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!

FA Barclays Premiership Report (5th - 6th February)

THIS weekend’s Premiership action was quite possibly the best in its 19-year era.  A staggering 43 goals hit the back of the net, with some all-time classic matches amongst them.  Records were smashed, unbeaten runs ended and cracking comebacks all over the place, this was the perfect weekend.  With Match of the Day pulling in 5million viewers on Saturday night, you can see the appeal it would have had, even to the casual football acquaintance.

BLOCKED: Jamie Carragher frustrated Torres all day on his debut

The big build-up was for the match at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea locked horns with Liverpool, only days after Fernando Torres had completed a £50million move from Anfield to West London.  For Torres, the day was a dud, as was the match in truth, failing to live up to its great billing.  El Nino looked out of sorts all afternoon and was replaced by Salomon Kalou on 66 minutes.  Three minutes later, Chelsea’s title dreams were smashed into pieces by Raul Meireles.  Frank Lampard failed to close down Steven Gerrard and once the Englishman crossed and Dirk Kuyt caused more miscommunication between Petr Cech and Branislav Ivanovic (they clashed heads in the first half), Meireles arrived at the back post and smashed the ball into the corner of the net.  It was the Portuguese’s midfielder’s fourth goal in five matches and earnt a deserved 1-0 victory for the visitors.  Kenny Dalglish has now steered Liverpool into the top six, after their fourth win in a row.  For Chelsea, this was a massive opportunity spurned and Torres was probably wondering; why did I move?

The game of the weekend, decade and possibly of all time came at St. James Park.  Arsenal threw away a 4-0 lead at half-time, to end up drawing 4-4 with Newcastle United.  Still reeling from Andy Carroll’s defection to Liverpool, Newcastle looked like a team of hedgehogs in the first half, conceding four goals in the first 23 minutes.  Theo Walcott ghosted past Fabricio Coloccini to have Arsenal infront after 40 seconds.  Less than three minutes later, Johan Djourou headed in from a free-kick for his first ever Gunners goal.  Robin Van Persie completed Newcastle’s catastrophic first half, with two goals which were so easy, Bart Simpson could have scored them.  The game changed when Abou Diaby lost the plot completely four minutes into the second half.  The Frenchman was incensed by a fair challenge from Joey Barton and went onto push both Kevin Nolan and Barton.  He was rightfully dismissed and with it, Arsenal’s composure went.  Barton began the fightback on 68 minutes, with a penalty and Leon Best pulled the scoreline back to 4-2, after he had a goal wrongly chalked off for offside.  With seven minutes to go, Newcastle got a second penalty, which looked very harsh as Mike Williamson went down softly under pressure from Tomas Rosicky.  Barton converted his second penalty, then Chiok Tiote produced a stunning volley with two minutes to play to make it 4-4.  It was the greatest comeback in Premiership history in a quite extraordinary match.

HEADER: George Elokobi powered Wolves on their way to a famous win

The drama continued on Saturday evening, as Manchester United’s unbeaten run, lasting 30 games and stretching back to April last year, was ended at Molineux by Wolves.  The league’s bottom side won 2-1 to add United to a list of scalps that includes Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea already this season.  Nani had the leaders infront on three minutes, finding the tightest of gaps at Wayne Hennessey’s near post but it was a frustrating night for Man United, struggling badly with set-pieces and missing Rio Ferdinand, due to a late injury in the warm-up.  George Elokobi, found wanting by Nani for the goal, produced a lovely header on ten minutes, when Nemanja Vidic failed to pick him up from a corner.  Five minutes before half-time, Kevin Doyle flicked in Jamie O’Hara’s free-kick to win it for the sensational Wolves.  Doyle was magnificent and with this, Arsenal 2003/04 unbeaten season remains intact as the only one in Premiership history.

