England round-up: Wins for Sunderland and Villa

Sunderland AFC and Aston Villa FC finally opened their goalscoring accounts tonight to secure their first Premiership wins.

Off the mark
Neither side had scored a goal so far this campaign, but both ended that unwanted record as Sunderland defeated Leeds United AFC 1-0 with a strike from Jason McAteer to end Terry Venables' 100 per cent start to his spell on the Elland Road bench. Villa’s Darius Vassell, meanwhile, inflicted Manchester City FC's second defeat in three games with a 64th-minute goal in another 1-0 win.

Birmingham denied
Birmingham City FC also hit the target for the first time on their return to the top flight, but were denied all three points right at the death in a 1-1 draw with Everton FC. Stern John scored with a 50th-minute spot-kick after the striker had been hauled down by Alan Stubbs, who was dismissed for his troubles, but David Unsworth levelled in stoppage time.

Grabbi equaliser
Liverpool FC could only manage a 2-2 draw at Blackburn Rovers FC, but still moved up to second place in the standings. Italian striker Corrado Grabbi pounced after coming on as a substitute seven minutes from time to earn a point for Graeme Souness's men. David Dunn had given the hosts the lead in the 16th minute, but Danny Murphy and John Arne Riise looked to have done enough for the points before Grabbi levelled.

Hasselbaink replaced
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, linked with a switch to FC Barcelona  this week, was replaced for the second half as Chelsea FC scraped a 1-1 draw at Southampton FC. Fabrice Fernandes gave the hosts the lead in the 51st minute, but Frank Lampard levelled ten minutes from time.