• Apologies for tardiness, finally managed to find some work this week so unfortunately I’ve only managed 3 in depth reports. Champions League results to come!
WAYNE ABSENT AS MIKEL MAGIC STUNS UNITED TO LEAVE FERGIE ROOING!
EVERTON 3 - 3 MAN UTD
Pienaar 39’ Fletcher 43’
Cahill 90’ Vidic 46'
Arteta 90+2’ Berbatov 66’
At Goodison Park, many fans adorn a t-shirt with the words “we only hate you so much because we loved you so much” when Wayne Rooney comes to visit. These same Everton fans will have read in their programmes this morning that not only was the Croxeth boy not starting, but not taking part in any capacity, it’s likely there was probably two conflicting emotions. Whilst they will no doubt be relieved that he cannot come back to haunt them for this year, they will no doubt be downcast that they will not be allowed to hurl abuse at him, given Rooney’s recent misdemeanours.
It was a game that Rooney-less or not, was always going to have heat to it. The two most experienced Scottish Premier League managers came to clash on a day that saw some magnificent football and a finish beyond the wildest dreams of the most creative football fans.
The game began with Everton in utter dominance of proceedings as Pienaar spurned two half chances within the first five minutes with Arteta having a shot of his own blocked in the 6th. After 10minutes Everton had enjoyed 2/3rds of the possession, quite something against a team of United’s prowess.
However, as was always going to happen, United began to start to gain a foothold in the match. A superb John O’Shea effort rattled the outside of the bar from 25 yards to deny him a rare goal. Then on the half hour, Tim Howard produced what will surely go down as one of the saves of the season. The ball was rolled across to Paul Scholes from a United free-kick on the edge of the box. Scholes, as he was always going to, let one fly. The ball then took a deflection, sending Howard in the wrong direction. With a superb piece of improvisation he threw up his right foot to kick the ball over the bar, leaving most on-lookers flabbergasted.
Howard showed this was no mere fluke when he then denied Giggs eight minutes later with a save from a close-range shot from the Welshman. The ensuing corner saw a blistering counter-attack from Everton, with the ball falling to Arteta who had his one on one effort palmed out by Van Der Sar. The ball the came to Osman, who instead of shooting from his position on the edge of the box, sighted Pienaar in a goal-scoring area and accordingly played him in to roll the ball under a diving Van Der Sar.
It was a celebration that the Goodison faithful could only enjoy for 4 minutes as Nani crossed in a majestic ball for Fletcher to finish off at near post from 6 yards to equalise before half time came along. Berbatov then spurned a volley just wide with brilliant technique.
The second half began as the first had ended, with United more in control. So much so that they quickly took the lead through Nemanja Vidic with a strong header after slack marking and a pinpoint cross – yet again – from Nani. 10 minutes later Everton started to respond with more chances of their own with some pressure ending in a skewed shot from Hibbert and another effort coming from Pienaar from just outside the box that Van Der Sar had to hold.
Despite such pressure, United then closed the door shut on Everton’s attempts as a brilliant 60 yard ball over the top from Scholes found a beautiful two touches from Berbatov. There was one to run on to and one with the outside of his right foot to curl the ball around Howard to bring the score to 3-1 in the Red Devils’ favour on 66 minutes.
This did not deter Everton as they bought on Yakubu to bolster their attack. Baines hit just the wrong side of the post with a free-kick that Van Der Sar had given up on attempting to save, prompting celebrations from the Everton fans that would be in vain. What seemed likely to be the Toffees’ best chance came 12 minutes from time when the beastly Yakubu managed to out-power a couple of United defenders and play in Osman. Unfortunately the ball got trapped under Osman’s feet and he could not get the leverage to fully work the Dutch goalkeeper.
David Moyes commented after the match, “I thought our play merited more than being 3-1 down”. This, whilst a true statement, seemed to be the result that Everton were destined for going into injury time. Messrs Baines, Cahill and Arteta had other ideas. In the 1st minute of injury time, Baines whipped in a brilliant cross – to join the ranks of this game’s best – to find the head of Tim Cahill to bring the score to 3-2. Whilst this was no doubt good for Everton, the fan’s response whilst happy, still seemed to be one of condemnation to defeat. Then with a minute left, Baines popped up again with another cross. One which dropped off a United head to Arteta – 10 yards out - who shot, with the ball deflecting in off of Scholes to even the scores.
Queue pandemonium, and surely one of the greatest comebacks this league has seen. Everton had been fully deserved off such a comeback although Moyes was far from pleased that the referee blew the whistle as Everton were building another counter-attack. In the long-run he will be delighted by what occurred today as United stumbled in the final minutes.