While Wolves were claiming another big boy, Black Country rivals West Brom hit the panic button.  13 defeats in 18 games have cost Roberto di Matteo his job.  Despite the poor run of form, it is another example of chairman simply taking desperate measures at a time of crisis.  Di Matteo’s final game in charge came at Manchester City, as West Brom folded to a 3-0 loss on Saturday.  Birthday boy Carlos Tevez scored a first half hat-trick, including two penalties, as the Albion defence was left exposed by Tevez’s creative movements.  The Argentine has now scored 49 goals in 71 games for Manchester City.  It was an emotional day at Eastlands, as the club paid tribute to Neil Young.  Young scored the winner for the club in the 1969 FA Cup final.  He passed away last Thursday, following a long battle with cancer.

MOBBED: Nikola Zigic is congratulated after his winner

After the fillip of a massive win in midweek at Bloomfield Road, West Ham returned to their traditional best.  Another flat performance infront of their home supporters saw the Hammers lose 1-0 at home to relegation rivals Birmingham City and leave them in their customary position of bottom in the table.  The much criticised Nikola Zigic headed the only goal of the game midway through the second half to lift Birmingham out of the bottom three, their first win at Upton Park since October 2002.  Having just been dumped out of the Carling Cup at the semi-final stage by Birmingham, Avram Grant must be sick of the sight of the Midlands team.

There was another classic encounter between two North-West sides desperate for points.  Everton and Blackpool went goals galore at Goodison Park, sharing eight goals in a 5-3 win for the home side.  Louis Saha scored four goals, his first came on 20 minutes, lashing home a cutback from Diniyar Bilyadetinov.  Alex-John Baptiste claimed the equaliser eight minutes before half-time, but the Toffees were back infront within 100 seconds of the restart.  Leighton Baines crossed and Saha finished from close range.  In this remarkable match, Blackpool recovered to hit the front.  Deadline day signing Jason Puncheon levelled, finishing off a wonderful pullback from fellow new signing James Beattie.  Just two minutes later, Ian Holloway’s men completed their fabulous response when DJ Campbell rattled the crossbar on the counter-attack, only for Charlie Adam to head the rebound in.  Saha got his hat-trick, heading in from close range as Blackpool failed to deal with a routine corner and Everton grabbed the lead back as Jermaine Beckford made a great run and converted Baines’s majestic ball over the top of Blackpool’s square defence.  As the Tangerines pushed forward for another equaliser, Saha settled the match on a great Toffees counter-attack, coaxing in his fourth of the afternoon.  This is Blackpool’s fifth successive Premiership defeat, and they are plummeting down the table as quick as a shattered fruit machine.

STAR: Ben Watson celebrates with James McCarthy after he scores his second

Wigan are still in the bottom three, but they recorded their first home win since mid-November in another entertaining game, beating Blackburn Rovers 4-3 at the DW Stadium.  Ex-Wigan striker Jason Roberts had the visitors infront, tucking in Brett Emerton’s ball, but James McCarthy equalised, reacting quickest to Paul Robinson’s spill from a Charles N’Zogbia drive.  Hugo Rodallega made it 2-1, getting in behind Christopher Samba and beat the stranded Robinson to guide the ball into the empty Blackburn net.  An outstanding individual goal from McCarthy increased Wigan’s lead, needing one touch to control and another to finish.  On a pitch more accustomed to the Six Nations, Blackburn responded well when the powerful Samba beat Ali Al-Habsi to a cross.  Ben Watson scored a penalty to restore Wigan’s two goal advantage, before David Dunn tumbled under Emerson Boyce’s challenge and converted his own spot kick.  Wigan’s first win in eight games was well deserved.

In the other matches, Stoke City beat Sunderland 3-2 at the Britannia Stadium.  In another frantic game, Kieran Richardson and Asamoah Gyan had Sunderland in the lead twice.  John Carew scored a scruffy goal and Robert Huth scored twice for the home side, his second in the third minute of injury time.  Craig Gordon made a meal of the match, as the Scot failed to deal with Stoke’s physical prowess.  Niko Kranjcar made a point to Harry Redknapp, as he hit a rasping left foot drive in stoppage time to see off Bolton Wanderers.  Tottenham won 2-1, to keep pace with the top four.  Aston Villa and Fulham drew 2-2 at Villa Park, with Clint Dempsey earning the away side a valuable point.  Kyle Walker scored the goal of the match, on the night he was called into the England squad for the first time by Fabio Capello.

