The UEFA Europa League - Is there any point in it?

By Simon Wright (Personal viewpoint)

EUROPE’s second premier club competition began last night, as the third edition of the UEFA Europa League returned.  However, is there any prestige in this competition for let’s be honest; the second-rate sides in European club football.

     The UEFA Europa League made its debut on the football scene in the 2009/10 season, following the decision to restructure the even worse UEFA Cup.  Back in the 90s, there were three European competitions, which were merged into two in 1999, when the Cup Winners Cup was ditched.  The old UEFA Cup format had an opening first round, a tedious and pathetic second group phase where losing two of your four group matches was normally okay to progress, then more knockout football until a predictably drab final.  British success in this competition was fairly normal though, with Liverpool winning it in 2001 following that amazing 5-4 final against Alaves in Dortmund.  Both Celtic and Middlesbrough made it all the way to the final and if it wasn’t for UEFA Cup glory in 2003, the name Jose Mourinho would still largely have been unheard of. 

     The new format of the Europa League does make the competition a bit more entertaining to watch, despite the demanding schedule.  Four qualifying rounds are followed by 48 teams proceeding into a typical group stage.  Twelve groups of four teams, with the sides competing playing each other home and away, like the Champions League.  After Christmas, the 24 sides that ended first and second go into the third round, joined by the eight ‘lucky losers’ who finished third in their UEFA Champions League groups.  From there on, knockout football takes place until the final at the beginning of May, which this year, will be held in Bucharest, Romania.  The final play-off round this year saw the likes of AS Roma, Sevilla, Panathinaikos and Palermo knocked out before even reaching the group phase; teams you would expect to be around in the final reckoning.

    This season, Britain will be represented by five sides.  After winning the Carling Cup in February, Birmingham City enter Europe, despite playing in the Npower Championship.  After reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season, Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham start rightfully as favourites.  Two years after their historic run to the final in Hamburg under Roy Hodgson, Fulham are back in the Europa League, with Martin Jol in charge.  Stoke City embark on their first continental campaign in over 40 years, a fitting reward for their run to the FA Cup final last season.  Finally, Celtic earnt a reprieve into the competition, after the side that beat them in the final playoff round; FC Sion, were expelled for fielding ineligible players against the Scottish side.  However, it wasn’t a great start for the British teams last night in the opening set of fixtures.  Celtic lost 2-0 to Atletico Madrid, Fulham were held 1-1 at home by dangerous Dutch side FC Twente, Birmingham got soundly beaten 3-1 at home by last year’s uninspiring runners-up Sporting Braga, Tottenham escaped with a 0-0 draw from Greece against PAOK Salonika and Stoke held Dynamo Kiev to a 1-1 stalemate in the Ukraine, coming so close to a historic win.

     With the extra demand on playing Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons every fortnight, most Premiership managers will see it being a poisoned chalice rather than a reward to play in the UEFA Europa League and I can’t blame them.  For example, my team Liverpool missed out on European football this season for the first time since 2000.  Although the club won’t get any of those special Euro evenings at Anfield, lose a bit of income from television revenue and ticket sales, it is predicted that Kenny Dalglish will see a major benefit for not being in an extra competition which, providing going all the way, will consist of another 20 matches!  Not only does it mean that Liverpool can focus more on the domestic cup competitions, but it provides a far clearer run than say Tottenham in the fight for fourth place in the Premiership. 

     Despite the added demand, I’m disappointed that many clubs, not just English ones don’t treat the competition with the respect it does deserve.  Once you are in it, you should do what you can to win it and it can provide memorable moments for the fans.  The UEFA Europa League is the perfect competition to blood some of the youngsters in your squad into battle.  Harry Redknapp has sent this message across already, by controversially leaving the gifted Rafael van der Vaart out of his 25-man Europa squad until the knockout stages at the earliest.  Although I admire Harry’s determination to play the youngsters, he hasn’t got the right balance.  After all, the fans and TV viewers want to see the likes of Bale, Lennon, van der Vaart, Defoe and Modric – not Livermore, Kane, Obika and Cudicini.  Youth policy has worked in this competition before.  Chris Smalling would never got his move to Manchester United had he not featured for Fulham in the early stages of the 2009/10 competition and Hodgson used the group stages to gives the likes of Martin Kelly, Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing a chance in Liverpool’s first team last season; without compensating for a swift early exit too.  I love to see youth given a go, but it is frustrating to see some treat it better than others and that leads me to the question; if you don’t want to take it seriously, don’t bother qualifying for it.

