Premier League round-up

Blackpool announced their top-flight arrival in stunning style by trouncing Wigan as Chelsea routed West Brom, James Milner fired Aston Villa to victory and Tottenham drew with Manchester City.

Birmingham hit back from 2-0 down to draw with 10-man Sunderland, Blackburn overcame Everton, Wolves defeated Stoke and Bolton played out a stalemate with Fulham.

Marlon Harewood's brace had Blackpool in Premier League comatose as Ian Holloway's men ashamed the critics as they romped to a 4-0 win at Wigan area Latics goalkeeper Chris Kirkland had an afternoon to forget.

The Seasiders had been broadly hoping to be cannon-fodder in the top flight afterwards their advance via the play-offs but bare purely 16 minutes to accomplish their mark a part of the aristocratic during Gary Taylor-Fletcher afore new signing Harewood bagged two in 5 minutes advanced of the interval.

Alex Baptiste's hopeful cross ashamed Kirkland at his closer post to complete the scoring and forward Blackpool briefly top of the apprentice table, in a bout which aswell credible the acknowledgment to activity of adjudicator Mark Halsey afterward a spell abroad from the bout as he battled on throat cancer.


Chelsea began the defence of their Premier League appellation in accomplished appearance with a assault 6-0 win above a West Brom ancillary who were acutely punished for their arresting generosity.

Former Blues favourite Roberto Di Matteo was accepted a balmy accession on his acknowledgment to Stamford Bridge purely to see his ancillary dismantled with Didier Drogba allowance himself to a hat-trick, Florent Malouda bagging a brace and Frank Lampard aswell award the net.

Aston Villa started activity afterwards Martin O'Neill with a adequate 3-0 win above Avram Grant's West Ham as James Milner, whose advancing avenue for Manchester City played a key role in his above manager's departure, completed the scoring.

Caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald adopted to name the England all-embracing in his starting XI and was adored with a accomplished left-foot accomplishment afterwards the interruption with Stewart Downing and Stiliyan Petrov accepting put the hosts in control.

Joe Hart produced a superb present to disprove Tottenham afterwards getting handed the Manchester City goalkeeping gloves advanced of Shay Given.

Roberto Mancini put his acceptance in the green England all-embracing and was absolutely rewarded, but will be anxious that the time-out of his expensively-assembled team bootless to blaze in a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.


Birmingham hit back from 2-0 down to draw with 10-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light as Scott Dann headed during Simon Mignolet's legs afore the goalkeeper was afresh abiding to his band in the closing moments as Liam Ridgewell arranged home two minutes from time.

Darren Bent had best up area he left off latest period by battlefront the home ancillary into an anon advance from the penalty spot, afore the Black Cats were restricted to 10 men when Lee Cattermole was absolved afore the interval.

Stephen Carr again hit a absurd own goal in the 56th minute, looping a attack above Ben Foster from the bend of his own box behind burden from Fraizer Campbell.

David Jones hit a beauteous goal from a abstract free-kick accepted to set Wolves on their way to win above Stoke, with Steven Fletcher bundling home a second anon afterwards afore Abdoulaye Faye powered in a attack afterwards the break.

The Potters endured a afflicted afternoon at Molineux with club register signing Kenwyne Jones, who had ashamed the bar in the initial exchanges, awkward out of the activity in accessible affliction with an credible abate trauma purely 14 minutes into his admission afore abutting his team-mates on the seat with the aid of crutches.

Tim Howard's amazing blooper able Blackburn win at Ewood Park as the Everton goalkeeper inexplicably agitated the ball in the 14th minute, acceptance Nikola Kalinic to aperture home.

New Fulham boss Mark Hughes watched his ancillary affirmation a point from his first bout in allegation as the Cottagers drew 0-0 with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.