Man Utd 2 ARSENAL 1 
Before anyone could shout 'F*cking hell Moyes, get Bilytdin... get Bilyando... get the Russian lad on!' the Blues had equalised through Louis Saha 
So here we go. The first genuine and proper test of the season. After the straight-forward but clinical victories over Everton, Portsmouth and Celtic (x2), the mighty Gunners travelled north to Old Trafford. Both managers put their cards on the table early making it clear that a draw would suffice, with United playing Rooney up front on his own, and Wenger favouring the more defensively-minded Emmanuel Eboue over Nicklas Bendtner on the right side of Arsenal's front three.
Aside from a couple of pot shots, there were no clear cut oportunities for the first 38 mnutes, save for Andrey Arshavin shavin' the outside of the post from a poorly cleared corner (see what I did there?!). However, shortly before the break we saw an absolute stone-bonker of a penalty shout with Darren Fletcher going through our Russian maverick. To make matters worse, on his follow through Fletcher knocked the ball away with his hand so exactly how Mike Dean failed to spot either offence is beyond me.
Justice was served shortly afterwards however, when the mercurial Arshavin picked up the ball in the inside left channel and with the United defenders baking off of him, unleashed an exocet into the top left-hand corner of the net and peeled away with his now trademark 'finger to lips' celebration. Great goal, great timing, and nothing less than we deserved.
Two minutes into the second half, and Arshavin waltzes through the United defence again and pulls the ball across goal to van Persie who stabbed it goalwards only to see Ben Foster pull off a quite miraculous reaction save with his left boot. This was the pivotal moment of the entire game. United were on the ropes, Arsenal were quite brilliant, and at 0-2, the game would have been over. We were in our pomp and to quote that girl from La Roux we were "Going in for the kill" (as an aside, I quite fancy her, so if you happen to be a Gooner and single and gorgeous, then please give the boys at Maxim a shout).
HOWEVER... this is the Arsenal, and despite the brilliance and dominance of Song, Denilson, Vermaelen and Gallas whose 'they shall not pass' attitude blunted everything United attempted to throw at us, we have players capable of individual errors at the most inopportune of moments. Step forward Manuel Almunia and Abou Diaby.
Firstly, he comes charging off of his line when he has no real need to and takes out Rooney for a penalty, which Rooney converts. A few minutes later, Valencia (who must have been wearing trainers as the poor dear kept falling over all game whenever any Arsenal player went near him) seemed to have been taken out by a sniper hidden away somewhere deep within the Stretford End and Dean gave United a free kick out on the right wing. High, looping cross comes into the box and the keeper has to come and claim it. Doesn't he? Oh no, wait! It's Fawlty Manuel! The Spaniard stays on his goal line this time and stands there, absolutely motionless. In fairness, we can't just blame Manuel here, as the own goal was scored by Diaby.
And that was that, really. Completely winded by their inept team-mates' success in giving up a hard-fought lead, Arshavin and van Persie clearly had the wind taken out of their sails and seemed devoid of invention for the last half hour, and you can't really blame them. They slog their guts out and find holes in the league's meanest defence, and it's all given away by the sheer ineptitude of two players who, if put on the transfer list tomorrow, would struggle to make it into any other Premier League team.
Although disappointed by the result, I am hugely proud of my team today. We were by FAR the better side, and Carrick and Fletcher were dominated by the superlative Song and Denilson throughout the game. Gallas and Vermaelen were AGAIN outstanding at the back, and Andrey Arshavin appears to have woken up after a long summer. Aside from their gifted goals, United didn't have any opportunities at all, save for the last 10 minutes when we were throwing every man forward. If we can get in the 2/3 players we obviously need before Tuesday's transfer deadline (and now we have qualified for the Champions League, the money IS there to spend) I have absolutely no qualms that we will be there or thereabouts come May.
Worst performer: Take your pick from Emmanuel Eboue, Abou Diaby, or Manuel Almunia. Eboue offers nothing to the team and was booked for what was arguably the most ridiculous and poorly executed dive in the history of the game. And bearing in mind the events of the last week, not thr best timing either. The 'keeper quite simply doesn't cut it at the top level, and Diaby is a joke.