     This season’s competition does have the likes of Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Schalke 04 and PSG – but they aren’t the Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and AC Milan of today’s world.  I think UEFA have found the right balance and don’t need to make swift changes to the UEFA Europa League.  It works well but should be taken far more seriously.  Otherwise, you have to question its general worth.  Channel Five don’t bite!

FA Barclays Premiership Report (14th - 15th May)

RECORDS and hearts were broken in the penultimate weekend of the Premiership season, which saw Manchester City’s FA Cup win against Stoke City pale into almost total insignificance.

United make it 19

PROOF: Yes, they are champions, AGAIN!

Manchester United made it 19 English league titles, overtaking Liverpool long-standing record with a nervy 1-1 draw at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime.  Sir Alex Ferguson took a risk in resting Edwin van der Sar for Thomas Kuszczak and Kuszczak looked totally indecisive in the first half.  He was partly to blame for Rovers opener, which was fired in by Brett Emerton on 20 minutes.  You could tell it was going to be United’s day when Martin Olsson’s header hit the post in the second half.  With 17 minutes remaining and the one point required to clinch the title still deserting them, Javier Hernandez went on a game breaking run.  The Mexican was brought down by Paul Robinson and after some consultation with his linesman; Phil Dowd rightly gave the penalty.  Wayne Rooney kept his cool and scored the penalty.  The full-time whistle bought an element of relief, but more delight as the new champions were crowned.  When Sir Alex first came to Old Trafford in November 1986, the record stood at 18-7 Liverpool.  So, this is no doubt, one of the finest achievement every in the history of football.  It is a 12^th Premiership title in 19 seasons and that also means 12 titles for the amazing Ryan Giggs.  There is no doubt that this team lacks the class and qualities of previous title winning teams, particularly those of 1999 and 2008.  However, you don’t win the title by accident.  Hernandez’s goals, Rooney’s return to form, Vidic and Ferdinand’s partnership at the back, Nani’s radical improvement, the experience of Giggs and Van der Sar all have played their part in this title.  They may only have won five away matches all season, but 17 wins from 18 at Old Trafford have set the stone for another title-winning season.  Plus, think of all the comebacks this season; 2-0 down at Aston Villa in November, 2-0 down at Blackpool in January and 2-0 down at West Ham in April and they turned no points into seven.  That makes the difference between a good side and a championship winning team.  Congratulations to all the players and staff at Manchester United for achieving this piece of history.

Bye-bye West Ham

DISMISSED: Avram Grant gets the sinking feeling at Wigan

In a dramatic and frenetic game at the DW Stadium on Sunday, West Ham’s six-year stay in the Premier League was ended by another second half capitulation.  At half-time against rivals in distress, Wigan, the Hammers were coasting at 2-0 up, courtesy of two headers from Demba Ba.  However, defending that would even shame a pub team saw Wigan turnaround the deficit to win 3-2 and keep alive their hopes of beating the drop alive.  This was the final straw for the West Ham board and manager Avram Grant was sacked shortly after relegation was confirmed.  Charles N’Zogbia was superb for the home side, scoring twice.  The winner came in the fourth minute of stoppage time.  Conor Sammon also netted his first goal in English football, which turned the atmosphere around in the stadium, from one of misery to one of joy.  A win at beaten FA Cup finalists Stoke next Sunday could keep Wigan in the top flight.  For West Ham, the search begins for a new manager, with former England coach Steve McLaren already ruling himself out of the running.  Expect a host of their top players like Scott Parker, Robert Green, Matthew Upson and co to be at alternative clubs next season.   

