Michael Owen provided the perfect response to his doubters by notching a superb hat-trick to sink Manchester City at Maine Road.
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Red relief... Danny Murphy joins Owen in triple celebration at Maine Road
(AlexLivesey/GettyImages) |
Owen - without a goal from open play this season and having missed two penalties - was in top form as he brought City's year-long unbeaten home record to a juddering halt.
Poor defending from a corner after just four minutes gave him the chance to open the scoring from four yards, and he added a second after the break thanks to Steven Gerrard's astute through pass.
With City labouring, Owen put the outcome beyond any doubt as he clipped a precise shot beyond demoralised keeper Peter Schmeichel and in off the post.
Earlier record-breaking Arsenal delivered another perfect away performance as Leeds were steamrollered 4-1 in front of a stunned Elland Road crowd.
Kanu opened the scoring early on with a simple, side-footed finish, as the Gunners broke Chesterfield's 73-year-old record by scoring for the 47th consecutive match.
And Kolo Toure soon added another with a downward header from Sylvain Wiltord's cross. The champions maintained their momentum after the break as Thierry Henry slid a low shot past Robinson for 3-0 and, although Harry Kewell pulled one back, Kanu had the last word with another smart finish.
The win extended Arsenal's winning away run to 23 games, while equalling Manchester United's Premiership record of 29 unbeaten matches.
United moved into fourth place in the table after recovering from a goal down to beat Charlton at the Valley.
The struggling Londoners took the lead shortly before the break when Claus Jensen fired a vicious effort past Fabien Barthez.
But United roared back into contention after the break, and fit-again Paul Scholes grabbed the equaliser after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ryan Giggs had combined to create the chance.
Giggs then got on the scoresheet from Ruud van Nistelrooy's cross before van Nistelrooy rounded matters off with a late third from a Giggs centre.
Paolo Di Canio's double strike gave West Ham their first victory of the season as London rivals Chelsea were shocked at Stamford Bridge.
Things had looked promising for Claudio Ranieri's side when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored his first goal of the season from the penalty spot - but Jermain Defoe levelled before half-time with a close-range effort following a corner.
Just minutes after the break, a stunning Di Canio flick and volley put the Hammers ahead, only for fellow Italian Gianfranco Zola to level matters from a free-kick.
Di Canio, though, had the last word as he finished coolly from inside the area to secure the points.
Peter Reid saw his Sunderland side notch up a crucial victory in a tense clash with fellow strugglers Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light.
Frenchman David Bellion, making his first start for the club, latched on to a Julio Arca through ball to fire a low shot past Villa's Peter Enckelman with 20 minutes remaining.
Dion Dublin came close to levelling the scored for the Midlanders - but Sunderland held on to claim three desperately-needed points.
Middlesbrough moved up to fourth in the Premiership after demolishing Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Steve McClaren's slick side always looked in control - and from the moment Massimo Maccarone fired them in front with just over half an hour gone, Spurs were in trouble.
Geremi doubled the advantage after 55 minutes, and three minutes later it was all over as Joseph Desire Job buried a low shot to leave the north Londoners comprehensively defeated.
Youri Djorkaeff saved a point for Bolton as he foiled Southampton with virtually the final kick of the game.
Djorkaeff volleyed home at the far post after a long throw had been flicked on - leaving the Saints to wonder how they let their advantage slip away.
England defender Wayne Bridge had put them in front, lashing the ball into the top corner after neat play had set him free in the area with only eight minutes remaining.
Two goals in the space of a first-half minute gave Everton the platform for a comfortable victory over Fulham at Goodison Park.
Kevin Campbell broke the deadlock in the dying stages of the half, heading past keeper Edwin Van der Sar.
And Van der Sar was beaten again seconds later as Thomas Gravesen unleashed a powerful shot. The home side had comfortably the better of the second period, but were unable to add to their tally.
Nolberto Solano's stunning first-half goal sent Newcastle United on their way to a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Birmingham in the evening game at St Andrews.
The Magpies, who face a win-or-bust Champions League trip to Juventus on Tuesday, rounded off their first away victory of the campaign with Shola Ameobi's first goal for the club in injury-time.
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