Best moment: Apart from Andrey's wonder strike, the best moment of the game was Arsene Wenger getting sent to the stands. However, as Alex Ferguson is unpunishable on his home turf and would NEVER get sent from the bench, there is of course no route up to the stands at Old Trafford from the dugout and you had the hilarious scene of Wenger standing, Messiah-like, on some podium behind the bench and in front of the stand with his arms stretched out and the jers of the United fans ringing in his ears. Balls like cannonballs, and my leader. Arsene, I love you.
Tactics: The only things I could pull the manager up on were the selections of Diaby and Eboue. Picking Eboue to play on the right wing is a failed experiment. It didn't work the year before last or last season, so why the manager thinks it will work now, away at Old Trafford, is beyond me. Theo Walcott can't come back quick enough, for me. Diaby is living proof that there is a role for Tomas Rosicky and/or Samir Nasri at Arsenal still, as either of them in the midfield over tha hapless moron would have been preferable.
Chant of the game: For the reasons stated below, the sound of 70,000 Manchester United fans bellowing "Sit down you Paedophile" to Arsene Wenger will long ring in my ears.
Oppo fans: It has been a sad and strange week for English football. On Tuesday evening, we saw some truly horrific scenes in and around Upton Park as Millwall and West Ham 'fans' fought each other with one father of two being stabbed, a pitch invasion, and ugly scenes we thought we had left long behind us in the 70s and 80s where they belong. The papers over the next few days were full of scenes, commentary, reportage and calls to identify, shame, and ban the culprits. On Wednesday evening, we saw Eduardo throw himself to the ground and smile at the camera after 'winning' a penalty for Arsenal against Celtic. Thursday, Friday and Saturday's back pages were then dominated by calls for the Crozilian to be banned and the Uefa charge agaisnt inevitably followed. On Saturday evening, and not for the first time, Arsene Wenger was 'welcomed' to Old Trafford by 70,000 people (to give you some scale, that's the equivalent of the entire town of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire) bellowing 'Sit Down You Paedophile' at him. This isn't conjecture, this isn't bias on my part, it is an incontrovertible fact. Yet the papers will ignore it and aside from this columnnist's words, you won't read a single sentence about it anywhere. Wenger himself has commented in the past that he has stopped listening to the chants because the people shouting this unacceptable bile (often in front of their children) are not worth worrying about, and that neither Manchester United nor the relevant authorities will ever do anything about it. So thank you, Old Trafford. I hope you're proud of yourselves and I hope that you can look your wives and children in the face in the morning.
David Oudot, www.onlinegooner.com and taxloser.blogspot.com
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ASTON VILLA 2 Fulham 0
Well my lord, Fulham came to Villa Park with no intention other than to bore for a draw I think. The excuse, I believe, was they were tired after their European exploits... blimey, I've not heard Manchester United use that one despite winning everything in site! Honestly, the day was grey, the rain started and there was only one team interested in his very standard Premiership fodder, it is no wonder the grounds around the country aren't exactly heaving at the moment if this is entertainment especially - bee in bonnet time - if most teams are only really competing to come 6th these days...! This was the same team who played us off the Park at Craven Cottage beating us 3-1 at the end of the season. Tiredness? MON has used the same excuse v Wigan. Blimey, what is going on in football today?! Still, we returned to the 4-5-1 that was so successful last season (up to the point of buying Heskey, then we changed to fit him in and hardly won another game) and Gabby scored so hopefully his confidence is returning after a barren spell.
Star man: This wasn't really one of 'those' games, it was really rather dull, but I'll go with Gabby Agbonlahor for holding the line well and getting back to looking interested and hungry. It was one of Heskey's best games for us as well in the claret and blue (he was on the bench)
Worst performer: The pie sellers, mine was a bit overcooked. Can't single out a worst player for Villa, we won for the 3rd time in a week, to criticise would be wrong
Best moment: Gabby's goal was a nicely taken bit of action, although to be fair Aaron Hughes did invite him on.
