FA Barclays Premiership Report (20th - 22nd November)

THE busy November programme in the Barclays Premiership continued this weekend, with more unpredictable results and drama that makes this league as quite simply – the best in the world.  Here’s the round-up.

Saturday 20^th November: Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur

COOL: Bale begins the remarkable comeback at the Emirates

THE 165^th North London derby will be remembered for one of the most dramatic fightbacks in its distinguished history.  Once again, Arsenal threw away a commanding position, losing at home for the third time already this season.  The build-up was dominated by the pure hatred between Samir Nasri and William Gallas.  They didn’t shake hands in the greeting stage and it was Nasri on form from the outset, meeting Cesc Fabregas angled ball and punishing Hereulho Gomes hesitation to put the Gunners infront.  Andrei Arshavin set-up Marouane Chamakh to make it 2-0, and the game looked as good as over.  However, the reintroduction of Jermain Defoe into first-team affairs turned the match on its head.  Gareth Bale began the comeback, finishing calmly from Rafael van der Vaart’s lay-off.  Van der Vaart then made it 2-2 from the penalty spot after Fabregas stupidly handballed in a free-kick wall.  With four minutes to go, van der Vaart’s free-kick was flicked into the net by Younes Kaboul, sealing Spurs first win on Arsenal soil since May 1993 and leaving Arsene Wenger furious at his side’s traditional failings, which are just as frequent as a European banking collapse.

Saturday 20^th November: Birmingham City 1-0 Chelsea

FINISH: Bowyer sends Chelsea crashing to another loss

CHELSEA’s third defeat in four games came at St. Andrews, and it was down to Ben Foster, who produced a goalkeeping masterclass to shut out the champions.  Didier Drogba was denied on no less than four separate occasions by the sensational Foster, who looked unbeatable.  Lee Bowyer scored the only goal of the match, played in by Cameron Jerome as Chelsea’s defence stood like statues.  Birmingham move out of the bottom three, whilst Ancelotti’s out-of-form Blues remain top on goal difference.

Sunday 21^st November: Fulham 1-4 Manchester City

RESPECT: Hughes and Tevez share a hug before the clash

MANCHESTER CITY put in their most convincing performance of the season at Craven Cottage, as Roberto Mancini’s men had far too much for a poor Fulham side.  Carlos Tevez came up trumps again for City, starting the rout with a lovely finish on six minutes.  A blockbuster from Pablo Zabaleta doubled the visitor’s advantage and Fulham’s awful first half was completed when Yaya Toure neatly finished past Mark Schwarzer from Tevez’s creation.  The Argentine scored his second, flicking in Zabaleta’s drilled shot almost unknowingly soon into the second half.  The only consolation for Fulham came from substitute Zoltan Gera, scoring via a massive deflection with twenty minutes remaining.  This will have been a painful defeat for Mark Hughes to take.

Saturday 20^th November: Bolton Wanderers 5-1 Newcastle United

STUNNED: Newcastle were hit for five at the Reebok

BOLTON moved briefly into the top four, after another efficient attacking display netted three points against Newcastle.  A handball by ex-Wanderer Kevin Nolan started the rout, with Kevin Davies stroking the penalty gift home.  South Korean Lee made it 2-0, despite looking offside in the build-up and as Bolton turned on the style, they got better.  Johan Elmander gave Fabricio Coloccini a nightmare, scoring twice, before the defender elbowed Elmander and got a deserved straight red card from Howard Webb.  Andy Carroll did pull one goal back, before Davies scored again from the spot when he tumbled under Jose Enrique’s challenge.  Bolton have now notched an impressive 26 goals in 14 Premiership games.

Saturday 20^th November: Manchester United 2-0 Wigan Athletic

SLIDING: Hernandez is delighted to wrap up another win

WAYNE ROONEY’s return took the headlines, but Manchester United produced another business like performance to batter a Wigan side that looked like eleven players stuffed to the brim with some early Christmas turkeys.  Patrice Evra had United infront, dealing quickly to some fatal hesitation from Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi.  Rooney returned in the second half, coming onto a very mixed reception after his threats to leave the club last month angered many loyal fans.  Wigan didn’t help their cause, as both Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega saw red within three minutes of one another, before Javier Hernandez sealed the victory.

Monday 22^nd November: Sunderland 2-2 Everton

MIKEL Arteta’s dramatic late leveller rescued a point for David Moyes in a thrilling Monday night battle at the Stadium of Light.  Tim Cahill headed Everton infront with a trademark header inside of six minutes, before teen sensation Danny Wellbeck scored twice to hand Sunderland control.  Arteta’s goal, with eight minutes remaining means Sunderland missed the chance to break into the top six.

