FA Barclays Premiership Report (4th - 5th January)

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 5^th January: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester City

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 5^th January: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Liverpool

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 4^th 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 5^th 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 5^th January: Everton 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

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 4^th 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 5^th January: Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland

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 5^th January: Newcastle United 5-0 West Ham United

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 4^th January: Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham City

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 5^th January: Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Wigan Athletic

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.

FA Barclays Premiership Report (13th - 14th November)

MORE twists, more turns than a Formula 1 race circuit, another cracking weekend of Premiership action that needs rounding-up.

Sunday 14^th November: Chelsea 0-3 Sunderland

SUNDERLAND had an incredible afternoon at Stamford Bridge, inflicting a heavy home defeat on Chelsea, their first since February.  The champions started brightly, but then faded as quickly as Daybreak’s hopes of gaining decent TV ratings.  Petr Cech had to make several top saves, before Nedum Onuoha gave the visitors the lead just before half-time with a brilliant individual solo goal.  Asamoah Gyan scored confidently in the second half, finishing off a slick passing move before a dreadful back pass from Ashley Cole gave Danny Wellbeck a gift that he couldn’t miss.  Chelsea looked flat and totally disorganised, as the Black Cats wrapped up a famous win.

Saturday 13^th November: Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 Blackburn Rovers

GARETH Bale’s stock continued to rise, with another two goals in a thriller in North London.  Bale’s header from a Rafael van der Vaart corner caught Blackburn totally unawares and it was 2-0 at half-time when Roman Pavyluchenko headed home, shortly after missing a penalty.  Peter Crouch scored the third after ex-Spurs keeper Paul Robinson saved from Pavyluchenko, only for Gael Givet to give the ball straightaway to the delighted Crouch.  Bale then scored a scuffed effort to make it 4-0.  Despite Spurs fantastic attacking intent, their shaky defending still remains a big question, allowing two late goals from David Dunn and Givet for the visitors, who certainly played their part in this match.

Sunday 14^th November: Everton 1-2 Arsenal

THIS wasn’t a classic, but Arsenal produced some moments of magic to move into second spot in the Premiership table.  Bakery Sagna’s first goal in two and a half years with a shot that flashed past Tim Howard set-up the win, which ended Everton’s seven match unbeaten run.  Cesc Fabregas made it 2-0, with a delicate finish two minutes into the second half.  Everton pressed forward in the closing stages and with 90 seconds to go, the reliable Tim Cahill found the net from Louis Saha’s cross.  Only top class goalkeeping from the under-fire Lukasz Fabianski kept the Gunners infront to the final whistle.

Saturday 13^th November: Aston Villa 2-2 Manchester United

IT WAS the late show once again from Manchester United as a last minute header from Nemanja Vidic rescued an undeserved point at Villa Park.  Aston Villa should have had the game well out of sight, missing a host of chances.  James Collins hit the bar and Gabby Agbonlahor struck the post.  When Wes Brown bundled down Ashley Young with 20 minutes remaining, Young scored the resulting penalty.  Marc Albrighton made it 2-0, but super sub Federico Macheda gave United hope, with another late strike against Villa, like in April 2009 at Old Trafford.  Vidic’s contribution was well-timed, but it is difficult to see whether this will be seen as one point gained or two lost for Man U.

Saturday 13^th November: Wolves 2-3 Bolton Wanderers

WOLVES were horrific in the first hour of this game, which meant they got no points again and remain second bottom in the league.  Once again, they conceded in the first minute, this time when Richard Stearman headed past his own goalkeeper under intense pressure from Matt Taylor.  A Swedish stunner from Johan Elmander and Stuart Holden, through an open goal rocketed Bolton into a 3-0 lead in the early moments of the second half.  Kevin Foley and Steven Fletcher made it a nervous finish for Wanderers, but Bolton deserved the points and now sit fifth in the league.

Saturday 13^th November: Stoke City 2-0 Liverpool

THE set-piece prowess of Stoke City saw them overcome Liverpool, who quite frankly played rubbish at the Britannia.  No goals in the first half, but the deadlock was broken shortly after the restart by Ricardo Fuller’s scrappy finish.  A poor pass from Steven Gerrard allowed Kenwyne Jones through to seal it in the dying stages.  Liverpool’s nightmare evening was complete when Lucas lashed out at Matthew Etherington and the Brazilian picked up a deserved second yellow card.  Stoke are now into the top ten after back-to-back victories.

Saturday 13^th November: West Ham United 0-0 Blackpool

THERE may have been 48 shots on goal, but just four on target summed up this match.  Shambolic finishing and good defending allowed the teams to share the points.  Marlon Harewood had a goal disallowed and Charlie Adam almost lobbed Robert Green from the halfway line, as Blackpool endured the lion’s share of the chances at Upton Park.

Saturday 13^th November: Manchester City 0-0 Birmingham City

A SECOND goalless game in four days increases the pressure on Roberto Mancini, who surely on borrowed time at Eastlands.  Birmingham came to Manchester well-organised, even though the point they collected does drop them into the bottom three.  City looked very cautious once again and Carlos Tevez being substituted for Gareth Barry summed up this point, as did boos from the home supporters.

Saturday 13^th November: Wigan Athletic 1-0 West Brom

WIGAN provided a dominant performance in a game that would send anyone to sleep.  Victor Moses scored the only goal in the second half to lift Wigan out of the drop zone.  It is now just one point in four games for West Brom.

Saturday 13^th November: Newcastle United 0-0 Fulham

This was another match that provided a distinct lack of goalmouth action at the weekend.  Mark Schwarzer denied new England call-up Andy Carroll twice from point-blank range.  Moussa Dembele went the closest for Fulham, hitting the crossbar from close range.