Tactics: A return to the winning 4-5-1, not sure why we stopped playing it - other than to accommodate Heskey - because when we stopped playing it, we stopped winning and the season fell apart.
Chant of the game: Two highlights off the pitch, John Carew going for a warm up by the Holte having 'get your tits out for Carew' sung to him and a wide smile coming across the Hulk's face... + some nutter in the North Stand with a whistle trying to get the fans going – great fun, hope he returns!
Oppo fans: Well, the Fulham lot are certainly environmentally aware because they all came in the same taxi, all five of them. Hmmm, probably the worst away fan support I've seen for a few years numbers- and noise-wise, most surprised.
JPFear, astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Tottenham 2 BIRMINGHAM 1
How unfair is football? You go into a game against the league leaders expecting a hiding, get within seconds of securing what would be a great point and then your full-back trips on the ball and the opposition score. In the fifth minute of four added minutes I might add.
Blues battled well, road their luck at times but thoroughly deserved to get something from the game. Oh football gods, why do you hate us so?
Star man: Seb Larsson - Added creativity to the midfield and could have scored a couple.
Worst performer: No one deserves to be singled out really. Carr made a bad mistake at the end but otherwise was good, despite playing out of position.
Best moment: Lee Bowyer's equaliser.
Oppo fans: Enjoy it while you can boys. We all know you'll finish 6th.
Mike, www.joysandsorrows.co.uk
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BLACKBURN 0 West Ham 0
As soon as the teams were announced, this match had 0-0 written all over it. Big Sam went with one striker – for a home game! It was obvious that the first priority was to keep a clean sheet and not to lose. Neither Paul Robinson nor Robert Green had one save to make – it was that bad!
I can honestly say that this was one of the worst games I have seen in the last ten years. The only positive from a Rovers’ fan’s point of view, is that we got our first point of the season.
Star man: Pascal Chimbonda – very calm and assured. Looked like he’d been playing in a Rovers shirt for years.
Worst performer: Keith Andrews – won the ball in midfield quite a few times, but gave it straight back to the opposition. Tackled like Roy Keane – passed like Stevie Wonder!
Best moment: There was a blind gentleman sat a few seats away from me. He summed it up when he purposely shouted, “C’mon Rovers – I can play better with me eyes closed!”
Tactics: One striker, nine men behind the ball. Great when you’re playing at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge. Just shows how desperate Rovers were to get something out of the game.
Chant of the game: “Chim chimmerny, Chim chimmerny, chim chim cheru – we hate those bastards in claret and blue!” Aimed at Burnley, but also applicable to West Ham!
Oppo fans: A poor turn out by West Ham’s standards – 1500. All they could do was to remind everybody that they don’t like Millwall. Very sad.
Pete Anslow, www.4000holes.co.uk
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BOLTON 2 Liverpool 3
Bolton finally got themselves among the goals this season, albeit from two soft set-pieces. Liverpool looked the more likely winners throughout, having the majority of the possession, but failing to convert their chances.
Wanderers led twice through Kevin Davies and Tamir Cohen, with Glen Johnson equalising inbetween. Then the game changed drastically with the harsh dismissal of Sean Davis. Liverpool players not helping the situation by urging well known cock-up of a referee Alan Wiley to show the red card.
From then on, there was only one winner. Torres equalised almost immediately and Gerrard struck a superb winner late on, leaving us Bolton fans to contemplate what might have been - again!
Star man: Fabrice Muamba. He had the tough job of keeping Gerrard quiet and did so until we went down to 10 men, giving the Liverpool midfield that extra bit of room.
Worst performer: Johan Elmander. Another disappointing performance from the club record signing. Hardly touched the ball and was sacrificed when Davis was sent off.
Best moment: Seeing Alan Wiley finally have the balls to book a Liverpool player after handing out three very harsh yellow cards to Bolton players and a red card.
Tactics: A 4-5-1 formation with Fabrice Muamba given the job of man marking Steven Gerrard. It looked to be working fine until the controversial sending off of Sean Davis.
Chant of the game: "Super Kevin Davies!" Did the rounds at the Reebok after our goalscoring duck was finally broken!
