Weekend Roundup

Any weekend which has Manchester United v Arsenal in it is sure to capture the country's footballing imagination. That game didn't let us down, and neither did the weekend as a whole. Here's what happened - and they say Match of the Day 2 is the final word on the weekend's football!

Premier League

Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United stunk the place out with a 0-0 draw but it was more than made up for by an exciting Saturday afternoon in the top flight.

Bolton Wanderers twice led Liverpool thanks to goals from Kevin Davies and Tamir Cohen, but equalisers by Glen Johnson and Fernando Torres clawed the game back for Liverpool. At 2-1, Sean Davis was very harshly sent off thanks to the mouthing off of Lucas, who's proved himself to be a prize twat. Steven Gerrard slammed in a late winner for Liverpool.

Chelsea took some time to take the lead over Burnley, but made short work of turning that lead into a 3-0 win. Nicolas Anelka put them ahead before the break and goals from Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole sealed the three points for Carlo Ancelotti's men.

In the evening, Andrey Arshavin was scythed down in the box by anti-footballer Darren Fletcher but quickly got over the lack of a penalty call by firing in a lovely strike from distance to put Arsenal ahead at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney won and scored a penalty to equalise, and the comeback for Manchester United was complete five minutes later when Abou Diaby inexplicably headed past his own goalkeeper. At the death, referee Mike Dean correctly disallowed an Arsenal goal and Arsene Wenger was harshly sent to the stand for his reaction. Fair play to Arsene, he cleverly went to stand in the most awkward place possible and seemed to be doing so in good humour.

Dave Kitson's second goal in a week gave Stoke City all three points against Sunderland, while the points were shared between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hull City after Richard Stearman and Geovanni got themselves on the scoresheet.

At White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur required a very late winner from Aaron Lennon to defeat Dirty Small Heath. Peter Crouch had put Spurs ahead only for Lee Bowyer to equalise with a simple tap-in.

On Sunday, a very slow and dull match saw Manchester City win 1-0 against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Emmanuel Adebayor headed the only goal of the game from a first half Gareth Barry corner, and David Nugent missed an absolute sitter which would have levelled the game.

Paul Scharner put Wigan Athletic ahead at Goodison Park, but Louis Saha quickly equalised for Everton. It remained 1-1 until the 94th minute, when Leighton Baines fired a penalty into the roof of the Wigan net for 2-1.

And John Pantsil's own goal put Aston Villa ahead at home against Fulham, the lead doubled in the 59th minute by a wonderful run and shot by Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Championship

The big drama in the Championship took place on the banks of the Trent, where Derby County almost clawed back a 3-0 deficit against Nottingham Forest but could only score twice. After the game, Forest striker Nathan Tyson appeared to incite the Derby fans by marching in front of them holding a corner flag. Chaos, of course, ensued.

Middlesbrough's good start came to an end with defeat at Bristol City, Cardiff's by virtue of a 2-0 loss at Doncaster Rovers. West Bromwich Albion lead the table after gaining a respectable point against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, and Newcastle United play Leicester City this evening after Peterborough face the visit of Crystal Palace.

At the bottom, Barnsley's home defeat by Reading leaves them on one point along with Posh. Ipswich Town drew with ten-man Preston North End to bank their second point of the season, dragging them level with Plymouth Argyle who lost heavily at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Elsewhere, Blackpool thumped Coventry City, Queens Park Rangers won away at Scunthorpe United and Swansea City equalised late to grab a home point against Watford.

League One

Charlton Athletic and Leeds United maintain their 100% starts to the League One season. Charlton won 4-0 at Tranmere Rovers, Leeds 2-1 at Colchester United. In the following pack MK Dons beat Exeter City and Huddersfield Town beat Yeovil Town.

Bottom club Southampton picked up a point at Stockport County. Brighton & Hove Albion drew with Millwall on Friday night, and Hartlepool were beaten 2-0 at home by Norwich City.

Brentford drew with Olham Athletic, Leyton Orient with Carlisle United and Walsall with Gillingham. There were wins for Swindon Town over ten-man Southend United and for Wycombe Wanderers over Bristol Rovers.

League Two

Three teams at the top of L2 have 12 points from a possible 15. At the top, Dagenham & Redbridge stayed among the goals, putting three past Lincoln City. Rotherham United won 3-1 at Macclesfield Town, and AFC Bournemouth won 1-0 at home to Crewe Alexandra who drop to sixth. Barnet move to fourth with a 1-0 win over Notts County, now in fifth.

Darlington finally got off the mark with a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town. Accrington Stanley, Grimsby Town and Morecambe have three points each after a defeat to Shrewsbury Town, a defeat to Aldershot and a draw with Chesterfield respectively.

Bradford City beat Torquay United, Burton Albion beat Northampton Town, Hereford United drew with Port Vale and Rochdale hammered Bury 3-0 in their derby match.

Non-League

In the Blue Square Premier, Oxford United top the table thanks to a win at AFC Wimbledon. Mansfield Town are second with a win at Chester City, who remain on -24. Forest Green Rovers' home defeat to Wrexham leaves them pointless. Ebbsfleet still have just two points, Gateshead four, after defeats to Hayes & Yeading and Cambridge United.

Droylsden lead the Blue Square North after beating Fleetwood Town. They are joined on 13 points by Corby who lost 6-3 at home to Gloucester, Southport who beat Harrogate and Eastwood Town who beat Hinckley United. Hyde lead the chasing pack, but were beaten by Blyth Spartans. Northwich Victoria and Farsley Celtic both have zero points, Celtic reaching that target with a 4-1 win over Brian Little's Gainsborough Trinity.

Dover lead the South, winning at Eastleigh. Basingstoke beat Havant & Waterlooville to remain level on points with the leaders and one point ahead of Woking, who won 2-0 at Lewes. Newport County and Thurrock are in the chase. Worcester continue to prop up the table after a goalless draw with Staines Town.