THE final weekend in October provided plenty of Halloween horrors, as the clocks went back. Here is a round-up of the great action.
Saturday 30th October: Manchester United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
MARK Clattenburg awarded one of the strangest goals in FA Premier League history to Manchester United, in their routine victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford. Nemanja Vidic’s perfect header on the half hour had Spurs behind, who have not won away from home at any of the ‘big 4’ (Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd) since August 1993. However, it was the second goal that caused all the controversy. Nani went down dramatically from Younes Kaboul’s tug on his shirt. He handled the ball on the deck and a free-kick was awarded. Not according to Clattenburg though, who allowed the Portuguese winger to roll the ball away from a startled Hereulho Gomes and into a vacated net. Confusion and confrontation reigned, but the ‘ghost’ goal was eventually given, much to the staggering of Harry Redknapp. United can count their blessings, in a game full of entertainment, which saw Gareth Bale, Nani, Roman Pavyluchenko and Ji-Sung Park all hit the woodwork.
Sunday 31st October: Newcastle United 5-1 Sunderland
IT WAS a Halloween horror show from Sunderland, as Newcastle ripped their great neighbours to pieces at St. James Park, recording the biggest Tyne & Wear derby win since 1956 in the process. Toon captain Kevin Nolan scored a memorable hat-trick, and there were two goals from Shola Ameobi too. Former Magpies defender Titus Bramble got a straight red card in the second half for scything down the magnificent Andy Carroll, and then he was waved off sarcastically by the home fans. Darren Bent scored a meek consolation in stoppage time for the visitors, but this was truly a day that Steve Bruce will want to forget ever existed.
Saturday 30th October: Wolves 2-1 Manchester City
ROBERTO Mancini looked on in disgust, as his players Vincent Kompany and Emmanuel Adebayor had a near pitch bust-up at Molineux. Their argument overshadowed a great Wolves display, as they recorded only their second win of the season. Nenad Mijias and David Edwards were the scorers, cancelling out Adebayor’s early penalty after David Silva was fouled by Richard Stearman.
Saturday 30th October: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Chelsea
CHELSEA struck lucky to leave Ewood Park with three points, after a plucky performance. The Blues left it late to win in Lancashire, with Branislav Ivanovic heading the winner in from Yuri Zhirkov’s cross with just four minutes to go. Earlier, Benjani headed Blackburn into a deserved lead, before Nicholas Anelka equalised. Sam Allardyce will look at this as a missed opportunity, as both Mame Diouf and Jason Roberts missed chances that a clergyman could have scored with their eyes shut! Rovers slip into the bottom three.
Sunday 31st October: Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Liverpool
LIVERPOOL’s first away win in the Premiership since the end of April was much-needed and like Chelsea, they snatched it at the Reebok. In a mundane match against a lacklustre Bolton side, the winner came with four minutes to go. Fernando Torres, who missed a glaring chance in the opening exchanges, played through Argentine Maxi Rodriguez, who coolly finished underneath Juusi Jaaskelainen. It was an unlikely winner, but it records an 8th successive Premiership win over Bolton for Liverpool and lifts Roy Hodgson’s side into the dizzy heights of mid-table.
Monday 1st November: Blackpool 2-1 West Brom
BLACKPOOL recorded their first home victory in the top flight since 1971, helped by a lack of indiscipline from a West Brom side, which missed the chance to break into the top four. Pablo Ibanez was dismissed for the visitors on 11 minutes, for a foul on DJ Campbell in the penalty area. This red card has since been rescinded on appeal. Charlie Adam scored the spot kick and when Gonzalo Jara lunged in on Luke Varney before half-time, Albion ended up being down to nine men. Varney doubled Blackpool’s lead and although Youssouf Mulumbu curled in a late consolation, Blackpool fully merited the three points that lift them back into the top half of the table.
Sunday 31st October: Aston Villa 0-0 Birmingham City
LOCAL pride remained intact in a dull Second City derby at Villa Park. Villa had the best of the chances, with Ashley Young hitting the post and Ben Foster being tested by Barry Bannan and Nigel Reo-Coker. A well-organised Birmingham will be far happier with the point, whilst Gerard Houillier must be worried with the lack of goals, Villa drawing a blank for the third successive league match.
Saturday 30th October: Arsenal 1-0 West Ham United
ARSENAL snatched a crucial victory in the dying stages against struggling West Ham, to keep in touch with leaders Chelsea. The under-fire Robert Green was in superb form at the Emirates, producing a number of top-class saves as the Gunners struggled to breakdown the bottom side in the Premiership. Alex Song broke the resistance, heading the winner past Green from Gael Clichy’s cross with just two minutes to go.
Saturday 30th October: Fulham 2-0 Wigan Athletic
FULHAM were outstanding against Wigan, recording only their second win of the league campaign so far. American Clint Dempsey scored twice in the first half against a dreadful Wigan side. Wigan’s unpredictability must concern Roberto Martinez, who have the ability to play like a top six team, or a side that faces relegation to League Two. Fulham’s excellent day was complete with a late cameo role for Andy Johnson, his first game since January after a fraught spell on the sidelines through injury.
Saturday 30th October: Everton 1-0 Stoke City
STOKE’s resistance was broken in a game that will never be remembered as a classic, by any stretch of the imagination. Yakubu scored the winner, reacting quickest to Tim Cahill’s shot hitting the post. Stoke will feel aggrieved though to have a goal disallowed, when Tuncay was adjudged to have fouled Leighton Baines. Television replays indicate that Baines was caught in two minds, and lucky to get away with such a dithering error.
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