Owen notches four while Chelsea lose ground

Premiership round-up

Premiership round-up

The race for the Barclaycard Premiership title took another fascinating twist this afternoon when champions Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead as relegation-battlers Bolton fought back to secure a draw at the Reebok Stadium.

Sylvain Wiltord opened the scoring two minutes after half-time and Robert Pires put the Gunners in charge just before the hour. However, French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff (74) pulled one back with a cool finish after Per Frandsen's 20-yard drive came back off the post.

And the comeback was complete six minutes from time when Martin Keown headed Djorkaeff's curling free-kick into his own net.

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The result leaves Arsene Wenger's side in second place, two points behind Manchester United, who travel to Tottenham tomorrow, but will then have played a game more.

Bolton are now on 40 points, five clear of third-bottom West Ham, who take on Manchester City at Maine Road tomorrow.

Michael Owen chalked up his 100th Premier League goal as his four-goal salvo helped Liverpool thump relegated West Brom 6-0 at The Hawthorns.

The England striker set the Reds on their way when he collected Danny Murphy's pass to turn his marker and drill the ball past Russell Hoult from the edge of the box after quarter of an hour.

The second half was just two minutes old when Milan Baros converted Steven Gerrard's right-wing cross from close range.

The shell-shocked Baggies had little time to recover before Owen, still only 23, reached his landmark, showing those natural predatory instincts to sweep home El Hadji Diouf's centre.

The hat-trick was completed after 61 minutes after good build-up play from Baros, with number four following soon after, Murphy again the provider after 67 minutes.

Baros (84) got in on the act late on, as the gulf in class between the top and bottom of the Premier League was there for all to see.

Newcastle saw captain Alan Shearer hobble out of the Tyne-Wear derby against relegated Sunderland, but it did not stop the Toon Army coming away from the Stadium of Light with three points to keep their Champions League dream alive.

The former England captain saw an early effort chalked off for a foul on Darren Williams, before limping off just before the half-hour with what looked like a calf injury.

However, Nolberto Solano proved a suitable deputy for Shearer when he calmly put the visitors in front from the penalty spot two minutes before half-time after Cig Bellamy had been brought down by Kevin Kilbane.

Sunderland thought they had snatched an equaliser at the death, only for Kevin Kyle's effort to be disallowed for a foul on Newcastle keeper Shay Given.

A great strike from Luis Boa Morte secured Fulham a precious point at their West London neighbours Chelsea.

Alain Goma (39) put the ball past his own keeper after Gianfranco Zola's curling cross struck the bar and rebounded to John Terry at the far post to give the Champions League chasing Blues a 1-0 advantage at half-time.

It took something special for Fulham - still casting an anxious glance at the bottom three - to get back on level terms, Portuguese forward Boa Morte drilling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box after 65 minutes.

Leeds are still in need of a positive result to secure their Premier League status for next season after European hopefuls Blackburn came from behind to win 3-2 at Elland Road.

It had all started so brightly for Leeds when in-form Australian striker Mark Viduka headed home his 20th goal of the season on 21 minutes when Brad Friedel could not hold on to Harry Kewell's fierce drive.

However, David Dunn's spot-kick levelled matters seven minutes before half-time after Michael Duberry had handled the ball following a corner.

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole pounced to stab in the loose ball on 69 minutes after Paul Robinson had saved Damien Duff's shot from the edge of the box.

A miserable afternoon for Peter Reid's men was complete when Andy Todd grabbed a third for the visitors 12 minutes from time, smashing in Duff's corner at the far post. Alan Smith's last-minute strike proved little consolation for Leeds.

Last season's Nationwide One play-off winners Birmingham will be in the top flight again next season after a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough at St Andrews. Frenchman Christophe Dugarry continued his own goalscoring run, notching his fifth in four games to put Steve Bruce's side ahead after 18 minutes.

Midfielder Stephen Clemence made it 2-0 five minutes before the break, with Australian winger Stan Lazaridis (80) completing the route late on.

Southampton may just have one eye on next month's FA Cup final as they went down 2-1 to Charlton at The Valley, Scott Parker (32) and Kevin Lisbie (50) on target for Alan Curbishley's side.

James Beattie netted a consolation for the Saints in the final minute. Everton left it late as England striker Wayne Rooney snatched three points against Aston Villa at Goodison Park and keep up their push for a European Place.

Marcus Allback (48) put the visitors ahead, with Kevin Campbell hitting back for Everton with a close-range header just before the hour. With the match looking set for a draw, up popped teenage sensation Rooney to win the game for Everton.