Birmingham dragged into the mire

Carling Cup winners Birmingham City are now only above the drop zone on goal difference.  They face Tottenham on Sunday knowing that a heavy defeat could seal their fate.  Alex McLeish could only look on in horror, as his side produced a terrible performance at home to Europa League-bound Fulham.  Norwegian Brede Hangeland scored twice to seal a comfortable 2-0 win for Fulham at St. Andrews, only their third away success of the season.  Had Fulham taken all of their chances, they could have won this game by a cricket score, such was their domination.  Even goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer nearly scored from his own goal kick!  Saturday’s results really hurt Birmingham, as Blackpool and Wolves both collected valuable victories.  In a ding-dong match at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool edged out Bolton Wanderers 4-3.  Charlie Adam netted the winner in a seven-goal thriller.  In the North East, Mick McCarthy finally won a match at the Stadium of Light in the Premiership, at the 20^th attempt of asking (he won none as Sunderland boss in 2003, 2005 & 2006!).  Jody Craddock, Steven Fletcher and George Elokobi scored the goals in a 3-1 win at Sunderland.  With Blackburn still in the mix too, it is two sides from five who will drop out of the Premiership come 6pm on Sunday evening.

Spurs move into pole position & the rest of the action

DIPPING: Van der Vaart's precise effort had Spurs on their way

The Europa League showdown at Anfield went Tottenham’s way.  Harry Redknapp’s side beat a lethargic Liverpool 2-0, to move one point clear in fifth spot.  Tottenham know that beating Birmingham on Sunday will guarantee them European football next season, and leave Liverpool out of a continental competition for the first time since 2000.  A brilliant goal from Rafael van der Vaart had the visitors infront on eight minutes.  Luka Modric banged home a second half penalty, which shouldn’t have been given as John Flanagan barged over Steven Pienaar outside the penalty area.  It didn’t even look like much of a foul to be honest.  However, Liverpool looked flat and suffered a deserved first home defeat of 2011.  It is Tottenham’s first league win at Anfield since August 1993.  Chelsea wrapped up the runners-up position at the weekend, despite only managing a 2-2 draw against a battling Newcastle United side at home.  Branislav Ivanovic gave Chelsea the lead inside two minutes; a good volley from Frank Lampard’s corner.  Newcastle’s first equaliser came fortuitously, as Ryan Taylor’s free-kick was deflected in wickedly by his own player, in the form of Jonas Gutierrez.  A dreadful second half only livened up in the last seven minutes.  It looked like Alex had won the game, when the centre-back met Lampard’s free-kick to head home.  However, Fernando Torres stood around in the penalty area and allowed his marker, Steven Taylor to nod home in stoppage time and earn the Magpies a deserved point.

In the other games, Arsenal’s home season ended with another dreary performance.  The summer break can’t come quick enough for the Gunners, who lost 2-1 at home to Aston Villa.  Darren Bent scored both goals for the visitors.  At the Hawthorns, West Brom overcame Everton 1-0, courtesy of an early goal from Yusuf Mulumbu.  Diniyar Bilyadetinov was harshly sent off for the Toffees and David Moyes was so incensed, he decided that no Everton representative should speak to the media after the match.  It is West Brom’s first Premier League clean sheet since August.

I will be back next week with a round-up of the final Sunday of the season, plus a comprehensive review on the entire Premiership season.  It is Survival Sunday for Blackburn Rovers, Wolves, Birmingham City, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic.

  

FA Barclays Premiership Report (23rd - 24th October)

ANOTHER weekend with plenty of action, even if that isn’t suggested in the scorelines.  Here is a round-up of this weekend’s action, which saw victories for all of the former ‘big four’ in the Barclays Premiership.

Sunday 24^th October: Stoke City 1-2 Manchester United

WHILST Wayne Rooney was nursing his injured ankle on a £17,000 holiday in Dubai, Manchester United did their talking on the pitch, recording their first away win of the Premiership campaign.  Rooney’s replacement in the team, Javier Hernandez furthered his credentials with two more goals.  The first, on 27 minutes was a brilliant twisting header from a Nemanja Vidic knock-on.  Stoke were poor by their standards, but a glaring error from Paul Scholes allowed Tuncay to equalise with just eight minutes to play.  His wonderful curling effort was cancelled out by Hernandez’s second just four minutes later, poking home from Patrice Evra’s mishit shot.  Although Gary Neville was exceptionally fortunate to stay on the field, after two poor challenges on Matthew Etherington in his 600^th appearance for the club, United were well worthy of their three points. 