Oppo fans: Travelled in numbers, filling the south stand but were kept quiet until the final 5 minutes when they knew the game was won.
Chris Mann, www.burndenaces.co.uk
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Chelsea 3 BURNLEY 0
Burnley really did arrive in the Premier League in West London, coming up against a Chelsea side in absolutely brilliant form. We had a half chance early in the game and missed a sitter nine minutes in, but other than that we really had no answer to a marvellous performance of passing and moving with pace.
We’re still ninth in the league, enjoying it and realising we are not going to come up against that sort of opposition very often. Have I just seen the next Champions in action?
Star man: Goalkeeper Brian Jensen. He turned in an unbelievable performance, particularly in the first half as we had to contend with an almost bombardment at times. He was superb.
Worst performer: Martin Paterson was the player guilty of the bad miss, and who knows what might have happened if the score had read Chelsea 0 Burnley 1 so early in the game.
Best moment: I’d say the Beast’s second save, an absolute stunner.
Tactics: Owen Coyle said we wouldn’t park the bus and would look to commit men forward. We tried to but such was Chelsea’s performance we didn’t have the ball anything like long enough to make any inroads.
Chant of the game: The home fans were, well Premier League and they didn’t provide much atmosphere even though the Burnley fans tried to get them going with chants of ‘Chelsea, Chelsea, ra ra ra’.
Oppo fans: See above.
Clarets Mad, www.claretsmad.co.uk
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CHELSEA 3 Burnley 0
The first-half was fairly frustrating, a lot of the time it just looked as if we were flamboyantly passing it around just to say ‘look what we can do.’ Nobody seemed to take into account that fact that the ball needs to go just inside those big white posts to get ahead in the game, and nobody remembers the pretty patterns made fifty yards out once the final whistle blows. But then the floodgates opened and we never looked back. It ended up a routine win, but at times in the first 45 it could have been a different story.
Star man: I could just cop out and nominate ‘THE TEAM’ as the collective star man. And I have. Aside from the boys in blue, a shout goes out for Brian Jensen in the Burnley goal for keeping the score down after the rest of his side allowed Chelsea to have about 600 shots inside 90 minutes. Fair play to him for conceding three though, otherwise we would have been extremely frustrated to the point of a venom-spewing rage, and he would have been the latest addition to the Chelsea hate list, nestled somewhere in between Steven Gerrard and Stephen Hunt.
Worst performer: We didn’t have one and I think it’s unfair to suggest Burnley had one either. Great effort by all involved.
Best moment: A sudden gust of wind emanates from South-West London as a collective and contented exhalation of breath greets Nicolas Anelka’s 45th minute opener after a fruitless first-half. Phew.
Tactics: The full-backs didn’t get forward enough in the first-half, and when they did they had no-one to feed as their team-mates were still stood around admiring one of the many 86-pass moves we had put together with no end product. Burnley didn’t exactly sit back and stifle us, but when they did try to play they were often crushed by our collective might, a bit like a tank running over a flower.
Oppo fans: Could still hear them praising manager Owen Coyle at the death so all credit to them. Without being too patronising, they enjoyed the day out, probably didn’t expect much, and they’ll move on to more twists and turns this season. Hopefully the Premier League won’t corrupt them like it does so many others.
Rowan Farnham-Long, www.cfcnet.co.uk
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EVERTON 2 Wigan 1
Sunday afternoon is the worst time for a football match! Even when it's a three o'clock kick off, there's not that same buzz that you get on a Saturday afternoon. And when it's pissing down and it's Wigan at home, it's hard not to lose the will to live!
To be fair, Everton should have given the crowd a lot to cheer about but, despite controlling the game for the most part and carving out a host of chances, the Blues just could not finish the openings they created.
Good chances fell to Tim Cahill, Jack Rodwell, Louis Saha and Leon Osman, but none of the Everton players could find a way past Mike Pollitt in the Wigan goal. And then Wigan took the lead, almost inevitably, through Paul Scharner.
