EPL weekend round-up

Everton withstood an early barrage from Bolton before clinching their first points of the season.

Marcus Bent snapped up a half chance from Tim Cahill's cross after 52 minutes to leave Bolton with just one point to show from their opening two games.

The closest the home side came was an El Hadji Diouf shot that shook the crossbar.

The champions made it two wins out of two after a disappointing encounter at Stamford Bridge. It was their first league win over Arsenal for 10 years.

Thierry Henry [Images] snatched at a couple of half chances for the visitors before second-half substitute Didier Drogba [Images] earned the home side the victory after 73 minutes, bundling in Frank Lampard's [Images] free kick with his knee.

Chelsea introduced new 38 million euro ($47 million) record signing Michael Essien for the last half an hour, while Shaun Wright-Phillips also got a run out as a substitute to underline Chelsea's strength in depth.

Two former England [Images] players combined for Manchester City's winner two minutes after the interval when striker Andy Cole netted winger Trevor Sinclair's right-wing cross at the far post.

Birmingham took an early lead when Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani headed down a Julian Gray cross and ex-Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt shot home.

Joey Barton equalised for the visitors in a counter-attack midway through the first half.

Striker Morten Gamst Pedersen put Fulham ahead in the 15th minute from Shefki Kuqi's cross from the right wing.

U.S. striker Brian McBride equalised four minutes into the second half from Niclas Jensen's left cross but Tugay restored Fulham's lead when he volleyed Pedersen's corner home.

Charlton went joint top on six points with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United [Images], though second on goal difference.

New signing Darren Bent scored his third goal in two games three minutes before halftime, heading home Danny Murphy's right cross to give Charlton their second successive victory.

Midfielder Xabi Alonso struck the winner after 24 minutes, steering a 25-metre free kick inside the top right corner after a foul on Boudewijn Zenden.

Sunderland were reduced to 10 men a quarter of an hour from time when Andy Welsh was sent off for violent conduct.

United were comfortable winners of a match where only one team were realistically trying to score.

Villa's defensive approach was undone after 66 minutes when Ruud van Nistelrooy [Images] latched on to a Cristiano Ronaldo [Images] cross to tap in the only goal and extend United's 22-year unbeaten home record against the Midlanders.

West Ham were down to 10 men for the last 36 minutes after a dismissal that surprised most observers when Paul Konchesky was sent off for a tackle on midfielder Jermaine Jenas in which he appeared to win the ball cleanly.

Spurs went top with their second consecutive 2-0 win for a perfect record of six points and no goals conceded.

England's Jermain Defoe struck shortly after start of the second half with a rasping shot into the roof of the net from 25 metres.

Mido increased Spurs' lead in 75th minute when keeper Mark Schwarzer failed to prevent his weak shot going in under his body from Defoe's pass.

Geoff Horsfield scored twice to give West Brom victory, opening his account after only two minutes with a header from Jonathan Greening's left cross and adding his second just before the hour.

Former Newcastle United winger Laurent Robert pulled one back in the 63rd with a trademark left-footed free kick that found the top corner of the net.

© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.