But in the second half a double from new African Player of the year Drogba, either side of a Florent Malouda strike, took him to 27 for the season and left West Ham well-beaten.
James Milner put the Villa ahead when he angled a superb strike into the far side of net after a well-worked corner.
Fletcher put the home side back on top after the break with a left-footed strike from the right-hand side of the penalty area in the 63rd minute after some good work by Nish.
His side-foot shot beat keeper Andy Collett but, agonisingly for Boro's 25, 000-strong support, the strike trickled just the wrong side of the far post.
The game changed decisively when Taarabt sprung into life to convert Smith's cross from the left with a precise finish and the Moroccan then went very close to a second goal with a curling strike that drifted the wrong side of Loach's goal.
England keeper Fielding saved an angled Eric Bicfalvi strike before the home side survived a scare on the stroke of half-time when Torje's powerful strike came back off the post.
Option traders snapped up contracts across the board in Crocs, which ventured into the top 10 most actively traded contracts by volume at the midweek point, with activity concentrated on the put side of the July '07 series at the 40.0 strike, and on the call side at the 45.0 strike.
Option traders snapped up contracts across the board in Crocs (nasdaq: CROX - news - people ), which ventured into the top 10 most actively traded contracts by volume at the midweek point, with activity concentrated on the put side of the July '07 series at the 40.0 strike, and on the call side at the 45.0 strike.
Instead they strike a stance of support -- mother and daughter side by side, arms hooked.
On the put side, the December 16 strike has seen volume of 5, 633 contracts trade on open interest of 16, 719 contracts.
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Brown then drilled a powerful strike into the side-netting after skipping by a couple of challenges when a quick free-kick had caught the Macedonians napping.
On the put side, the March 3 strike has attracted volume of 427 contracts, while the March 3.50 has seen 224 contracts change hands.
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For half an hour they frustrated Gareth Southgate's side and up until Tuncay's strike, most of the action involved the respective physios.
Whittaker's second-half opener was added to by Kenny Miller's strike as the Ibrox side moved 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
Priskin had the ball in the net with a spectacular overhead volley but he was offside and the Hungarian striker missed with a long-range strike as Ipswich worked up a head of steam against a sluggish Arsenal side.
Stevanovic could have added a second for the home side in the final minute, but his strike was wide of the target.
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Villa dominated the early stages of the second half and Carew rifled in a low strike to draw his side level.
Leading 1-0 through Smith's third minute strike, Suarez equalized for Liverpool before Oldham scored two quick goals either side of the break.
That was the recently retired Scotland front man's seventh goal in five games and 17th strike of the SPL season, while just the seventh goal conceded by the home side at Tannadice this season.
The late strike changed the complexion of the tie and left Everton boss David Moyes ruing his side's inability to score the third goal that would have put them in command going into next Thursday's second leg in the Portuguese capital.
Reina also tipped a Rosicky strike just over the bar but Arsenal were frustrated by the fortitude of a Liverpool side showing the type of character and combativeness they hoped would secure a notable win - even with a groggy Daniel Agger struggling after being hit by a ball in the face.
On the put side, the out-of-the-money December 385 strike is the most popular, with 29, 172 contracts open.
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Vienna rallied either side of the break and almost equalised through Hoffmann but his crisp strike was brilliantly headed off the line by Carlos Cuellar.
Ethiopia, fearing that some of its own Muslims will side with the Islamists, will try to strike hard and early, if an opportunity presents itself.
Bendtner dragged an angled strike wide before the Tyneside outfit almost punished Wenger's side for not making more of their chances.
Quinn went closest for the home side in the closing stages, with a rasping strike that flew just wide of Olejnik's goal.
The lively Johnson all but put the final nail in the coffin when he doubled the home side's lead with a low strike from the right-hand edge of the box.
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Activity continued to be firmly concentrated in the July series call side, with volumes in excess of 1, 000 lots moving at every strike from 175 and up.
Also of note on the put side are the at-the-money December 15 strike, with 21, 416 contracts, and the out-of-the-money December 14 strike, with open interest of 24, 074 contracts.
Does that assume on the other side that you think if the Supreme Court were to strike down all or part of this that they would be acting in an irresponsible or excessively activist fashion?
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