Fowler breaks his duck to send Leeds third

Published on Thursday 20 December 2001 00:00

ROBBIE Fowler’s first goals for Leeds United following his switch from Liverpool moved his new club up to third place in the Premiership last night.

Fowler, playing in his fourth match since his 11million transfer from Anfield last month, struck after former Celtic striker Mark Viduka opened the scoring with a 19th-minute header.

The moment all connected with United had waited for since 29 November came as Fowler chested down a dinked pass from Danny Mills on the edge of the 18-yard box. And, despite being flanked by Abel Xavier and David Weir, he fired home a right-foot drive.

Fowler added a second 20 minutes from time after a David Batty shot had been deflected into his path by Xavier.

Everton replied with what appeared to be a consolation from American striker Joe-Max Moore, although they then put Leeds under real pressure in the closing moments when captain and Scotland defender Weir headed a second in the 90th minute.

The victory moves Leeds on to 32 points, one point behind Newcastle and Liverpool and two ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal. The win was the perfect tonic for the club, who have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons this week.

Attendance: 40,201

Leeds United: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Kelly, Batty (Bakke 81), Johnson, Kewell, Viduka (Keane 88), Fowler. Subs not used: Robinson, Wilcox, Duberry.

Everton: Simonsen, Watson, Weir, Unsworth, Pistone (Moore 50), Gemmill, Alexandersson (Tal 75), Xavier, Naysmith, Radzinski, Pembridge (Gascoigne 22). Subs not used: Gerrard, Blomqvist.

Referee: P Jones.

Phil O’Donnell last night scored for Sheffield Wednesday in a 4-0 win over Watford to set up a Worthington Cup semi-final against Blackburn Rovers.

Midfielder Matt Hamshaw raced half the length of the pitch to slide in a wonder goal in the 72nd minute.

It followed an earlier a goal from Gerald Sibon after 40 minutes. O’Donnell, the former Motherwell and Celtic midfielder, scored with one minute left and Trond Egil Soltvedt added another.

Wednesday boss Terry Yorath said: “If you’d said to me at half-time that it was going to be 4-0 I wouldn’t have believed you. We were giving the ball away without being under pressure.”