It was an amazing weekend of gripping Premiership action; totally breathless and captivating.  After a pointless international set of friendlies in midweek, bring on next weekend!  We only have a Manchester derby to look forward to.  

Gray and Keys suspended by Sky after sexist female jibes

BARRED: Neither Keys, nor Gray will present at the Sky MNF game tonight

RICHARD Keys and Andy Gray have been suspended today by Sky Sports, after being caught making sexist comments about women in football in an off-air sound recording.  The pair left their microphones on in a commercial break during the build-up to Saturday’s Sky lunchtime match at Molineux between Wolves and Liverpool.  They made sexist and offensive female jibes about line official Sian Massey, referee Wendy Toms and West Ham United chief executive Karen Brady. 

Although the public didn’t hear the comments, the recording was leaked to the Mail on Sunday yesterday and their fate was sealed.  Neither apologised or mentioned the incident during yesterday’s televised match at Ewood Park and although they apologised via Sky Sports yesterday, Sky has decided to drop them from presenting the Monday Night Football tonight between Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea.

SEE TRANSCRIPT BELOW OF THE ILL-FATED CONVERSATION

Richard Keys: Well, somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.

Andy Gray: Yeah, I know. Can you believe that?  Female linesman. Forget what I said – they probably don't know the offside rule.

RK: Course they don't.

AG: Why is there a female linesman?  Somebody's f##### up big.

RK: I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. Kenny [Dalglish, Liverpool's manager] will go potty. This is not the first time. Didn't we have one before?

AG: Yeah.

RK: Wendy Toms.

AG: Wendy Toms, something like that.  She was f###### hopeless as well.

RK: [exasperated groan]

AG: [inaudible]

RK: No, no, it's got to be done, it's good.  The game's gone mad.  See charming Karen Brady this morning complaining about sexism?  Yeah.  Do me a favour, love.

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis confirmed the suspension in a statement this afternoon.  “I have spoken directly this morning to both Richard Keys and Andy Gray this morning.  It has been made clear to each of them that their comments were totally unacceptable.  They are inexcusable from anyone by Sky, regardless of their role or seniority.  We have dealt with this matter by taking immediate disciplinary action.”

SPOT ON: Sian Massey officiating at the Sunderland v Blackpool game last month 

The female linesman who was at the centre of Keys and Gray’s remarks on women not understanding the offside rule was Sian Massey.  Massey, 25 was running the line at Wolves at the weekend, her second match in the top flight of English football.  Sian went onto embarrass the high-profile Sky presenters in the game, when she got a borderline offside decision spot on and allowed Raul Meireles to play on and set-up Fernando Torres for Liverpool’s first goal in a comfortable 3-0 victory.  She isn’t the first female in the game.  Last year, Amy Fearn took charge successfully of a Championship clash between Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, whilst Wendy Toms, also ridiculed by Keys and Gray has also excelled as a very successful match official in the past.  Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is all for females being in the game.  On his Twitter account, he wrote; “What’s wrong with a woman being an official in a football game?  I’m cool with it.  All that counts is do they get the decisions right.”

Former referee Graham Poll ripped into Richard and Andy in his Daily Mail column today; “Andy Gray and Richard Keys clearly think that they are experts in all matters of football, and you only have to listen to their smug declarations to see that 20 years as Sky Sports ‘kingpins’ has done nothing to help their humility.  As a result, there will be few sympathetic callers.”

They aren’t the first to be caught having an off-mic moment.  Last year, Gordon Brown was caught called Gillian Duffy a ‘bigoted woman’ on a Sky News microphone following a stand-off in Rochdale during his doomed General Election campaign.  Back in April 2004, Ron Atkinson was forced to resign from his role as main commentator on ITV Sport, after being caught by Asian viewers making racist comments about French defender Marcel Desailly following Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final defeat to AS Monaco.

For me, sexism is just as bad as racism in football and I am disgusted with the behaviour of two such well-known presenters, who have led Sky Sports football coverage for the past two decades.  I am pleased to see Sky has taken strict action against Richard Keys and Andy Gray and hopefully, they will have learnt their lesson from this shameful tirade.