

Paul McShane put Hull City ahead at Anfield before Jamie Carragher's hilarious own goal doubled City's lead. Steven Gerrard scored twice for Liverpool to equalise. Hull defender Michael Turner was fouled before both goals.

Everton grabbed a winner at the death against Manchester City. Tim Cahill headed in to give the Toffees the win, and Everton managed not to concede an even later goal this time.

Stoke City played out a dire 0-0 draw with Fulham at the Britannia. The only thing that happened was Fulham defender John Pantsil's (or whatever his real name is) disgraceful play-acting after Ricardo Fuller didn't headbutt him. A lengthy ban coming his way, hopefully.

Tony Mowbray would be wise to give up on avoiding relegation this season. His West Bromwich Albion side helped lift the post-Keane gloom at Sunderland by getting dicked 4-0. Kenwyne Jones scored the first pair, before porky Andy Reid and Djibril Cisse finalised the win.

Emile Heskey, Antonio Valencia and Lee Cattermole probably earned Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince the sack with the goals that downed his side at Wigan Athletic.

In the late game, Tottenham Hotspur held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane. Returning sulker Dimitar Berbatov was roundly jeered throughout.

On Sunday, Newcastle United battered Portsmouth, picking up a 3-0 win at Fratton Park. Michael Owen opened the scoring shortly after the break, and late goals from Obafemi Martins and Danny Guthrie sealed it for the Magpies.

Craig Bellamy put West Ham United in the lead as Chelsea dropped yet more points at Stamford Bridge, completing a miserable weekend for the so-called big four. Nicolas Anelka's equaliser made sure it wasn't even worse for the Blues.

The failure of Arsenal to win means that while Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are non-movers, Aston Villa jump to fourth - with the Gunners visiting Villa Park on Boxing Day. Arsenal are fifth ahead of Hull. At the bottom, West Bromwich Albion look dead and buried, with Blackburn not far behind. Sunderland occupy the increasingly fluid 18th spot.

(Photos: BBC Sport)