TWO weeks to go until Christmas and it was another dramatic weekend of top flight action. Manchester United remained unbeaten, Newcastle made a winning start to a management change and Blackburn Rovers bid farewell to Sam Allardyce.
Monday 13th December: Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal
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| WINNER: Park scored the decisive goal at Old Trafford |
MANCHESTER United charged back to the top of the Premiership table last night, after a deserved victory over title contenders Arsenal. United were far from their best, but didn’t need to be, against a Gunners side that lacked the ambition needed to sustain a proper challenge. Ji-Sung Park scored the only goal, with a looping header eight minutes from half-time. In the second half, Gael Clichy blocked Nani’s cross with his hand, only for Wayne Rooney to smash the spot kick over the crossbar.
Sunday 12th December: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
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| GET IN THERE: Fabrice Muamba is congratulated on his goal |
SAM Allardyce was harshly sacked as Blackburn manager yesterday after losing late on at his former club, Bolton. These Lancashire teams shared a dreadful first half, but the second half livened up with Mark Davies was given a second yellow card for leaning his arm into the back of Phil Jones head. Ten men Bolton then took the lead, when Fabrice Muamba showed good footwork to leave Ryan Nelsen for dead, before burying his effort past Paul Robinson. With three minutes to, Mame Diouf seemed to have rescued a point for Rovers, a lovely clip over Juusi Jaaskelainen. However, Stuart Holden snatched it straight back for Bolton, with a good finish to win the match and keep Wanderers in the top six.
Sunday 12th December: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Chelsea
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| REDEMPTION: Gomes kept out Drogba's penalty |
ANOTHER sensational Sunday at White Hart Lane saw Didier Drogba waste a glorious chance for Chelsea to return to winning ways. Roman Pavyluchenko had Spurs infront on 15 minutes, converting Jermain Defoe’s square ball. Drogba, who started on the bench, did equalise. The Ivorian reacted quicker than Michael Dawson to a long ball and got lucky, when Hereulho Gomes made a meal of Drogba’s shot. Gomes miserable second half continued, when he clumsily took out Ramires in stoppage time and conceded a penalty. However, he redeemed himself, by saving Drogba’s very average penalty.
Saturday 11th December: Newcastle United 3-1 Liverpool
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| EXAMPLE: Kevin Nolan got Newcastle off to a flying start |
ANOTHER dramatic week at St. James Park, and the fans displeasure at Mike Ashley was evidently shown by protests outside the ground before the match. However, the players reacted well and gave the new gaffer Alan Pardew the dream start. Skipper Kevin Nolan led by example, opening the scoring. Dirk Kuyt equalised for Liverpool, gaining a massive slice of fortune, as his shot took a deflection off Steven Taylor. Once again, Liverpool’s miserable away day blues continued in the last ten minutes. Joey Barton capitalised on indecision from Martin Skrtel to hammer the Geordies back infront again. Andy Carroll consigned Roy Hodgson to another shambolic defeat, finding the bottom corner from long range in stoppage time.
Saturday 11th December: West Ham United 1-3 Manchester City
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| ON TOP: David Silva holds off Scott Parker in City's win |
YAYA Toure piled on the agony for West Ham United with two goals, lifting Manchester City into the top three. His first was a screaming strike, which Robert Green didn’t even see. Toure’s second was a squeezed effort past Green at his near post. As it came off the goalkeeper’s back, it will probably go down as an own goal, but I’d credit the goal to Toure. In between these moments of magic from the holding midfielder, Mario Balotelli showed a childish act of dissent, got booked, subbed and went straight down the tunnel without even looking at Roberto Mancini. Substitute Adam Johnson made it 3-0 and although James Tomkins managed a late consolation, it did very little to ease Avram Grant’s pain.
Sunday 12th December: Wolves 1-0 Birmingham City
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| WINNER: Stephen Hunt got the winning goal at Molineux |
WOLVES bullied Birmingham and fully deserved the three points in this local derby, moving them three points clear of basement team West Ham United in the process. The winner came right on the stroke of half-time, courtesy of Stephen Hunt, sweeping a shot past Ben Foster at the near post. Foster was terrific all game and prevented the scoreline from being a landslide. It is Wolves first clean sheet of the season, Birmingham continue to look for their first away win since March.
Saturday 11th December: Stoke City 0-1 Blackpool
TWO teams who share an affection of the late Sir Stanley Matthews played out an entertaining clash at the Britannia Stadium. Tony Pulis will be wondering just how Stoke didn’t get anything from this match. Rory Delap had a goal disallowed and both Ricardo Fuller and Matthew Etherington had shots that hit the woodwork. DJ Campbell scored the decisive goal and dogged defending from the visitors secured another fighting victory for Ian Holloway’s side.
Saturday 11th December: Aston Villa 2-1 West Brom
THERE seemed to be a massive feeling of relief for Aston Villa on Saturday, inflicting defeat on local rivals West Brom. Stewart Downing scored the first and Emile Heskey the second, after James Collins made a nuisance of himself in the box. West Brom’s winless run at Villa Park continued, and although Paul Scharner made it a twitchy last few minutes, Villa held on for a priceless victory.
Saturday 11th December: Everton 0-0 Wigan Athletic
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| STRUGGLING: Louis Saha's lack of goals highlights Everton's problems |
EVERTON could have had a hatful, but someone got none against Wigan Athletic. Ronnie Stam had one shot saved brilliantly by Tim Howard, but it was the Toffees who were well on top. Tim Cahill came the closest, hitting the post with goalkeeper Scott Carson beaten. Maroualine Fellani, Seamus Coleman, Jack Rodwell and Steven Pienaar on three separate occasions all wasted golden opportunities for the home side.
Saturday 11th December: Fulham 0-0 Sunderland
THIS game was an absolute stinker. In fact, it was so bad that it doesn’t even deserve reporting on. The highlight came when Bolo Zenden got knocked out by a football!
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