GUNNERS GALORE AS BOLTON ARE BRUSHED ASIDE
Arsenal 4 - 1 Bolton
Koscielny 24’ Elmander 44’
Chamakh 58’ G. Cahill Sent Off 64’
Song 78’
Vela 83’
• Koscielny scores first Arsenal goal as he scrambles in a goal after Fabregas knocked ball back.
• Elmander restored equality when Koscielny mistimed his header and Lee took the ball wide of Almunia to cross back to Elmander.
• Chamakh heads home to restore lead after an unopposed jump met a Fabregas pull back.
• The red mist descended as Gary Cahill was sent off for a lunge from behind on Chamakh.
• Song managed to squeeze in from a tight angle to double the lead and bring about Arsene Wenger’s 1000th league goal..
• Vela finished of the show after a magnificent chip through from Fabregas for the Mexican to slide the ball into the bottom corner following a 26-pass move.
MAN DOWN AS ZAMORA IS CROCKED DURING THE DEMBELE SHOW
Fulham 2 - 1 Wolves
Dembele 49’, 90+1’ Van Damme 10’
Berra Sent Off 90’
• Van Damme creeps in at back post to finish cross-goal to put Wolves ahead away from home.
• England’s Bobby Zamora’s leg is broken a crushed in a challenge with Karl Henry, meaning he will be out for at least 4 months.
• Moussa Dembele laces the ball from the edge of the area with a slight deflection to equalise for his first Premier League goal.
• Berra finds himself on the wrong end of a second yellow after obstrucion and an off ball challenge.
• Dembele is at hand again to take advantage of the free-kick that saw Berra dismissed with a daisy-cutting shot that Hahnemann couldn’t not reach to give Fulham the 3 points late on.
BLACKBURN BATTLE TO DENY CITY BOYS!
Man City 1 - 1 Blackburn
Vieira 55’ Kalinic 25’
• Kalinic capitalises on Hart’s error as the keeper comes out of his area to collect a long ball. The communication with Toure is faulty, resulting in Hart missing his clearance and Kalinic sliding the ball home.
• City found a much needed equaliser 10 minutes into the second half when Carlos Tevez pulled back a cross for ex-Arsenal man Patrick Vieira to finish off from 3 yards.
TANGERINES PEEL OFF MAGPIES AS GILKS IS SAVIOUR!
NEWCASTLE 0 - 2 BLACKPOOL
Adam (Pen) 45’
DJ Campbell 90’
The first game between two newly promoted sides came together on this Saturday afternoon on Tyneside. With both teams having already had some spectacular results come their respective ways already, many were hoping for a thriller. This hope was supported by the fact that both teams play in a very attacking manner with the strong striking option of DJ Campbell for Blackpool and Andy Carroll for the Magpies. Whether both teams are simply looking to avoid the drop or indeed proceed upwards from there, a win today could be very important come May.
The first clear-cut chance came when Campbell had a one on one saved by long time Shay Given back-up Steve Harper. Harper then did well to jump at Ormerod – who was following up – with a smothering save. This goes to show that Harper was already ready to keep at the highest level, and is a committed a loyal member of the Newcastle squad to have stayed all this time as a benchwarmer.
Williamson then opened the opportunities column for the hosts. Barton presided over a deep free-kick which he sent into the danger area, with Williamson climbing highest to beat Gilks but be denied instead by his post. This got Newcastle’s momentum up somewhat. Kevin Nolan followed up this prior chance with an effort of his own that was commendably saved by the ever solid looking Gilks in the Blackpool goal.
Blackpool were then given the perfect chance to open the scoring when Alan Smith brought down Varney in the box with a needless and much regretted challenge that left Lee Mason with little option but to point to the spot. Influential skipper Charlie Adam stepped up to the mark and slotted the ball bottom left on the half time whistle. A heart-warming celebration ensued, in which the Tangerine boys dedicated the goal and the game to their critically ill youth-team coach Gary Parkinson, who fell foul of a stroke recently. Adam grabbed a shirt of the sideline which had, “4 PARKY” imprinted upon it, a touching gesture to a man at the heart of the football club.
Newcastle had the first chance of the second half, with Andy Carroll getting in behind the Blackpool back four. He then attempted to round Gilks but failed on this endeavour as the keeper smuggled the ball from his feet expertly to continue his outstanding performance. Carroll was again denied minutes on, on this occasion by the foot of Gilks to show that he is also a versatile keeper with an ever increasing reputation.
With the minutes closing in, Newcastle were looking to get as far forward as possible at every opportunity. This tactic inevitably left open spaces at the back should Blackpool retrieve the ball to counter, or simply to work the Toon’s back-line. Such opportunity presented itself glaringly as the game moved into added time. Charlie Adam played DJ Campbell in with his back to goal, with a brilliant couple of touches to turn and shoot, the ball was in the back of the net to secure a brilliant victory for the Tangerines. They are now 4th in the league, and whilst it is early days still, this start will have been beyond Holloway’s wildest, most fanciful dreams.