Saturday 20^th November: Liverpool 3-0 West Ham United

HEAT: Avram Grant is feeling the pressure with every game

AVRAM Grant is coming under more scrutiny, as his West Ham side put in a shocking performance and wilted far too easily at Anfield.  In fact, they made Liverpool look like a world class side.  Glen Johnson finished brilliantly, after bringing down the ball on his chest to open the scoring.  Dirk Kuyt dispatched a penalty after Fernando Torres was blocked off by Danny Gabbidon’s arm and Maxi Rodriguez made it 3-0, converting Paul Konchesky’s cross.

Sunday 21^st November: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Aston Villa

FUN: Pedersen continued his recent run of cracking form

ROVERS new Indian owners watched on as their side recorded an impressive win – their third in four matches.  Mortem Gamst Pedersen scored both goals; the first coming two minutes into first half stoppage time with a free-kick that made Brad Friedel look rather stupid.  The second came when Ryan Nelsen’s shot was deflected home by the Norwegian midway through the second half. 

Saturday 20^th November: Blackpool 2-1 Wolves

A STUNNING volley from Luke Varney infront of Prince William portrayed the way for another Blackpool victory.  Marlon Harewood scrambled in a second goal, after Marcus Hahnemann dropped the ball from a dangerous corner.  A late consolation from Kevin Doyle wasn’t enough to prevent Wolves fourth straight defeat.

Saturday 20^th November: West Brom 0-3 Stoke City

64% of POSSESSION meant nothing to West Brom, as Stoke moved upto eighth in the table, after their third straight win.  Jonathan Walters scored twice, once from the penalty spot and Matthew Etherington also netted from twelve yards.  One point in five games leaves WBA in the bottom five.

FA Barclays Premiership Report (21st - 23rd August 2010)

The second weekend of the new Premiership season bought a number of penalty misses, amazing scorelines and highlighted the gulf between the best and the weakest in England’s top flight, here is my review from last weekend’s engrossing action.

Sunday 22^nd August: Fulham 2-2 Manchester United

Manchester United dropped their first points of the season, after being held to a deserving draw by hard-working Fulham at Craven Cottage.  Paul Scholes stunning start to the new campaign continued, when he drilled in a 10^th minute opener, scoring his 150^th career goal for the Red Devils in the process.  However, Mark Hughes’s side had the better of the second half, and equalised through Simon Davies on the hour mark.  It looked like United had stolen all the points eight minutes from time, when Brede Hangeland put through his own goal in another goalmouth scramble.  Then, a Damien Duff handball gave substitute Nani the chance to wrap it up.  His penalty was saved by the inspired David Stockdale.  With 90 minutes almost up, Hangeland made amends for his earlier misfortune by meeting his towering leap to Paul Konchesky’s corner and earning a share of the spoils.

Saturday 21^st August: Arsenal 6-0 Blackpool

Following their impressive demolition of Wigan on the opening weekend, new boys Blackpool ended up on the receiving end of an Arsenal demolition derby at the Emirates.  The under-fire Theo Walcott scored the first hat-trick of his club career, and once Ian Evatt was dismissed for fouling Marouane Chamakh when the Moroccan was in on goal, it was curtains for Ian Holloway’s side.  Andrei Arshavin dispatched the resulting penalty and there were further second half strikes from Abou Diaby and Chamakh, who scored his first goal in Arsenal colours.  Considering Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie were left on the bench, this was an impressive signal of intent from Arsene Wenger’s Gunners.

Sunday 22^nd August: Newcastle United 6-0 Aston Villa

Top-flight football returned to St. James Park in impressive and sensational fashion, as Newcastle United ripped Aston Villa to pieces.  It was the Villains who started the stronger, and had a great chance to open the scoring, when Steve Harper fouled Ashley Young in the box.  However, John Carew’s penalty was simply atrocious, smashing the ball towards Newcastle Airport.  The Norwegian kicked the turf in sheer frustration and from then on, Villa rolled over and died.  Joey Barton smashed in an opener four minutes later, meaning that that moustache he had been growing could be removed, as Newcastle won their first Premiership match of the season.  Kevin Nolan chalked up two strikes, but home-grown hero Andy Carroll went one better, with the new Newcastle No.9 scoring his first senior hat-trick and a very impressive one it was too.  Kevin McDonald could only look on in horror at Villa’s lack of fight, determination and belief – as this result might have cost him the top job too at Villa Park.

