FA Barclays Premiership Report (9th - 10th November)

NOTHING beats a full set of FA Premier League midweek action, infront of packed crowds and floodlit stadiums.  Here is a round-up of the midweek fixtures, which saw Chelsea reaffirm their grip on the title race.

Wednesday 10^th November: Manchester City 0-0 Manchester United

AFTER all the build-up, this was a total non-event.  A very scrappy and cagey affair, both sides seemed fearful of losing the game rather than trying to win it.  Carlos Tevez had the only meaningful effort in the match, with his curling free-kick pushing Edwin Van der Sar to full stretch in the first half.  Other than that and some feisty tackling, the entertainment value was nil in a terrible game.

Wednesday 10^th November: Chelsea 1-0 Fulham

DELIGHT: Michael Essien happy with his winner

FULHAM haven’t won an away game in the Premiership in 15 months and that sorry record continued at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea went four points clear at the top.  It was a mixed evening for Michael Essien, who scored the winner.  Essien converting another header on his return to the side, creeping in unnoticed and unmarked from Salomon Kalou’s cross.  Essien was then controversially dismissed in the final minute for a two-footed challenge on Clint Dempsey.  Although it was a tough challenge, it didn’t look malicious, with Chelsea considering a possible appeal.

Wednesday 10^th November: Aston Villa 3-2 Blackpool

MOBBED: Aston Villa enjoyed James Collins late header

IAN Holloway made ten changes to his starting line-up from Saturday’s draw with Everton and his gamble nearly paid off, as Blackpool impressed many with their commitment and competitiveness at Villa Park.  Sadly, they got no points for their efforts.  Stewart Downing gave Villa the lead, although via a deflection for his fifth goal of the season.  Marlon Harewood equalised on his return to Villa Park, with a clean finish on the stroke of half-time.  Youngster Nathan Delfouneso was denied a goal early in the second half, but he buried another chance on the hour.  Blackpool looked to have salvaged a point when DJ Campbell bought the visitors level in the 87^th minute, his shot deflecting off James Collins, which took it past Brad Friedel’s despairing dive.  Two minutes later, Collins made up for his misfortune with a bullet header that gave Villa their first win in six games.

Wednesday 10^th November: Newcastle United 1-2 Blackburn Rovers

PUNCH: Joey Barton faces further action for this punch

BLACKBURN Rovers continued their brilliant record at St. James Park, winning for the fifth consecutive occasion on Sam Allardyce’s first return to Tyneside since his sacking as Toon boss in January 2008.  Blackburn were ahead early on, Chiok Tiote couldn’t get the ball out of his feet, allowing Mortem Gamst Pedersen to get in and rifling a shot past Tim Krul.  Andy Carroll equalised with a trademark header as couple of minutes into the start of the second half.  Joey Barton may face sanctions from the FA, after he had an altercation with Pedersen and punched him in the mid-drift.  It was a punch that Audley Harrison would be proud of!  With eight minutes to go, a lapse of concentration at the back of the home side’s defence allowed Jason Roberts, who couldn’t miss to seal back-to-back wins for Rovers.

Tuesday 9^th November: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Sunderland

CONFRONTATION: Spurs angered by Cattermole's tackle

TOTTENHAM put in a dominant first-half display, but failed to convert their chances into goals against Sunderland.  The second half started controversially when Bolo Zenden bought down David Bentley in the penalty area, yet Howard Webb booked Bentley for diving!  Spurs opened the scoring on 55 minutes, when Gareth Bale crossed for Peter Crouch, who laid a chance on for Rafael van der Vaart to convert.  Asamoah Gyan equalised for the Black Cats two minutes later, but they should have been reduced to ten men by the end, when Lee Cattermole should have been sent off for a disgusting foul on Luka Modric.

Wednesday 10^th November: Wolves 0-2 Arsenal

POWER: Chamakh heads Arsenal into a first minute lead

A TERRIFIC game at Molineux saw Arsenal continue their domination over Wolves in the league.  It has been 31 years since Wolves beat the Gunners in the league and that record never looked like changing once Marouane Chamakh scored after only 38 seconds, a perfect header from Alex Song’s beautiful cross.  Wolves had their chances and were probably the better side, despite Andrei Arshavin hitting the post for the visitors in the second half.  Chamakh closed the game down in the last minute, when Arsenal broke quickly after Lukasz Fabianski (who had a great game) made a smart save from Kevin Doyle.  The Moroccan has now scored eight goals for Arsenal and is becoming a real goal scoring threat that Ian Wright and Thierry Henry have produced down the years for the Gunners.

Tuesday 9^th November: Stoke City 3-2 Birmingham City

LATE: Dean Whitehead scrambles a dramatic winner in

THE stalemate at the Britannia was broken just before half-time, when Ricardo Fuller’s shot was blocked, and the follow-up fell to Robert Huth, who powered a shot past Ben Foster.  A breathtaking second half followed, with Fuller doubling the lead – launching an unstoppable shot past Foster on 71 minutes.  For the second successive match, Birmingham launched an impressive comeback, with goals from Keith Fahey and Cameron Jerome’s header.  The scoreline went from 1-0 on 70 minutes, to 2-2 in 76 minutes.  Doubtful defending from Barry Ferguson set-up Dean Whitehead to win it for the Potters with four minutes to go, Stoke’s first win in five Premiership matches.

Wednesday 10^th November: West Ham United 2-2 West Brom

PENALTY: Odemwingie strikes West Brom infront

WEST HAM stay bottom after throwing away another winning advantage.  A very questionable decision in a corner melee saw West Brom get a penalty that was calmly converted by Peter Odemwingie.  Scott Parker launched a brilliant equaliser in his 100^th Hammers appearance, and then West Ham got their own penalty when Kieron Dyer was pushed in the penalty area by Gabriel Tamas.  Frederic Piquionne scored the penalty, but on 71 minutes, Pablo Ibanez met Chris Brunt’s curling cross to rescue a point for Albion.

Wednesday 10^th November: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Liverpool

CLASS: Torres celebrates his early opener at the DW

LIVERPOOL stretched their unbeaten run to four games, though Roy Hodgson will be disappointed that his side didn’t convert on their bright start at the DW Stadium.  There was just seven minutes on the clock when Steven Gerrard’s neat pass found Fernando Torres, who provided a superb finish for his third goal in four days.  Wigan fought back and deserved their equaliser, coming when Ronnie Stam’s testing cross was parried by Pepe Reina, but only straight into the path of Hugo Rodallega, who drilled in the equaliser.  Despite the draw, the bottom three still has Wigan’s name in it.

Wednesday 10^th November: Everton 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

JERMAINE Beckford scored with the very last kick of the game to rescue a point for the Toffees.  It was his first Premiership goal for the club, after Ivan Klasnic had broken through on the counter attack, tapping in Matt Taylor’s magnificent cross.  Maroualine Fellani was sent off for Everton after kicking out at Paul Robinson with four minutes to go.