Sunday 24^th October: Manchester City 0-3 Arsenal

MANCHESTER City’s unbeaten home record was smashed up by Arsenal at Eastlands.  For the neutral, the game was ruined when youngster Dredrick Boyata was sent off after only five minutes.  The Belgian bought down Marouane Chamakh when the Moroccan was bearing down on goal, and Mark Clattenburg had no option but to dismiss him.  After that, despite City’s brave efforts, Arsenal always looked in the driving seat and took the lead in the 21^st minute, when Samir Nasri opened the scoring.  Cesc Fabregas had a penalty saved in the first half by Joe Hart, but once Alex Song smacked a second past Hart midway through the second half, the result was never in doubt.  Niklas Bendtner returned to action in the dying stages, and completed the scoring, a crisp finish from Nasri’s pass with two minutes remaining.

Saturday 23^rd October: Chelsea 2-0 Wolves

CHELSEA went five points clear again, with a 2-0 win over Wolves, though the scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story.  Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou scored the goals, one in each half, but Petr Cech was tested on several occasions by the visitors, which will give Mick McCarthy encouragement. 

Sunday 24^th October: Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

THIS was a marked improvement from Liverpool; they remain in the bottom three, but recorded a priceless victory over an off-colour Blackburn.  A splendid goalkeeping display from Paul Robinson kept Rovers in the match, but they fell behind to a Sotiris Krygiakos header two minutes into the second half.  Illness prevented John Henry from attending his first match as new chairman at Anfield, and if he was watching, he would be shocked by awful defending from Liverpool that led to El-Hadji Diouf’s scuffed effort being cleared off the line by Paul Konchesky, rebounded off Jamie Carragher and creeping in.  Two minutes later, Liverpool’s more urgent attacking display got its rewards, when the Rovers defence went AWOL and left Fernando Torres unguarded from Joe Cole’s cross.  Torres couldn’t miss, his goal drought is now over and hopefully, the Reds have now turned the corner.

Saturday 23^rd October: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Everton

EVERTON’s unbeaten run extended to four matches with an excellent point at White Hart Lane.  Left-back Leighton Baines opened the scoring for the visitors, with a cracking free-kick after Yakubu had won the decision, despite no contact from the offender, Younes Kaboul.  Three minutes later, Rafael van der Vaart equalised, after Tim Howard missed a simple punch, allowing the Dutchman a free target.  A share of the spoils was a fair result in this lunchtime duel.

Saturday 23^rd October: West Brom 2-1 Fulham

THE Baggies came out on top against Fulham in a hard-fought encounter which saw them leap into the top four for 24 hours.  Ex-Albion player Zoltan Gera gave the visitors the lead, when his quality strike fortunately went in off Scott Carson.  Diomansy Kamara hit the post shortly afterwards, but the game was turned by an equaliser from Mulumbu for West Brom.  A debatable winner came from Marc-Antoine Fortune, who looked offside before half-time.  It is West Brom’s best start in Premiership history, whilst a second successive defeat for Mark Hughes’s men slips them into the bottom five.

Saturday 23^rd October: Sunderland 1-0 Aston Villa

SUNDERLAND moved into seventh place, but they got a massive slice of fortune off Aston Villa and Richard Dunne.  Dunne’s shocking attempted clearance ended up beating Brad Friedel from Steed Malbranque’s dangerous cross.  It was a daft misjudgement, Dunne’s 8^th own goal in Premiership history – which is the most by any player.  Stewart Downing, Emile Heskey and Marc Albrighton all went close for the visitors, whose poor away form continues, their fourth defeat in five games.

Saturday 23^rd October: West Ham United 1-2 Newcastle United

ON A week when Andy Carroll was bailed after a nightclub assault, he bailed the Magpies out of trouble with victory at Upton Park.  Carlton Cole opened the scoring with his first of the season from Frederic Piquionne’s cross.  Carroll’s new landlord Kevin Nolan equalised, after Joey Barton’s ball was missed by Carroll.  Carroll wrapped the points up in the second half, with a diving header, his first goal in two months.  A miserable David Sullivan could only look on as West Ham remain at the foot of the table.

Saturday 23^rd October: Birmingham City 2-0 Blackpool

BIRMINGHAM recorded only their second win of the Premiership season, but got a big slice of luck against Blackpool.  Ian Holloway, who had a strong viewpoint on the Wayne Rooney situation in midweek, was cursing the fact that Liam Ridgewell handled in his own penalty area.  Before half-time, the guilty party put the Blues infront with a very scrappy opener.  A rare mistake by Blackpool captain allowed Nikola Zigic to finish the match off and move Birmingham away from danger.

