Monday 06 August 2012
Joleon Lescott helped Manchester City finish their pre-season programme on a high
Chelsea were beaten by Brighton despite the efforts of John Terry and Gary Cahill
Mladen Petric was among the goalscorers as Fulham recorded a good win over Nice
Jermain Defoe was the only goalscorer as Tottenham saw off Watford
New signings Ron Vlaar and Karim El Ahmadi could not stop Villa losing to Nottingham Forest
The Barclays Premier League champions finished their pre-season programme with victories in their final two friendly matches.
On Saturday, Sergio Aguero's toe-poked finish and Yaya Toure's shot secured a win over Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg.
On Sunday City were in Ireland, with Edin Dzeko scoring twice in a comfortable win over Limerick.
Dzeko, the only player to start both matches, bundled the ball in from close range and finished from a breakaway either side of Dedryck Boyata's strike.
That left City 3-0 up at the break and then Luca Scapuzzi completed a comfortable win ahead of Sunday's Community Shield match against Chelsea.
Barry Bannan scored a wonderful free-kick as Villa cancelled out Lewis McGugan's opener, but Villa slumped to defeat against the Championship outfit with late goals by Marcus Tudgay and McGugan's second.
The European champions suffered a third successive pre-season defeat as Brighton came back strongly to shock the Barclays Premier League side after Frank Lampard's opener.
Everton gave starts to new signings Steven Naismith and Steven Pienaar but Alex Baptiste and James Caton gave the Championship side victory.
Martin Jol's side recorded an impressive win over the Ligue 1 side as Mladen Petric's spectacular opener was followed by goals from Alex Kacaniklic, Mahamadou Diarra and substitute teenager Mesca.
Papiss Cisse saw his header cleared off the line and Shola Ameobi had a strike ruled out for offside as the Magpies were held to a stalemate in the Netherlands.
Robert Snodgrass played his first 90 minutes for the Canaries, but the visitors could not break down a resilient MK Dons side.
Shaun Wright-Phillips' emphatic low drive earned QPR a draw in Turkey, after Trabzonspor took the lead through a fine chip from Ondrej Celustka.
Jem Karacan returned from injury but Reading could not secure victory despite twice taking the lead through Adrian Mariappa's header and Hal Robson-Kanu's penalty.
Billy Sharp finished smartly from Adam Lallana's cross and Jason Puncheon struck with a low shot as the Saints secured victory against Wolves.
The Swedish champions inflicted the third defeat of pre-season on Martin O'Neill's side thanks to Alfred Finnbogason's long-range effort and May Mahalangu's close-range finish.
Rory Donnelly capitalised on a poor back-pass to put Swansea ahead, but Rory Jenkins equalised as the visitors were held by their south Wales neighbours.
Jermain Defoe headed in Kyle Walker's cross in the second half as Spurs recorded victory over their Championship rivals.
The Baggies needed a late 25-yard finish from Peter Odemwingie to earn a draw in an entertaining encounter against the Owls.
Matt Taylor fired a shot in off the post but the Hammers were beaten by the Championship side who scored through Michael Chopra, Luke Chambers and substitute Jason Scotland.
The Latics were beaten by two second-half goals from their Spanish opponents, Victor Casadesus and Kevin Garcia finding the net.