FA Barclays Premiership Report (23rd - 25th April)

EASTER weekend in the Barclays Premiership saw the final nail in the coffin for Arsenal’s title hopes, a goal drought end for Fernando Torres and an unlikely hat-trick hero at Anfield.  However, it was Manchester United’s weekend – as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side took a giant step towards a record 19^th league championship.

     United edged ever closer to title 19 as they bravely ended Everton’s unbeaten run of seven matches at Old Trafford.  Javier Hernandez headed the vital winner in the 1-0 success, his 19^th goal of an incredible debut season.  The winner came with seven minutes to go; the Mexican powering home from close range after Antonio Valencia crossed in from Sylvain Distin’s error in failing to clear when he had the chance to do so.  Once again, the ability to grind out a result has seen Manchester United through, but the same can’t be said for Arsenal.

TRIBUTE: Tamir Cohen was full of emotion, after his late winner

      The silverware drought at the Emirates will stretch to six years after Arsenal lost 2-1 at Bolton on Sunday afternoon, to slip nine points behind with only four games to play.  Bolton had a deserved HT lead, as Daniel Sturridge was quickest to react to Samir Nasri clearing Gary Cahill’s header off the Gunners goal line.  Within moments of the restart, awful defending by Johan Djourou gave Bolton a penalty, but Szcenzy’s legs kept out Kevin Davies woeful kick.  90 seconds later, and Robin Van Persie equalised.  However, the sting in the tail came with two minutes remaining.  Tamir Cohen headed home unmarked in an emotional moment for the Israeli.  He ripped his shirt off to reveal a picture of his late father Avi on his t-shirt (Avi was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident just after Christmas.)  It is these moments when football is more than just a game.

     The same can be said at Villa Park at the moment, as Gerard Houillier remains comfortable in hospital after being admitted last week, complaining of chest pains.  Gary McAllister took charge of Aston Villa’s insignificant 1-1 draw with Stoke City.  The points shared, thanks to two fantastic headers by Kenwyne Jones and Darren Bent.  Both these sides are as good as safe now.

OVER: The drought has concluded; Torres finally scores for Chelsea

     However, West Ham United doesn’t have such luxuries and Avram Grant’s team dropped back into 20^th place, following a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea.  A downpour hit the Bridge and the game was lucky to go ahead, especially with the puddles all over the pitch.  The result did flatter the home team, but they are now Manchester United’s only championship challengers.  Frank Lampard buried Chelsea ahead before half-time, but Robbie Keane missed two golden chances for the Hammers.  Five minutes from time, Fernando Torres finally broke his duck for Chelsea, at the 14^th attempt of asking.  The drought, which lasted 732 minutes, was a sigh of relief and the reaction the Chelsea players showed towards Torres showed that they are with him all the way.  Florent Malouda made it three, ironically from a Torres assist in the dying moments.

     At the Stadium of Light, it felt more like an episode of Casualty rather than a football match.  Sunderland lost Phil Bardsley to concussion, Danny Wellbeck due to a knee problem and a torn hamstring for Asamoah Gyan in their match against Wigan Athletic.  Remarkably, Sunderland overcame these cruel injuries and a wonderful opener from Wigan’s Mohammed Diame to win 4-2 and virtually guarantee Premiership football again next season.  The much criticised Jordan Henderson scored twice and Stephane Sessegnon added another from the penalty spot in 11 crazy second half minutes.

     Wigan dropped back into the relegation zone, as Blackpool climbed back out of the bottom three.  Ian Holloway’s side had lots of chances and also had three penalty appeals turned down, but could only draw 1-1 at home to Newcastle United.  Peter Lovenkrands had Newcastle infront against the run of play, before DJ Campbell levelled for the Tangerines.  Blackpool edged closer to Blackburn Rovers, who are now worryingly only a point above the line of trouble.  Blackburn lost 1-0 at home to Manchester City last night; City’s first away win in the Premiership since Boxing Day.  Edin Dzeko scored the only goal, his first in the league since his major move from VFL Wolfsburg in the January transfer window.

     City now have complete control of the final Champions League qualification spot, opening up a four point advantage over Tottenham.  Harry Redknapp’s 550^th Premiership match in charge started badly against West Brom, as Peter Odemwingie scored in the first ten minutes.  Nine minutes from time, a stunning curling effort from Simon Cox earnt the Baggies a deserved 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane, leaving Spurs cursing another two points dropped.  In the North London drama, Jermain Defoe scored his 100^th goal in the Premiership and also, Spurs 1,000^th in Premier League football.

     In the other two matches, Andy Johnson came off the bench and within 20seconds of his appearance, scored to peg back Wolves at Molineux.  Steven Fletcher had put Wolves infront with their first attack of the game, but the 1-1 draw doesn’t do Mick McCarthy’s team many favours.  At Anfield, Maxi Rodriguez hit an unlikely treble as Liverpool’s faint Europa League qualification dreams were kept alive.  Birmingham City got battered 5-0 at Anfield – their first league defeat against Liverpool since May 2004.  Dirk Kuyt continued his hot scoring streak and there was also a rare goal for substitute Joe Cole.

     So, there were two in the title race and now, its three from five in the relegation scrap as the 2010/11 Premiership season enters its final month this coming weekend.

FA Barclays Premiership Report (9th - 11th April)

THERE was no change at the top or bottom of the Premiership table on a fairly predictable weekend.  However, it still kept things very intriguing in a variety of issues down the league.

