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Nice haircut, David!
The Premiership was dominated by talk of the golden boy's fallen locks after Manchester United's David Beckham trotted out at Filbert Street minus his trademark floppy hair thanks to a £200 barber's snip. Beckham proved though that he had lost none of his strength and style by scoring with his more orthodox trademark - a dipping, curling free-kick from range. The England international was joined on the scoresheet by Dwight Yorke, who converted a Ryan Giggs cross in the second half against the rather uninterested Worthington Cup winners, Leicester City. Meanwhile another England international was giving the national coach something to cheer about as Michael Owen scored his first goal back from injury as Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners against Derby County. Second half substitute Titi Camara scored the second late on as Liverpool left the home side teetering on the brink of the relegation places. But Derby's woe at the final whistle must have been tinged with a touch of relief after they had heard that immediately below them both Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City had lost. Bradford put on a convincing argument for their immediate return to the First Division on the back of a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Coventry City at Highfield Road. Coventry, who have struggled to score in recent weeks, went at The Bantams from the start with Cedric Roussel netting within seven minutes. Further strikes from Noel Whelan, John Eustace and Ysrael Zuniga almost managed to raise a smile from the Coventry manager Gordon Strachan. Almost, but not quite. Sheffield Wednesday's manager Danny Wilson was still smiling, however forced, despite watching Watford's Allan Smart poach three points with an 88th minute goal. The result means that Wilson's Wednesday side are only three points ahead of Watford, who have already come to terms with losing their Premiership status at the end of the season. Wilson, on the other hand, refused to bow from his one-man relegation struggle and said: 'The lads have let themselves down, but they will pick themselves up and be ready for the next match against Middlesbrough.' An all too familiar and fruitless battle cry from the South Yorkshire club this season. Chelsea survived a spiky London Derby at West Ham, but dropped more points in their pursuit of a Champions League place. West Ham had Igor Stimac sent off yet managed to hold on to a draw against a Chelsea side who impressed everyone in midweek with a 3-1 win at Feyenoord. Sunderland's dismal form in the Premiership this millennium continued as Christian Ziege cancelled out a Niall Quinn header in a scappy North-East derby at the Stadium of Light. And Glenn Hoddle can thank God (or at least Kevin Davies) for a rapid return to form after last week's 8-2 drubbing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. Davies struck twice for Southampton, once in each half, to scupper Aston Villa's enviable record of being unbeaten in the Premiership this millennium.
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