Saturday 23^rd October: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

FOUR games unbeaten now for Wigan Athletic, though better defending could have given them a priceless win.  The match was overshadowed by a reckless challenge from Fabrice Muamba on James McCarthy.  It left McCarthy with a broken ankle.  Hugo Rodallega opened the scoring, before Johan Elmander equalised after a Matt Taylor cross wasn’t cleared away by Antolin Alcaraz.  

FA Barclays Premiership Report (2nd - 3rd October)

The final set of games before an extended international break took place this weekend and saw the two big-spenders in the FA Premier League head into the top two places.  Meanwhile, one of the established elite continues its miserable start to the season, and now there is even talk that the most successful club in English football history is in a relegation battle!  This game is so strange….

Sunday 3^rd October: Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to four points, with a solid, if unspectacular display to see off Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.  It was the same old story for the Gunners against their main challengers, as they created opportunities, but failed to take them.  Laurent Koscieny and Andrei Arshavin both missed guilt-edge chances in the opening exchanges.  Arsenal fell behind seven minutes before the interval, when Ashley Cole’s cross was back heeled in by Didier Drogba, for the Ivoirian’s 13^th goal in just eleven matches against Arsenal.  The game was wrapped up by an unstoppable free-kick from central defender Alex just four minutes from time.  You could have put four goalkeepers in that goal and none of them would have stopped Alex’s bullet of a free-kick.  Arsenal will need to improve in more fearful tests if they are to sustain a consistent challenge to their rivals from London.

Sunday 3^rd October: Liverpool 1-2 Blackpool

Blackpool piled on the misery on Liverpool by pulling off a famous win at Anfield; in one of the Premier League’s greatest ever shocks.  The Tangerines outplayed their more experienced opponents in the first half, though they were helped by Fernando Torres’s early departure from the scene, due to a groin injury.  Glen Johnson was at fault for both goals.  First, he dragged down Luke Varney to concede a penalty, which was successfully converted by Blackpool skipper Charlie Adam.  Then, he played Varney outside, who drilled a second goal underneath Pepe Reina.  Although Sotiris Krygiakos headed home an early second half response, Liverpool huffed and puffed and never looked like getting an equaliser.  This staggering result leaves Blackpool in a highly creditable 9^th and Liverpool in the bottom three at the end of a top flight weekend for the first time since September 1964.  With six points in seven games, problems with the unrest at the lack of movement over a potential takeover and the players not playing for the shirt, there is now talk of unthinkable.  Liverpool being relegated!! 

Saturday 2^nd October: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Aston Villa

Spurs have a new cult hero in the shape of Rafael van der Vaart, who scored another brace to overcome a resilient Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.  Villa outplayed their opponents in the first half and took a deserved lead when Marc Albrighton turned home his first senior goal from Emile Heskey’s excellent work, with the striker turning Sebastian Bassong into a clown!  Almost single handily, van der Vaart dragged the home side back into the game, with a simple equaliser, then a breathtaking second, which moved Tottenham into the top five, as Gerard Houillier tasted defeat for the first time as Villains manager.

Saturday 2^nd October: Sunderland 0-0 Manchester United

Manchester United still waits for their first Premiership away win of the season, after limping to a goalless stalemate at the Stadium of Light.  A burst water pipe in the United dressing room delayed kick-off by twenty minutes and their uncharacteristic performance showed up in the first half, as Sunderland outplayed them, with Steed Malbranque wasting their best chance.  Dimitar Berbatov hit the woodwork in the second half, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s side looked bereft of ideas and were lucky to escape with a point.

Sunday 3^rd October: Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United

Manchester City leapt into second spot in the table, though they received a good amount of fortune against Newcastle United.  The match was overshadowed by a horror challenge from Nigel de Jong that left Hatem Ben Afra with a broken tibia and fibula of his left leg.  Carlos Tevez gave the home side the lead, after he was brought down by Mike Williamson, though TV replays showed that Williamson had tackled Tevez outside the box.  Jonas Gutierrez hit a stunning equaliser, but the Magpies were denied a point by a tremendous solo effort from sub Adam Johnson with fifteen minutes to go.