CLINCHER: Van Persie sets Blackpool on their way to another loss

    At the bottom of the table and another defeat for Blackpool leaves Ian Holloway’s men in deep trouble.  Their open defending was exposed by Arsenal at Bloomfield Road, who strolled to a 3-1 win on Sunday.  Both Abou Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue helped themselves to rare goals in the first half.  After the break, Blackpool showed more fight and Gary Taylor-Fletcher bought them back into the game, with his first goal since January.  They were also denied a couple of possible penalties, but the Gunners two goal lead was restored in the last 15 minutes by the clinical Robin Van Persie.  The win keeps Arsenal seven points adrift of Manchester United in the title race, with a game in hand.  As for United, they never really needed to break sweat against Fulham, coasting to a 2-0 win at Old Trafford to record their 12^th successive home Premiership win.  In the absence of the suspended Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov returned to the starting eleven and scored the opener to maintain his place at the top of the Premiership scoring charts.  Antonio Valencia nodded in the second, who kept Sir Alex Ferguson happy, after his highly-fancied horse What A Friend pulled up in the Grand National.

     In the relegation scrap, it was Aston Villa who had the best weekend.  In a dismal game at Villa Park, Gerard Houiller’s side recorded a crucial 1-0 success over Newcastle United.  The game was settled by a James Collins header midway through the first half.  The relief on Houiller’s face at the final whistle was clear to see, as Villa move five points clear of the drop zone.  Midlands rivals West Brom can begin planning for top flight football again next season, as Roy Hodgson’s minus touch continues at the Baggies.  They came from behind twice to overcome Sunderland 3-2 at the Stadium of Light.  Paul Scharner netted the winner in a nervy game, which was full of chances for both teams.  An own goal from Nicky Shorey had put Sunderland infront, which was cancelled out by a Peter Odemwingie scrappy effort.  Phil Bardsley’s spectacular free-kick had the Black Cats back ahead, before Yusuf Mulumbu bought Albion back on level terms.  Scharner’s winner sees West Brom now sitting comfortable in mid-table.  However, Sunderland have now lost eight of their last nine Premiership games and have gone to pieces since Darren Bent’s shock departure to Aston Villa in January.  At Molineux, a first half onslaught from Everton keeps Wolves firmly rooted in the bottom three.  Everton won 3-0, to make it 12 points from their last six matches.  Jermaine Beckford found the net from the Toffees first attack and from that point on, Wolves lacked the fight to compete.  Phil Neville hit his first goal in three years and Russian international Diniyar Bilyadetinov produced a strike that someone saw the net remain intact on the stroke of half-time.  The lack of desire and communication with Wolves must have Mick McCarthy worried in the dying stages of a gripping season.

     West Ham United and Wigan Athletic also remain in the bottom three, after defeats at the weekend.  The Hammers were left ragged by Bolton’s loan star Daniel Sturridge.  Sturridge scored another double in Bolton’s 3-0 win; his goals were both stunning strikes in a fabulous individual performance.  Roman Abramovich must be wandering whether he could have saved himself £50million now, when Fernando Torres struggles continue at Stamford Bridge.  Torres did play a part in Chelsea’s winner against Wigan, but it was so illegal that it seemed remarkable he got away with it.  Torres clearly impeded Ali Al-Habsi in a goalmouth scramble, acting like a kid pushing in a Year 3 PE line!  It was criminal play of the highest calibre!  In the confusion, Florent Malouda turned in the winner in an unremarkable 1-0 scoreline.  Chelsea would have scored more had Al-Habsi not been in outstanding form.  

PAINFUL: A bad night for Manchester City and Mancini at Anfield

     Chelsea leapfrogged above Manchester City, who crumbled to a spectacular 3-0 defeat at Anfield last night.  Liverpool had a rampant approach to their gameplay and it left City startled.  Andy Carroll scored two special goals, his first for Liverpool and Dirk Kuyt added another midway through the first half.  Three goals in the first 35 minutes, combined with what looks like a serious torn hamstring for Carlos Tevez and it made for a nightmare evening for Roberto Mancini on Merseyside. 

     In the other two matches this weekend, Blackburn and Birmingham shared a point apiece in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.  Junior Hoillett saved the day for Blackburn, equalising in stoppage time at the end of the first half.  This came after Lee Bowyer had scored with the first serious attack by either side in the 30^th minute.  It was a fair result, but stretches Blackburn’s winless run in the Premier League to nine matches.  At White Hart Lane, Peter Crouch went from zero to hero in an amazing first half.  Crouch scored twice in Tottenham’s topsy-turvy 3-2 success over Stoke City, with all five goals coming in a pulsating first half.  Luka Modric also found the net for Tottenham.  Stoke’s seventh successive away defeat in the Premiership wasn’t help by Jonathan Walters hitting the post from three yards out with the goal gaping at his mercy.  It has to be a leading contender for miss of the season.  Matthew Etherington, with a great solo goal after an amazing run and Kenwyne Jones were on target for the Potters. 

     With the FA Cup semi-finals taking centre stage this weekend, attention will no doubt be focusing on the Wembley final four.  However, with Blackpool v Wigan, West Ham v Aston Villa and Arsenal v Liverpool on the agenda, there is still plenty to look forward to this weekend in the Premiership.