By Paul Holmes
September 16 2002

Round up of the results, action and goals from Saturday, September 14, 2002 as Portsmouth continue their unbeaten run, Burnley's vein of form continues and Brighton and Grimsby lose again. Brighton 2 Gillingham 4

Struggling Brighton were 2-0 down after just 12 minutes following strikes from Paul Shaw and David Perpetuni. Brighton did fight back through Richard Carpenter before Shaw grabbed his second with ten minutes of the first half to go.

With time ticking away Gary Hart gave The Seagulls hope but Kevin James secured the win in the 90th minute. James was then shown a second yellow card for celebrating in front of the Brighton fans.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler slammed referee Mark Cooper and is now likely to be hauled up before the FA. Hessenthaler was furious for Cooper's decision to send James off. "He was an absolute disgrace and I told him so, which will probably get me in trouble with the FA," admitted the player-manager.

"Referee's are paid a lot of money and it seems as though they have got worse."

Mark Saunders was also sent off for The Gills for a two-footed lunge but Hessenthaler had no complaints.

Burnley 2 Stoke 1

Burnley came from behind to seal the win in a frantic final 15 minutes against Stoke.

The Potters took the lead on 75 minutes through Bjarni Gudjonsson but Clarets defender Arthur Gnohere levelled 60 seconds later with a header.

Greece Under-21 striker Dimi Papadopoulos then scored the winner with nine minutes remaining from Glen Little's cross. With five minutes to go City striker Tommy Mooney was sent off on his Stoke debut for stamping on Tony Grant. Mooney had only joined Stoke last week on loan from Birmingham.

Burnley boss Stan Ternent was delighted with his side's second successive win. "We showed great resilience. I was pleased for Dimi that he scored again".

Ternent can thank 'keeper Marlon Beresford for keeping City in the game with a string of fine saves.

Coventry 3 Grimsby 2

Coventry escaped with all three points against a battling Grimsby side who deserved a draw at least. A dull first half was followed by an end to end display of attacking football.

Grimsby took the lead on 50 minutes when Steven Kabba, on loan from Crystal Palace raced passed Richard Shaw before coolly finishing past Morten Hyldgaard. The Sky Blues responded in less than a minute as Lee Mills rose above his marker to beat Danny Coyne with a downward header.

Coventry were then awarded a penalty after Grimsby player-boss Paul Groves was harshly adjudged to have fouled Mills in the area. Coventry player-boss Gary McAllister converted from the spot only for Grimsby to reply instantly. Alan Pouton's header took a wicked bounce and lobbed Hyldgaard.

With minutes ticking away Grimsby looked the favourites to snatch the winner before Jay Bothroyd headed home with minutes to go. McAllister feels Bothroyd still has more to offer. "He's got all the ammunition to be a top player... but it's up to him".

Grimsby boss Paul Groves was left fuming at the penalty decision. "I think if it was going to be a penalty and it was deliberate then you would hold your hands up.

"But I was going on way and tried to check to go the other way".

Crystal Palace 4 Wolves 2

Crystal Palace drew first blood in just the 1st minute at Selhurst Park. 17-year-old Wayne Routledge taking advantage of Michael Oakes' differing in the Wolves goal after a Danny Butterfield cross. Wolves waited until the half hour mark before hitting back through defender Ivar Ingarmarrson after 'keeper Alex Kolinko parried a Dean Sturridge cross.

Palace were intent on restoring their lead and did so five minutes later when Dougie Freedman headed home. Freedman was able to grab his second after 60 minutes after Andy Johnson was brought down after Lee Naylor's under hit back pass. The Scottish international casually finished from 12 yards.

Nathan Blake offered hope for Wolves with 20 minutes remaining after Kolinko failed to hold Paul Ince's shot but Steve Thomson secured Palace's win with a cracking volley.

Leicester 3 Derby 1

Leicester stormed into second place after beating East Midlands rivals Derby. It was in fact The Rams who took the lead through highly rated defender Chris Riggott on the 23 minute mark. Leicester fought back and Muzzy Izzet grabbed the equaliser 5 minutes later.

With ten minutes of the game remaining a draw seemed on the cards with Derby defending in numbers but Brian Deane fired home after good work from Jordan Stewart. As Derby pressed for the equaliser Paul Dikov scored Leicester's third, hammering past the helpless Mart Poom with three minutes to go.