Three weeks in and it is still very early days in the 2010/11 FA Barclays Premiership. Here is a round-up of the action from the final weekend in August.
Saturday 28th August: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal had to show a lot of grit and fight to overcome a determined Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off. Theo Walcott continued his flying start to the new domestic campaign, firing the Gunners ahead on twenty minutes. Seven minutes later, Mame Diouf levelled the game up with his first goal for the club, since his loan deal went through from Manchester United. Andrei Arshavin scored the winner midway through the second half, and despite losing Robin van Persie to an ankle injury, Arsene Wenger’s side did well to pass a very stiff test in Lancashire.
Sunday 29th August: Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Birmingham City
Ten man Bolton Wanderers produced a stirring comeback from two goals down, to rescue a draw with Birmingham City at the Reebok. Birmingham looked in complete control with an hour gone, ahead inside of three minutes courtesy of a tap-in from centre-back Roger Johnson, his first goal in Birmingham colours. A moment of madness from Juusi Jaaskelainen which saw the experienced Finnish goalkeeper slap Johnson in the face resulted in a deserved dismissal. Craig Gardner then bundled home a scrappy second goal, but Owen Coyle’s side are made of sterner stuff nowadays and did exceptionally well to battle on. Kevin Davies won a lucky penalty and converted it and with fifteen minutes remaining, substitute Robbie Blake hit a wonderful curling free-kick to ensure a share of the spoils.
Saturday 28th August: Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Tottenham suffered a dreadful European hangover, as Wigan Athletic secured a priceless victory at White Hart Lane, which gave under-fire Roberto Martinez some much-needed confidence to perform at the top level as a manager. The only goal of the match was scored by Hugo Rodallega with ten minutes remaining, as Tottenham looked sloppy, lacklustre and got what they deserved, which was nothing from the game.
Saturday 28th August: Blackpool 2-2 Fulham
After a 39-year absence, top-flight football returned to Bloomfield Road and it witnessed a cracking encounter, as Blackpool and Fulham shared a point apiece and four goals. Fulham, now having drawn their first three games went infront through Bobby Zamora, though a shoulder injury has now ruled Zamora out of England’s first two Euro 2010 qualifiers this week. A cataclysmic own goal from John Pantsil put the Seasiders on level terms and they went into a deserved lead, through loan signing from Derby County, Luke Varney. A clinical late equaliser from Nigerian international Dickson Etuhu earnt the Cottagers a draw but Ian Holloway will be delighted with the response by his players, after last week’s drubbing at the Emirates and the League Cup exit in Milton Keynes last Tuesday.
Sunday 29th August: Aston Villa 1-0 Everton
After a dreadful week on a domestic and international basis, Kevin McDonald’s final caretaker game in charge of Aston Villa ended with a fortuitous win over a wasteful Everton at Villa Park. The sole strike came after nine minutes, after Ashley Young took advantage of an air shot by Maroualine Fellani to feed in his namesake, Luke Young. The right-back took his goal with some aplomb, enough to lift Villa into fourth place in the Premiership table and stake McDonald’s chances of getting the vacant position on a full-time basis. Poor finishing from Everton’s attackers and brilliant goalkeeping from veteran Brad Friedel made it a very frustrating day for David Moyes’s side; the Toffees now only have one point from three matches.
Saturday 28th August: Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United
After a fruitless summer, Wayne Rooney ended the longest goal scoring drought of his career, by scoring a penalty in Manchester United’s Saturday evening stroll against a West Ham side that seem to get worse with every passing week. Rooney’s penalty after 33 minutes broke a 13-game drought and set Sir Alex Ferguson’s men on their way, with further goals from Nani and an acrobatic effort by Dimitar Berbatov putting the seal on another impressive performance. Avram Grant has the big test to steady the ship for the Hammers and it only gets easier for him, Chelsea is next after the international break.
Sunday 29th August: Liverpool 1-0 West Brom
In nine attempts, West Brom have failed to score a Premiership goal against Liverpool, but their hard-working approach nearly frustrated Roy Hodgson and the Anfield crowd on Sunday afternoon. Watched on by new signings Paul Konchesky and Raul Meireles, Liverpool lacked the fluidity required, but a first goal since April for Fernando Torres was the difference between the two sides. James Morrison was sent off in stoppage time for a terrible lunge on Torres.
Saturday 28th August: Chelsea 2-0 Stoke City
For once, Chelsea didn’t actually win by six clear goals, though they always were in command against a Stoke side, yet to get a point so far this term. Frank Lampard had a first-half penalty saved comfortably by Thomas Sorensen and then limped off and out of England’s Euro 2012 qualifiers. However, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba continued their impressive form, each scoring as the champions remained the only team to remain 100% after the first month.
Sunday 29th August: Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City
The first blip on the Manchester City radar came on Wearside, where a stoppage time penalty from the reliable Darren Bent sank Roberto Mancini’s multi-millionaires. Carlos Tevez chalked up an early contender for miss of the season, firing over with a gaping net to aim for in the 10th minute and after that, City never recovered. A push on Bent by Micah Richards in the box, led to the England striker’s opportunity, which he dispatched underneath Joe Hart’s body for a massive result for the Black Cats.
Saturday 28th August: Wolves 1-1 Newcastle United
Both sides were fairly satisfied with the final outcome at Molineux, which saw Wolves and Newcastle dispute a hotly-contested 90 minutes, which ended all-square. Whilst Karl Henry and Joey Barton seemed to be having their own private duel throughout, the goals were scored by the in-form Sylvain Ebanks-Blake for Wolves and Andy Carroll for Newcastle, a goal in each half. Wolves remain unbeaten, Newcastle probably the happier of the two sides with the point.
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