Premier League: Baggies cause upset, as Torres fires

West Bromich Albion provided the upset of the afternoon as they picked up three points from their trip to the Riverside with a 1-0 win.

Empics

Olsson slips home the winner for the Baggies.

Middlesbrough had no answer to Jonas Olsson's strike in the 53rd minute and the Baggies soaked up some pressure late in the second half to condemn Gareth Southgate's men to their fourth straight defeat in all competitions.

Fernando Torres struck twice in three minutes in the 179th Merseyside derby, as Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners to equal their best ever start to a season.

After a stale first half, the Spaniard rifled in a cross from strike partner Robbie Keane, before smashing home a second following a goalmouth scramble.

Under-fire referee Mike Riley later sent off Everton midfielder Tim Cahill for a fairly innocuous tackle on Xabi Alonso, but Everton failed to muster a single shot on target, so can have no complaints at the result.

Chelsea leap-frogged Liverpool at the top of the league with a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke were without their main attacking threat, Rory Delap, and were made to pay by full-back Jose Bosingwa after good work from Frank Lampard in the 36th minute.

Chelsea, who were never under much pressure from the Premier League newboys, finished the job with a goal from Nicolas Anelka.

Manchester United were held to a goalless first-half by struggling Bolton at Old Trafford, but worked hard to find a way past Gary Megson's side.

Somewhat fortuitously awarded a penalty by referee Rob Styles for a foul on Cristiano Ronaldo by Jlloyd Samuel, United went ahead as the Portuguese picked himself up to net from the spot.

Wayne Rooney, who had been benched by Sir Alex Ferguson in favour of Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez, then sealed the points with a late strike to make it 2-0.

Djibril Cisse gave Sunderland a shock lead at Villa Park, before a low 25-yard free-kick from Ashley Young levelled the scores.

The winger, left out by Fabio Capello in his recent England squads, netted his eighth goal in 15 games to force his claim for recognition and he had a hand in the second as well. His free-kick was charged down only for the ball to be helped into the box for John Carew to backheel Villa's winner, as Martin O'Neill's men ran out 2-1 winners.

Unfortunately for Young, Capello was at Craven Cottage to watch Fulham capitulate 2-1 at home to Gianfranco Zola's West Ham.
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The Italian may have been impressed by Carlton Cole, who stabbed home the Hammers' first, or by Mark Noble and Matthew Etherington who combined well for the second just seconds before half-time, but would not have liked what he saw of Fulham striker Andy Johnson who was sent off for two yellow cards.

Fulham pulled one back, through a Danny Murphy penalty, but could never convert their chances and failed to get the equaliser.

Joe Kinnear was in the stands (serving his touchline ban) to watch his new Newcastle side take on Blackburn, but could do nothing as Christopher Samba leapt above Steven Taylor to head home from Carlos Villanueva's cross.

45,000 Toon fans turned up to watch, but left unhappy after their defence was ripped to pieces by Roque Santa Cruz, who headed the second.

Michael Owen got a consolation penalty for the Magpies, but their fifth defeat in a row has added more gloom to the clouds around St James's Park, as they went down 2-1.