We run down the winners and losers from the weekend's Premier League action.

WINNERS

English Managers

Everybody has been bemoaning the lack of English contenders for the national team job, but the home-grown managers in the Premiership got the better of some of their more celebrated rivals from elsewhere this weekend. Gareth Southgate took care of a Frenchman, Harry Redknapp outfoxed the Irishman, Steve Coppell got the edge on a Spaniard, Sam Allardyce beat a Scotsman, and Alan Curbishley got the better of a Welshman. The only thing that was missing was Paul Jewell's Derby winning at Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United but that really would have been pushing it.

Gary Megson

Meanwhile, in a battle of two other English managers, Gary Megson's Bolton hammered Steve Bruce's Wigan Athletic 4-1. The appointment of the Ginger One seemed to baffle everyone but credit has to be given to Megson who seems to have turned things around at the Reekbok. In his ten games in charge, Bolton have lost just twice, and have picked up some mightily impressive results (beating Manchester United, drawing with Bayern Munich, winning at Red Star Belgrade), and they have now moved out of the relegation zone. Even Sammy Lee's wife must be in favour of the appointment now?

The African Nations Cup

Anybody who saw Sulley Muntari's two stunners against Aston Villa or Yakubu's hat-trick for Everton in their win over Fulham, can tell you about the merits of the Premier League's African contingent. Newcastle's two goals against Birmingham were also scored by Africans and Didier Drogba being fast tracked to surgery may mean that he is fit for next month's tournament in Ghana too. Ok the competition is a pain for Premier League clubs but it should be great fun to watch. Oh and it is LIVE on Eurosport too! (I feel so dirty after that plug!)

Ryan Giggs

The Welsh wizard scored his 100th league goal for Manchester United this weekend - another outstanding achievement added to the winger's CV. Rio Ferdinand put it best when he said "I just don't think Ryan really gets the credit he deserves for what he has achieved in the game, not only in terms of winning medals but the quality of his play on the left wing year in, year out. It is a shame we don't really appreciate a footballer who has been the most successful of our generation." Rio Ferdinand? Talking sense? I'm as surprised as you.

The Middlesbrough team

Few would have thought that Arsenal's unbeaten run in the league would fall at Middlesbrough of all places, but fair play to Gareth Southgate and his team for getting a well deserved victory. The young Boro boss has been tipped for the sack pretty much since the start of the season, but Steve Gibson is known for his loyalty, and maybe Southgate could emerge as a valuable asset for the North-East club.

LOSERS

Middlesbrough's stay away fans

While the team produced a superb performance, again there were nearly 10,000 empty seats at the 35,000 capacity Riverside. Back in the days of Juninho and Ravenelli you couldn't get a ticket at the Riverside for love nor money but just 26,428 turned up to see Boro take on the unbeaten and always entertaining league leaders. Fair play to the fans who turned out but let's hope that those who watched it in the pub had their enjoyment somewhat spoiled by a nagging regret that they were not in attendance.

The Old Trafford Groundsman

You have to feel sorry for this guy, as well as United's fixtures, the ground is always (it seems) one of the FA Cup semi-final venues, the home of the Rugby League Super League final, and even the odd concert. He will be working overtime again this week as the pitch cut up badly during the Derby match at the weekend. The rain pelted it down all day and with the likes of Steve Howard ploughing up front, chunks of grass were always going to be had.

The Manager of the Month award

Somebody a lot less lazy than me should really do some statistical research on this poisoned chalice. On Friday it was announced that Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill was the winner for November, and the inevitable 3-1 home defeat then followed less than 24 hours later.

Rafael Benitez

So you are losing 3-1 away at Reading and there are only 20 minutes to go - what do you do? Well in Rafael Benitez's world you take off your best player in Steven Gerrard. It is true that Liverpool have a big Champions League game with Marsellie coming up on Tuesday, but this was supposed to be the year that Liverpool went gung-ho for the Premier League title. Gerrard was clearly unhappy with the decision, and I can't imagine too many Liverpool fans were applauding the move either.

Boxing Fans

Managers, including Benitez and Sven Goran Eriksson, were forced to issue warnings this week to their players that they couldn't stay up until 4am (it actually turned out to be closer to 5am) to watch the big Ricky Hatton fight on Saturday. What good is the tens of thousands of pounds a week, the fame, and all those beautiful women when you don't have any freedom? However, methinks, Gerrard might have said 'screw it' after being subbed earlier in the day though, and stayed up with a shandy to watch the action!

Sean Fay / Eurosport