Premiership: Gunners on course for top spot

Arsenal were on course to reclaim top spot in the Premiership after dominating the opening half of their north London derby against Tottenham.

With Manchester United winning 1-0 at Leicester earlier in the day, the Gunners knew only three points would take them back to the summit.

And Freddie Ljungberg gave Arsene Wenger’s side the lead in the 24th minute, latching onto Dennis Bergkamp’s pin-point ball and slotting it home.

Ipswich were staring relegation in the face after going in 4-0 down at half time to Bolton.

The Tractor Boys’ nightmare run-in - games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are fast approaching - made it of paramount importance for them to pick up three points against the

Trotters if they were retain much hope of hanging on to their Premiership status.

But they fell behind in the second minute when Fredi Bobic fired Sam Allardyce’s side ahead, and the German struck again on the half-hour mark before completing his hat-trick eight minutes later. A 35th minute Youri Djorkaeff tap-in completed the misery for George Burley’s men.

Derby were also looking on course for a return to the Nationwide League after finding themselves a goal down at Southampton.

Boss John Gregory named an attacking line-up featuring Fabrizio Ravanelli, back-in-favour Giorgi Kinkladze and Malcolm Christie.

But Matt Oakley scored the only goal of the half in the 29th minute.

Everton captain Duncan Ferguson retained his place in the starting line-up at Chelsea, despite his sending-off in the 3-1 win over Bolton.

But it was his opposite striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who proved the star attraction, toe-poking home in the 26th minute then adding a second a minute before the interval.

Paolo di Canio’s tantrum at Fulham on Monday was cast aside and the West Ham skipper was able to celebrate his 100th League appearance for the club today against Charlton.

And the controversial Italian was quick to make his mark when putting his side ahead in the 23rd minute, upended in the box by Richard Rufus then calmly converting the spot-kick himself.

Frederic Kanoute finished a great team move from the Iron in the 34th minute to put his side in control.

Middlesbrough manager Steve McLaren paired Noel Whelan and Benito Carbone in attack against Aston Villa after Alen Boksic failed a late fitness test.

And Italian Carbone showed his judgement to be correct when firing his side ahead in the 39th minute.