THE most decisive weekend of the Premiership season saw history being made at the top of the table and the battle to stay afloat in the top flight tighten up even more.
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| RECORD: The title looms large for Manchester United |
The title showdown at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Chelsea went United’s way. They outfought, outpassed and outclassed Chelsea and deserved to win more than the 2-1 final scoreline suggests. The win means the Red Devils only need one point at Blackburn on Saturday lunchtime to secure a 19th league title, surpassing Liverpool’s long-standing record as the most successful club in English football history. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side started in clinical fashion, as Javier Hernandez pounced on David Luiz’s slip inside 36 seconds to give United an unbelievable start. Chelsea looked unrecognisable in the first half and didn’t turn up. They went 2-0 down inside 23 minutes. Nemanja Vidic powered in an easy header from Ryan Giggs brilliant cross. Chelsea did get a glimmer hope with 22 minutes to go, when Frank Lampard touched in Branislav Ivanovic’s flick-on. Ultimately, the men from West London end the season with nothing to show for their efforts, except question marks over Carlo Ancelotti’s future. Speculation is rife linking Ancelotti with a return to Serie A with AS Roma.
At the wrong end of the table, Mick McCarthy’s Wolves celebrated a huge 3-1 win over West Brom in the Black Country derby. It is Wolves first win in six games against their great rivals and takes Wolves out of the bottom three, with their Premiership destiny now in their own hands. Steven Fletcher took full advantage of West Brom’s horrendous defending display to score two goals and Adeline Guedioura celebrated his first goal in English football through some ditzy defending from their rivals in the Midlands. Peter Odemwingie did pull a goal back from the penalty spot, but this was Wolves day.
Blackpool dropped back into the bottom three, despite a battling draw at White Hart Lane against Tottenham on Saturday evening. Charlie Adam, almost signed by Tottenham on deadline day in January had a dramatic match. His crude challenge on Gareth Bale finished Bale’s season early with ankle ligament damage. He then had a penalty saved by Hereulho Gomes when Michael Dawson handled in the box. Seconds later, Gomes’s inconsistent form continued when he needlessly bundled over Gary Taylor-Fletcher for a second spot kick. This time, Adam made no mistake. In the 88th minute, Jermain Defoe broke Blackpool’s hearts by earning the home side a point, but it made Champions League qualification pretty much impossible. All those dreams died with a 1-0 loss at Manchester City last night, which secured City’s place in Europe’s premier club competition next season.
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| GLOAT: Everton won the battle, but City recovered to claim 4th |
Before last night’s joy, City had a frustrating day at Goodison Park at the weekend. In the ultimate game of two halves, they lost 2-1 at Everton. The visitors had bossed the first half and deserved their first half lead, courtesy of Yaya Toure. However, Everton turned the game around with two headers in the second half, through City old boy Sylvain Distin and a brilliant header by Leon Osman. You could tell that it was a bad day for the blue half of Manchester, as manager Roberto Mancini attempted to pick a fight with Phil Neville at the final whistle. Tottenham might miss out on Europe altogether next season, thanks to a revitalised Liverpool outfit. In the final Monday Night Football of the season, Kenny Dalglish’s side ripped Fulham apart – winning 5-2 at Craven Cottage. Maxi Rodriguez scored inside 30 seconds and went on to complete his second treble in three matches. Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez scored too and now, if Liverpool beat Tottenham on Sunday at Anfield, they secure England’s final UEFA Europa League qualification place.
Back in the scrap to stay up and time is rapidly running out for Avram Grant and West Ham United. They needed to beat Blackburn on Saturday and they didn’t. The 1-1 draw kept the Hammers rooted to the foot of the table. Jason Roberts had the visitors infront on 12 minutes, which meant West Ham got that familiar feeling. Although Thomas Hitzlsperger drilled in one of his specials, crucial blocks from Christopher Samba and another missed sitter from the misfiring Robbie Keane, it was a result West Ham needed to improve on. At Villa Park, Wigan’s promising start did little to ease their relegation worries. Although they remain unbeaten at Aston Villa since entering the Premiership in 2005, the 1-1 stalemate means Roberto Martinez continues to feel the strain. For the second successive weekend, Charles N’Zogbia had Wigan infront inside of ten minutes, but Ashley Young’s free-kick seven minutes restored parity. A tepid game was spiced up by a tantrum from Emile Heskey, who looked like he might punch somebody if he didn’t calm down. Stand-in boss Gary McAllister wisely subbed Heskey at half-time. This means the Wigan v West Ham clash on Sunday is quite possibly the game that will end up deciding one of their short-term futures.
The other weekend matches saw Stoke City’s historic week began with a great 3-1 victory over an off-colour Arsenal. Poor defending from the Gunners allowed Kenwyne Jones, Jermaine Pennant and Jonathan Walters to send Stoke to Wembley for the FA Cup final on a high. It was Arsenal biggest defeat of the season and they haven’t frankly recovered from that late heartbreak in February’s Carling Cup final. Elsewhere, Newcastle United beat Birmingham City 2-1 and Sunderland secured Premiership football for another season, as Sulley Muntari’s last-minute goal overcame Bolton 2-1 at the Reebok. Two weekends to go and whilst the relegation scrap looks set to go to the wire, we can congratulate Manchester United on another Premiership title. They deserve it!
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