Saturday 2^nd October: Birmingham City 0-2 Everton

Everton secured their first win of the season and ended Birmingham’s one year unbeaten home record in the process.  The goals were scored by Tim Cahill and a Roger Johnson own goal.

Saturday 2^nd October: Wigan Athletic 2-0 Wolves

Wolves recorded their fourth successive defeat, as their resilience was broken in the second half by Wigan at the DW Stadium.  Their cause wasn’t helped by their captain Karl Henry, who produced an x-rated foul on Jordi Gomez in the tenth minute.  It was a deserved red card if there ever was one, a challenge that would proudly stand tall in one of the Tekken fighting simulations on PlayStation.  Gomez luckily was uninjured and went on to score a brilliant free-kick in the second half, with the points wrapped up by Hugo Rodallega second goal of the campaign in the closing stages.

Saturday 2^nd October: Stoke City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers

Summer signing Jonathan Walters scored his first ever Premier League goal, as Stoke overcame Blackburn at the Britannia Stadium for the third successive season and in the process extended their unbeaten run to four games.  The goal came shortly into the second half, with Walters latching onto a Matthew Etherington pass and coolly beat an onrushing Paul Robinson to lift Stoke upto 7^th.

Saturday 2^nd October: West Ham United 1-1 Fulham

West Ham stayed bottom, but put in another committed and improved performance to collect another point against draw specialists Fulham.  Fulham remain one of only two sides unbeaten in the Premiership this season and took a first half lead, when Clint Dempsey fired in a powerful shot past Robert Green.  Green must be sick of the sight of Dempsey, after his nightmare moment in Rustenberg that allowed Dempsey weak shot to spill through his grasp in the England v USA match.  This time, he had no chance.  West Ham’s deserved leveller came through a second half header from Frederic Piquionne.

Saturday 2^nd October: West Brom 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

A header from James Morrison earnt West Brom a lucky draw against a better and stronger Bolton side at The Hawthorns.  After a dire first half, the ever-improving Johan Elmander gave Bolton the lead, firing in his fourth goal of the season from Kevin Davies’s knockdown.  The Albion’s leveller came with twelve minutes to go, when Morrison nodded home Peter Odwemwingie’s cross.  

FA Barclays Premiership Report (18th - 19th September)

The Barclays Premiership’s latest round of action served up another stroll for the champions, another failed test by the North London perennial underachievers and a surprising hat-trick from a misfiring striker who once did cost £30million!

Sunday 19^th September: Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool

A sensational hat-trick from Bulgarian misfit Dimitar Berbatov earnt Manchester United a priceless and deserved victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford.  United dominated the game for large periods, yet were grateful for Berbatov’s contribution, after they had once again, thrown away a two-goal advantage.  Berbatov’s first goal came four minutes from the interval, marching infront of a sleeping Fernando Torres to power the Red Devils infront.  His second goal was pure genius.  Under pressure from Martin Skrtel and with his back to goal, the Bulgarian produced a dynamic scissor kick, which left Pepe Reina stranded, via the underside of his crossbar.  Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard dragged his side back into the contest, with two goals in six minutes.  First, via the penalty spot, after the lacklustre Torres was tripped by Jonny Evans.  His second was a brilliant placed free-kick, taking full advantage of Darren Fletcher leaving a wide gap in the United goal.  A totally undeserving point for Liverpool was snatched away when Berbatov beat Jamie Carragher to John O’Shea cross and headed a dramatic winner past the despairing Reina.  The right result for sure, but Sir Alex Ferguson will still be annoyed that his side keep throwing away big leads so far this season.

Saturday 18^th September: Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal

Some dodgy refereeing cost Arsenal two valuable points at the Stadium of Light, though once again, Arsene Wenger’s side lost a great opportunity to put further pressure on Chelsea.  A fluke opener from Cesc Fabregas had the Gunners infront, when he charged down a dithering clearance from the sloppy Anton Ferdinand.  Alex Song was harshly dismissed early in the second half for two debatable yellow cards, but Arsenal had chance after chance to put the home side away.  Fabregas limped off with a hamstring injury, and then Tomas Rosicky whacked a penalty on the hour mark onto the crossbar and over.  With almost the last kick, substitute Asamoah Gyan caused chaos in the Arsenal defence and as they failed to deal with a dangerous ball into the box, Darren Bent pounced to earn an excellent point for Steve Bruce’s side.  Sarcastic comments towards fourth official Martin Atkinson earnt Wenger a one-match touchline ban and £8,000 fine.  All in all, this was a very costly evening on Wearside for the North Londoners.