MODRIC AND SPURS STUNG AT THE HAWTHORNS
West Brom 1 - 1 Tottenham
Brunt 41’ Modric 27’
• Ball dropped to Modric ten yards from goal for him to rattle the ball in with a low drive.
• Brunt bundles in the equaliser following a snap-shot from Fortune that was saved with Odemwingie beating Cudicini to header across to the Brom man.
• After leaving the ground on crutches it was confirmed that play-maker Luka Modric has broken his leg.
GYAN GOAL NOT ENOUGH AS ALCARAZ SECURES POINTS SHARE!
Wigan 1 - 1 Sunderland
Alcaraz 87’ Cattermole Sent Off 22’
Gyan 66’
• Black Cats’ skipper Lee Cattermole managed to yet again get himself sent off after two reckless, late and unnecessary challenges.
• Gyan managed a superb debut League goal as he volleyed home from a ball played in by Henderson over his shoulder.
• In the dying minutes a Cleverley strike from the edge of the box deflects of Alcaraz’s head and in to even the points.
UNHAPPY REUNION FOR AVRAM AS CHELS RULE LONDON!
WEST HAM 1 - 3 CHELSEA
Parker 85’ Essien 2’, 83’
Kalou 18’
The first of the season’s London derby’s here today at Upton Park, one that in days gone by would have had bigger billing and probably a better match. Having said that, West Ham are surely the unluckiest team in the league at the moment with their England representatives; Green and Upson enduring the bulk of this poor fortune. The manager of the month Carlo Ancellotti and his team strode to the Hammer’s still to drop points so far this season. New boy Ramires made his Chelsea debut in the midfield alongside Mikel and Essien, the latter of whom would enjoy a special day.
The start of this special day began 2 minutes into the game, with a strong leap at a corner enough to beat Carlton Cole’s flailing attempt to prevent it crossing the line. This served to help Chelsea’s impetus, although it came mostly in terms of possession rather than actual chances for the first fifteen or so minutes.
Claret’s new boy Victor Obinna made his first impact with his shot being denied strongly by Petr Cech, a keeper who is never easy to beat. The same can normally be said of Rob Green as well. However, after his lapse in the World Cup he seems to have lost his mojo, gained the yips et cetera. It does not help that luck continues to go against him. Such luck occurred in the 18th minute after he spilled and easy enough catch from a free-kick. Fortunately for him Upson covered him to clear the ball. Fortunately swiftly changed to unfortunately as his clearance cannoned into Kalou, looped over the hapless and helpless Green and into the back of his net to double Chelsea’s advantage and put the game all but out of sight within 20 minutes. One senses that Green could do with a break from the pressure and the limelight as it really seems to be affecting his self-confidence and belief in his ability.
Obinna then had himself another opportunity, a volley that he put narrowly wide and then followed it up with a rattling effort that also went just wide. As the game continued, Chelsea really began to press their advantage, Mikel hit the angle of the cross bar. Then with 7 minutes remaining, Essien rose high again to meet a brilliant Ferreira cross. Parker then struck a consolation goal a couple of minutes later to give the home fans something to cheer about. Following a Cech punch, the Englishman timed a precision volley over Cech and into his net. Apres ca, Piquionne then endeavoured to make easily the miss of the season so far, as he scooped an easy header over the bar from about 2 yards to embarrass himself horrifically.
After the match, Avram Grant said “the fans believe in what we’re doing here”. He will have to hope this is true, because at West Ham, if you lose the fans there is little coming back. Chelsea have managed to proceed on their stomp through their opening fixtures. However it is just fine to do this versus 4 of the teams most likely to be scrapping to stay afloat at the end of the season, the real football fans now wish to see Chelsea manage such dominating performances against a more able side/s. Blackpool at home next week will not be expected to provide this stern test, but Man City at Eastlands the following week ought to give off a stronger indicator as to what the defending Champions are made of!
BIRMINGHAM 0 - 0 LIVERPOOL
STOKE 2 - 1 ASTON VILLA
Jones 80’ Downing 35’
Huth 90’
• Strong cross in from Agbonlahor, with a creeping Stewart Downing coming in beyond back post to header across goal superbly.
• Etherington provides a fine cross from the left flank and Kenwyne Jones meets it with a giant leap to nod it beyond Friedel’s reach.
• After an interesting fall from Pennant to win a free kick, he delivers in a great ball that is played around and then shot across from Etherington. Huth sticks out a foot to deflect the ball into the top corner to bring 3 points home to the roaring Brittania crowd.
No comments:
Post a Comment