FA Barclays Premiership Report (12th - 14th February)

VALENTINES weekend in the Barclays Premiership provided the fans with a breathtaking goal, the title race narrowing to a two-horse race and another dramatic collapse.  Sadly, it didn’t quite live up to the drama of the previous weekend’s antics.

SPECIAL: Rooney heads away to celebrate after the magic moment

After the dud match at Eastlands in November, there were doubts that the second Manchester derby of the season would form a similar affair.  Ultimately, the neutral fans wouldn’t end up being disappointed.  On the weekend of love, there was never going to be an ounce of good feeling and sparks certainly flew between Manchester United and Manchester City.  In the end, it took a belter of a goal from Wayne Rooney to separate the teams, and bury City’s fading chances of a title challenge.  David Silva missed a glaring early chance for the visitors, and he was made to pay for this, as United hit the front shortly before half-time.  Nani was found by a lovely Ryan Giggs pass, which cut out Pablo Zabaleta.  The ever-improving Portuguese winger finished coolly.  City improved after the break and got a deserved equaliser, even if it was fortunate.  Substitute Edin Dzeko’s shot deflected wickedly off Silva and left Edwin van der Sar stranded.  A point apiece would have been the fair outcome, but a special goal from Rooney changed that; a goal worthy enough to win a title, let alone a match.  Nani’s cross may have deflected off Zabaleta, but Rooney’s fantastic improvising couldn’t be faulted.  His overhead kick was simply breathtaking.  Eight points clear of their Manchester rivals, Sir Alex Ferguson only now needs to worry about one team in the Premier League.

That team are his old adversaries from North London, in the shape of Arsenal.  The Gunners had been humiliated at Newcastle seven days earlier, letting a four goal lead slip.  However, they comfortably saw off Wolves 2-0 at the Emirates.  It was an Arsenal onslaught, as even Mick McCarthy admitted afterwards that his team had been ‘completely spanked.’  Robin van Persie continued his rich vein of scoring form, netting twice.  Had it not been for an inspired goalkeeping performance from Wayne Hennessey, the scoreline could have been an absolute avalanche.  The result keeps Arsenal within four points of Manchester United and warms them up nicely for the Champions League showdown tomorrow night with Barcelona.

CONTROL: Jerome Thomas extended Albion's lead, but they didn't hold on

Down at the foot of the table, West Brom did an ‘Arsenal’ and threw away a massive lead and two costly points with it.  New manage Roy Hodgson could only watch on as Albion stormed into a 3-0 lead, only to be pegged back to a 3-3 stalemate with West Ham United.  It was a day for defences to forget.  Both teams’ backlines looked as shaky as the coalition government’s spending cuts!  With First Team Coach Michael Appleton in charge, West Brom charged into their handsome lead inside of half an hour, courtesy of a first of the season for Scot Graham Dorrans, Jerome Thomas and a shoddy own goal from Winston Reid.  After the break, the roles were reversed, as the Hammers took the attacking route and the Baggies; the shocking defensive route.  Spirited by a emotional Scott Parker half-time speech, West Ham looked full of confidence in the second half.  Demba Ba scored twice on his Premiership debut and Carlton Cole scrambled a goal home too.  On the evidence of these defensive displays, don’t be too surprised if both played their football next season in the npower championship.

With Wolves losing and West Brom and West Ham drawing, Wigan had the chance to gain some ground, and they produced a strong performance at Anfield, to hold Liverpool to a 1-1 draw.  Raul Meireles continued his hot streak, scoring his fifth goal in six games to give the Reds the lead; chasing their first five wins in a row streak for over two years.  However, Kenny Dalglish’s troops looked jaded after the break and despite Luis Suarez hitting the woodwork twice on his full home debut, Wigan deserved their point.  Steve Gohouri was fractionally offside, when he turned in Charles N’Zogbia’s cross from close range, but Wigan got their just desserts, showing some qualities that had simply been missing on the road for most matches this season.

Tottenham claimed back the initiative in the race for fourth spot and the final Champions League qualification spot, courtesy of a hard-fought 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday evening.  Like Wigan, this result showed Spurs newly-found spirited qualities.  This was a match they didn’t play well in, but would have almost certainly lost two seasons ago.  When William Gallas decided to walk off and change his boots, Asamoah Gyan took advantage of the extra space to score beautifully.  Gallas might need a new sponsor after this gaffe!  Tottenham equalised through Michael Dawson’s header, his first of the season, although Craig Gordon should have done a lot better in dealing with the effort on goal.  Tottenham’s winner was through another Croatian cracker from Nico Kranjcar, his second in successive matches.

SAVE: Petr Cech keeps Dempsey out to spare Chelsea's blushes

Tottenham are now a point ahead of Chelsea in the table, after Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues stumbled to another faltering result; a 0-0 draw with West London rivals Fulham last night.  Fernando Torres started again and once more, looked totally out-of-depth.  The Spaniard was subbed with 20 minutes to play and replaced by Didier Drogba, overlooked from the start by Ancelotti.  Chelsea can even consider fortune to claim a point, as David Luiz made a clumsy challenge and conceded a penalty in time added on.  Luckily for the Blues, Petr Cech rescued them, saving Clint Dempsey’s poor spot kick.

Everton’s stuttering season continued with a 2-0 reverse at Bolton on Sunday afternoon.  Whilst the result keeps Bolton in a healthy 8^th, Everton now loom only three points above the drop zone and their players, whom looked well below standard at the Reebok, need to realise that they are in a relegation battle.  Bolton took the lead on nine minutes, as Gary Cahill’s header deflected off Johnny Heitinga’s chest and left Tim Howard motionless.  Despite Everton threatening for periods, David Moyes men could only muster three attempts on goal in the whole match, and to his fury, they conceded a soft second as Danny Sturridge found room in a crowded penalty area to finish the game.  For the Chelsea loanee, he now has three goals in three matches, and is surely not far off England recognition from Fabio Capello.

In the other weekend matches, Blackpool stopped their losing rot, drawing 1-1 at home to Aston Villa.  Gabby Agbonlahor hit the net for the visitors on the 10^th minute, from a classic Villa breakaway.  Elliot Grandin equalised for Blackpool; the Tangerines 11^th goal from a corner in the league this season.  In the second half, Jean Makoun got a straight red card for bringing down DJ Campbell.  Birmingham City and Stoke City produced a poor advertisement for the Premiership at St. Andrews, but it was Birmingham smiling at full-time, producing a last-gasp 1-0 win.  Asmir Begovic spilled David Bentley’s hopeful shot, and Nikola Zigic headed home with 30 seconds of time remaining to settle this very drab affair.  Finally, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United cancelled each other out in a goalless stalemate at Ewood Park.  Peter Lovenkrands and Roque Santa Cruz came closest for the two teams; both hitting the post during the match.

All in all, this weekend lacked the drama and goals from the previous crazy weekend, but it was another decisive weekend and it belongs to a moment of magic from Wayne Rooney.  What a shame he doesn’t produce it for England on a regular basis then!