Monday 23^rd August: Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool

In front of their rich owners, Manchester City signalled their intentions, with an emphatic 3-0 win over former established top four side Liverpool.  With Joe Cole suspended and Javier Mascherano refusing to play, as speculation over a move to Barcelona intensifies, Roy Hodgson’s side had an off-night and City took full advantage of the situation.  Gareth Barry opened the scoring, after a neat link-up between Adam Johnson and new acquisition from Aston Villa, James Milner.  Eight minutes into the second half, Micah Richards powerful header was shinned in by Carlos Tevez with the smallest of touches possible.  The Eastlands skipper put the seal on a dominant performance, by slotting home a penalty on 67 minutes, after the impressive Johnson was tripped in the penalty area by Martin Skrtel.  Even with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in the side, Liverpool looked bereft of ideas and quality.  It could be another long season for the red half of Merseyside.

Saturday 21^st August: Wigan Athletic 0-6 Chelsea

Chelsea continued their scoring spree as Wigan took their third consecutive Premiership battering.  Less than four months after their 8-0 reverse at Stamford Bridge on the last day of the season, more schoolboy defending from Roberto Martinez’s men allowed Chelsea’s attackers another field day.  After an even-fought first 30 minutes, Florent Malouda broke the deadlock, tapping in after Chris Kirkland could only parry a close-range Frank Lampard shot.  The visitors ran away after the break, with Nicholas Anelka and Salomon Kalou both helping themselves to two goals each.  Summer signing Yossi Benayoun put the seal on the final result, as Chelsea showed their superior class once again. 

 Saturday 21^st August: Stoke City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Gareth Bale’s inspired performance was the difference between these two sides in a hard-fought clash at the Britannia Stadium.  Bale’s opener for Spurs came after 11 minutes, when Ryan Shawcross attempted clearance struck Bale on the knee and crept over the line.  Stoke’s leveller came when Ricardo Fuller smashed in, following a misjudged attempt to clear from Tottenham keeper Gomes.  If Bale’s opener was lucky, his second was simply breathtaking.  The Welshman volleyed in Aaron Lennon’s cross, leaving Thomas Sorensen staring into thin air.  Stoke lost Malmady Sidibe to a season-ending injury and also felt that Peter Crouch cleared a Jonathan Walters attempt off the line, when the ball crossed the line in stoppage time.  Television cameras have since proven that Tony Pulis men have a right to be aggrieved at the final outcome, but Spurs have already shown that last year’s 4^th place finish was no fluke.

Saturday 21^st August: West Ham United 1-3 Bolton Wanderers

The forgotten man of the Premiership, Johan Elmander scored a surprising double, as West Ham crashed to their 7^th successive defeat against hard-working Bolton Wanderers at Upton Park.  When Gretar Steinsson conceded a first-half penalty, the Hammers could have been infront, only for Carlton Cole’s kick to be so bad, that it could have been saved by Juusi Jaaskelainen with his eyes closed!  An embarrassing own goal from Matthew Upson gifted Owen Coyle’s side the lead and two headers from Elmander, either side of a successful Mark Noble spot kick kept up Bolton’s impressive start to the season.  For Avram Grant, this job already looks like a poisoned chalice.

Saturday 21^st August: Birmingham City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

A second half double from Craig Gardner, his first two goals for the club helped an unimpressive Birmingham to a fortunate win over Blackburn Rovers.  Ben Foster made a superb penalty save from Morten Gamst Pedersen, but Blackburn, on top for large periods, grabbed a deserved through a Steven N’Zonzi header.  Gardner’s two goals cancelled out N’Zonzi’s header, with the second going straight through the hands of Paul Robinson.  Sam Allardyce will be disappointed to have left St. Andrew’s with nothing.

Saturday 21^st August: West Brom 1-0 Sunderland

In a game where the goalkeepers excelled in an attempt to prevent this game from without a goal, Nigerian debutant Peter Odemwingie scored the only goal at the Hawthorns, with nine minutes to go.  West Brom claimed their first win back in the big time, while Steve Bruce will be disappointed that his side failed to create enough opportunities.

Saturday 21^st August: Everton 1-1 Wolves

After a shambolic first half performance, Wolves did well to battle back and earn themselves a share of the spoils at Goodison Park.  Everton dominated the opening exchanges and Tim Cahill gave them a deserved lead on the stroke of half-time.  After the break, Everton sat back and their lack of adventure cost them, as Sylvain Ebanks-Blake netted a deserved equaliser for Mick McCarthy’s side.