MORE midweek action from the Premiership, as the final festive fixtures were played. Manchester United turned out as the big winners, with all of their title rivals slipping up and the pressure is growing intensely on four top-flight managers, after more dire results. Here is a round-up of the latest action.
Wednesday 5th January: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester City
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| OFF: Bakary Sagna (with Jo here) would see red later on |
ARSENAL missed the chance to leapfrog Manchester City, after they were held to a frustrating stalemate at the Emirates. The Gunners looked like the only side that wanted the victory and Roberto Mancini’s very negative tactics earned a chorus of boos at the full-time whistle from the home fans. Robin van Persie came closest, denied by the woodwork in the first half and a smart save from Joe Hart after the interval. There was an unsavoury finish to the match, as both Bakary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta were sent off in stoppage time for a confrontation that only looked like handbags and didn’t need such necessary action.
Wednesday 5th January: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Liverpool
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| LONG: Martin Olsson begins another tough night for Liverpool |
ROY Hodgson looked dejected all throughout, as he watched Liverpool crumble at Ewood Park, and leave him on the brink of the sack. Liverpool’s defending was akin to a playschool side, conceding soft goals to Martin Olsson and Benjani before half-time, the Zimbabwean turning Sotiris Krygiakos far too easily to double the Blackburn lead. When Ryan Hoillett left Martin Skrtel chasing shadows, he squared for Benjani to complete the rout. Only a Steven Gerrard consolation in response for Hodgson, and the bruising continued, when the only man fit to wear a red shirt blazed a late penalty over the crossbar. Liverpool looked beleaguered throughout and ended up being lucky not to be on the end of a total battering. For Hodgson, time has almost certainly run out.
Tuesday 4th January: Manchester United 2-1 Stoke City
SIR Alex Ferguson could sit back on Wednesday night and watch his title rivals fail to win, giving United a huge advantage in the title race. Preferred to Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, who scored twice at the Britannia in October, had the home side infront. Dean Whitehead headed Stoke level, their first goal at Old Trafford since 1980, but Nani returned from injury and produced a special goal to restore the lead and keep Manchester United’s unbeaten record safely intact.
Wednesday 5th January: Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
CRISIS torn Chelsea slipped to another defeat, this time at bottom side Wolves, which all but releases their grip on the Premiership trophy. An own goal off the knee of Jose Boswinga inside of five minutes was the solitary goal on another famous night for Wolves. The home side were terrific throughout, but Chelsea’s fundamentals were all wrong again and it leaves Carlo Ancelotti on the brink of losing his job in West London.
Wednesday 5th January: Everton 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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| TRYING: Louis Saha ended his goal drought against Spurs |
HARRY Redknapp has only won once in 27 previous visits to Merseyside, and that unwanted record extended at Goodison Park, as Spurs slipped to their first defeat in nine Premiership games. Louis Saha’s first goal of a trying season came after only two minutes for Everton, cancelled out by another header from Rafael van der Vaart just ten minutes later. It was a terrific match, with a few mistakes thrown in by both defensives. With help from the hopeless Benoit Assou-Ekotto, whose performance was laughable, it was Everton who got the crucial winning strike; Seamus Coleman heading in after Hereulho Gomes could only parry Saha’s shot into the Irishman’s path.
Tuesday 4th January: Fulham 3-0 West Brom
FULHAM bounced out of the bottom three, with an emphatic victory and leaving West Brom as the only side not to pick up any points over Christmas. On the stroke of half-time, Simon Davies benefited from a Scott Carson howler to have the home side infront, against an Albion side missing five central defenders. Fulham took advantage of the weaknesses in the away defence at set-pieces, with second half headers from Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland completing the rout.
Wednesday 5th January: Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland
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| HEAT: Gabby Agbonlahor and Titus Bramble square-up |
GERARD Houiller’s position as Aston Villa manager is safe, despite seeing his side slip into the bottom three. It was a miserable night for Emile Heskey, who hit the bar from six yards out in the only notable first half moment. Then, he was dismissed after a confrontation with Jordan Henderson, which saw the dopey striker lift his hand into Henderson’s face. Phil Bardsley won it for Sunderland with ten minutes to, his first goal for the club with a shot that arrowed into the net. Sunderland senses a European challenge despite Bolo Zenden’s very soft red card for two challenges.
Wednesday 5th January: Newcastle United 5-0 West Ham United
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| ROUT: Leon Best ran rings around West Ham's backline |
LEON Best made his first Premiership start and it was a dream night for the youngster, signed from Coventry City last January, as he hit a hat-trick in Newcastle’s emphatic rout of West Ham. Once again, Avram Grant’s position is in severe jeopardy as Hammers boss. Best scored his first competitive goal for the Magpies on 18 minutes, taking full advantage of Robert Green being indecisive and staying on his life. His second came shortly afterwards, driving a shot through a crowd of players in the six yard box after West Ham failed to clear. Kevin Nolan’s ninth goal of the season before half-time had the game all but sealed, but the Magpies fun wasn’t complete yet. Best completed his hat-trick shortly after the restart, smashing a shot past Green. It was a treble that would have made Alan Shearer proud. Peter Lovenkrands made it 5-0, finishing from close range; sweeping in with ease from Joey Barton’s whipped cross. For Alan Pardew, this was sweet against the side that acrimoniously sacked him four years ago.
Tuesday 4th January: Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham City
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| OPENER: Alex Hleb set Birmingham on their way to a rare win |
BIRMINGHAM’s first away win of the season came at Blackpool. Stephen Crainey gave the ball away on the edge of his own area, gifting the recalled Alex Hleb the chance to score his first goal for Birmingham. A neat volley in the second half from DJ Campbell looked to have earnt the Tangerines another important point, as Birmingham looked to have blown their chances; both Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson clattering the woodwork. However centre-half Scott Dann beat the offside trap in the last minute to earn Birmingham’s first win on the seaside since 1960.
Wednesday 5th January: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Wigan Athletic
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| FIRST: Ronnie Stam's goal earned Wigan a share of the spoils |
THIS north-west derby ended with a share of the spoils, but the match was overshadowed by a sickening injury to Chris Kirkland. Kirkland, just recalled from a loan spell at Leicester City was knocked out in an unfortunate collision with Johan Elmander. It took the exploits of 38-year old Mike Pollitt to earn Wigan a point in a stunning 20 minute cameo. Earlier, Rodrigo Moreno had opened the scoring with his first goal for Bolton, cancelled out with ten minutes to go by Ronnie Stam, finishing off a well-worked Wigan move.
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