Headers, Handshakes & Horrors - What A Top-Flight Weekend!!

Wow! What a Premiership and Carling Cup weekend that was.  Full of intrigue, controversy, shock results and a horrific blow that reminds all of us fans that football is more than just a game.

Let’s start off with the man of the moment that is Wayne Rooney, undoubtedly the best player in the world at the moment.  Rooney defied injury which might mean he misses England’s friendly in midweek with a top-class header to win the Carling Cup final for Manchester United.  Their 2-1 win at Wembley over a resilient Aston Villa meant Sir Alex Ferguson’s side became the first side to retain the League Cup since Nottingham Forest two decades ago.  However, it might have been a different game had Nemanja Vidic seen red.  

The Serb blatantly brought down Gabby Agbonlahor inside of five minutes while the pacy Villa forward was bearing down on goal.  Though the penalty was given, referee Phil Dowd opted to not even book Vidic, a crazy decision that changed the course of the game.  James Milner tucked away the penalty coolly, but the Villains were soon pegged back by Michael Owen, who reminded Fabio Capello of what he can do, with a well-taken finish in the 12^th minute.  Unfortunately for Owen, he limped off injured before half-time with a pulled hamstring and Rooney was sent on, who changed the course of the final.  His impact was clear and as Martin O’Neill’s outfit tired, United got stronger and dominated the second half.  Rooney header was class, converting an excellent cross from man-of-the-match Antonio Valencia, with a looping header that Brad Friedel had no chance in saving.  As long as Rooney stays fit and on-form, England head to South Africa with the best player in the world.  His form might see United overhaul Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premiership, especially after Chelsea’s display on Saturday lunchtime.

The build-up to Chelsea v Manchester City was all about John Terry v Wayne Bridge, following the recent newspaper revelations about the Chelsea skipper’s private life.  The question was would they shake hands or not before the start of the game?  In the end, Terry put his hand out; Bridge blanked and ignored him, going on to shake hands with the rest of his former team members.  It was brilliant to watch and what else was John Terry expecting?  He is lucky that Bridge didn’t head butt him to be honest.  In the match, Terry produced a limp display, as did the rest of the Blues defence as Roberto Mancini’s superstars ran riot at a supposed fortress Stamford Bridge.  For 43 minutes, Chelsea were well on top, 1-0 infront and City looked lacklustre, until a comedy of errors from Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Hilario allowed Carlos Tevez to poke home an equaliser.  Hilario’s goalkeeping performance was shocking; Chelsea will really end up missing Petr Cech for the next month, whilst he recovers from his calf injury.  After the break, Chelsea were suicidal, with more shambolic defending, poor passing allowing the Eastlands side to run riot.  Tevez scored again, Craig Bellamy bagged another two goals, and despite a late Frank Lampard penalty, this was a day to forget for Carlo Ancelotti.  Add to that, Juliano Belletti’s clumsy dismissal and Michael Ballack’s daft challenge on Tevez which led to the experienced German heading for an early shower, it was a horror show to watch for the home supporters.

Arsenal keep onto the tails of the leading two, with a gritty 3-1 success at bogey ground, Stoke.  However, the result will be overshadowed by a sickening injury to 19-year old Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsay.  Midway through the second half, Ramsay was on the wrong end of a poor, but not malicious challenge from Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross.  Immediately, the youngster was writhing in agony and with Sky cameras opting not to show the incident again, you could tell it was bad.  Shawcross was sent off and went down the tunnel in tears, he looked devastated on the day he received his first England call-up.   You had to feel for the Gunners players, who had to experience this again, almost exactly two years after Eduardo’s horrifying injury at Birmingham City.  Then, Arsenal lost the plot in the title run-in, but in a game they might have lost even last season, they battled away and scored twice in stoppage time, through the inspirational Cesc Fabregas and Thomas Vermaelen.  Full credit to Arsene Wenger for keeping his chargers going and with an easier run-in than the top two, Arsenal are firmly back in the title race.  My thoughts are with Ramsay though, and I wish him a speedy and successful recovery.

Elsewhere, wins for Tottenham and Liverpool keep the pressure on Manchester City in the battle for 4^th, Steve Bruce faces the possible sack after Sunderland’s dire 0-0 draw with Fulham, 14 games without a win is relegation form in the making and Burnley captain Clarke Carlisle, having starred on Channel 4’s Countdown in midweek, must have had his head still full of conundrums, giving away two penalties in Burnley’s costly 2-1 home defeat to administration bound Portsmouth.  The result gives Pompey’s fans something to cheer, after one of the most traumatic fortnights in the clubs established history.

Two months left and anything is still possible in the closest Premiership season for years.  The title race, Champions League qualification and the fight to stay in the top flight could run all the way to the final day of the season in May.  What happens next in this season of twists and turns is anyone’s guess….?