Sunday 19^th September: Chelsea 4-0 Blackpool

Blackpool’s tremendous start to Premiership life took a hit, as they were no match for Carlo Ancelotti’s champions, who enjoyed another Sunday afternoon stroll at Stamford Bridge.  Once Salomon Kalou had Chelsea infront after only 90 seconds, the result was never in doubt.  In fact, all the goals came in the first half, with Didier Drogba and two more goals from the impressive Florent Malouda wrapping up proceedings.  The second half was simply a training exercise.

 

Saturday 18^th September: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Wolves

Despite bossing proceedings at White Hart Lane, Spurs left it very late to beat a brave and well-organised Wolves outfit.  When Steven Fletcher tapped in from close range on the stroke of half-time, it looked like Tottenham’s inconsistent start to the domestic campaign looked set to continue.  However, inspired by new signing Rafael van der Vaart, they scored three goals in the last fifteen minutes.  Van der Vaart’s drew the home side level from the penalty spot, before subs Roman Pavyluchenko and right-back Alan Hutton, via a freaky clearance put the seal on the match in the last five minutes.  The result moves Harry Redknapp’s team into the Premiership top five.

Saturday 18^th September: West Brom 3-1 Birmingham City

An impressive second half display from the Baggies saw West Brom inflict a surprising first defeat on Birmingham City this season in this local grudge match.  The visitors were in complete control in the first half, and led through Cameron Jerome’s close range finish.  However, some inspired words from Roberto di Matteo in the changing room, coupled with elementary errors in the Birmingham backline drove on the fightback for the Albion.  The comeback began through an own goal by defender Scott Dann, who deflected in Jerome Thomas’s driven cross.  Nigerian Peter Odemwingie then pounced on a rare error from Ben Foster to give West Brom the lead and as they continued to pour forward, Jonas Olsson completed the scoring, heading in Chris Brunt’s corner.

Saturday 18^th September: Everton 0-1 Newcastle United

Everton are still looking for their first win of the season, after they played poorly and lost to a well-organised Newcastle outfit.  A brilliant strike from the temperamental Hatem Ben Afra in the first half was the difference between the teams on Merseyside.

Sunday 19^th September: Wigan Athletic 0-2 Manchester City

At a rain-soaked DW Stadium, Wigan produced another top-class defensive performance which would be better suited to a primary school pitch.  Unsurprisingly then, Manchester City left with all three points, with a comfortable, if not spectacular performance.  Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure were the scorers who accepted the charity offered to him.  This was an important result for Roberto Mancini, as he looks to turn his superstars into a well-drilled outfit.

Saturday 18^th September: Aston Villa 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

Kevin McDonald’s final game in caretaker charge of Aston Villa saw his side pick up a point at home to an ever-improving Bolton.  With new manager Gerard Houillier and assistant Gary McAllister watching on in the stand, McDonald wanted to sign off on a high and it looked like that would happen, when Ashley Young curled in a brilliant free-kick.  Young’s celebration, which saw all of his team-mates run straight to the temporary gaffer, shows how much unity they still have, despite a testing start.  Kevin Davies scored his 100^th career goal just before half-time to earn a share of the spoils.

Saturday 18^th September: Stoke City 1-1 West Ham United

Despite missing the presence of Avram Grant, who was observing the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, West Ham earnt their first point of a trying season, with a battling draw at Stoke City.  Scott Parker capitalised on some iffy defending from the home side to put the Hammers infront.  Stoke levelled in the second half, when Robert Green’s World Cup hangover continued, missing a Matthew Etherington cross, that allowed Kenwyne Jones to head home into an unguarded net.  Despite Robert Huth and Ricardo Fuller hitting the woodwork, the Hammers deserved their draw.

Saturday 18^th September: Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Fulham

A return to Ewood Park for Mark Hughes saw the honours shared between Blackburn and Fulham.  Christopher Samba headed Blackburn into the lead, but only after El-Hadji Diouf deliberately fouled Mark Schwarzer in the build-up, leaving Hughes incensed.  The Cottagers edged the second half and deserved their point, coming through a Clint Dempsey header.