The Austrian midfielder is always at the centre of things when playing against Everton, be it scoring or getting webbed by Duncan Ferguson, and he did it again, powering in a diving header from a Charles N'Zogbia cross. Cue delirium from the 46 fans brave enough to tackle the 35-mile round trip! And the Latics then almost doubled their lead moments later when Jordi Gomez struck a post with Tim Howard beaten.
But before anyone could shout "Fuckin hell Moyes, get Bilytdin...get Bilyando....get the Russian lad on!" the Blues had equalised through Louis Saha who rose highest to divert a Leighton Baines corner past Pollitt.
Despite peppering the Wigan goal with shots, it was Wigan who almost stole the game at the death when they broke away from an Everton corner but, with the Everton defence outnumbered, Scott Sinclair couldn't shoot past Tim Howard.
But, just as the boo boys were clearing their throats, Jo raced into the Wigan 6-yard-box and was clumsily chopped down by Emerson Boyce to give Everton their second spot kick of the season.
With Louis Saha off the pitch the responsibilty fell to Leighton Baines and the Wigan old boy did what Saha couldn't a week earlier and smashed his penalty past the 'keeper.
It wasn't the most convincing of wins, particularly as the Latics have shipped nine goals in their last two games, but it was a welcome three points!
Star man: Jack Rodwell. Another display beyond his years and could've netted but for a smart save from Pollitt.
Worst performer: No one really stood out this week, but in a good way as opposed to an 'everyone stank' way.
Best moment: Apart from Baines smashing home the winner it had to be David Moyes getting scythed down on the touchline by Wigan's Hendry Thomas.
Chant of the game: It was a Sunday, we save our singing for church.
Oppo fans: It looked like a mini bus load of day trippers had got lost on their way to Cheshire Oaks.
Les Roberts, www.everton-mad.co.uk
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Aston Villa 2 FULHAM 0
Pride is a strange thing! Last season, despite the apparent boredom of watching so many 0-0 draws, a sense of pride enveloped me whenever we stifled the home team and shut up shop. I had hoped today would be one of those days, but I was so, so wrong!
As early as the second minute, we produced a piece of defending that resulted in a suicidal back-pass that would more than have befitted a ‘Carry-On’ classic. I can even close my eyes and imagine the late and great Sid James and Kenneth Williams providing Mark Schwarzer with a back pass he’d never have a chance of getting hold of, such were the comical nature of the events we’d just witnessed.
From the resulting corner came more gifts suitable for those willing to hand out calamity awards. Dickson Etuhu failed to make an impression at the near post and John Pantsil could do nothing other than turn the ball into his own net.
The early goal should have produced a Fulham fight back that should have resulted in some chances being created – but no! Brad Freidel might as well have stuck a deckchair up for all the trouble our lacklustre side gave him. A couple of possible half chances was all we could muster and when, just before the hour mark, Aaron Hughes decided he’d enter the running backwards fast competition instead of closing Agbonlahor, you just knew the shot the Villain unleashed would beat the guardian of the net all ends up.
Still half an hour to play but the white flag, although invisible, had already gone up. We’d thrown in the towel as early as the second minute and been knocked out of our stride since. From the Urals with Love? More like no sleep until Everton in two weeks time!
Star man: Mark Schwarzer because, despite being let down by his defence on two counts, never flinched and always looked competent when asked to produce something!
Worst performer: Jonathan Greening – Apparently we waited all summer for this guy to arrive. He played like he was still thinking about his holidays…
Best moment: Realising that following two very poor performances there will not be a third next week – thanks to England playing!
Tactics: I’ll never knock the gaffer but perhaps he should keep those involved today in the dressing room whilst the coach departs for London and let them contemplate how and why they’ve let the supporters down for the second Sunday on a trot! A nice walk down the M6 and the M1 might help!
Chant of the game: Gotta say I never noticed the home support were there until they scored their second. Quiet or what? Although it was nice to hear them serenading their former defender Martin Laursen. Never nice to see somebody forced to quit with an injury!
Oppo fans: Strange lot, the Villains! Thousands came in fancy dress – most as empty seats! And they criticise our lack of support – the cheek!
Andrew Joyce, www.vitalfulham.co.uk
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Wolverhampton 1 HULL 1
City went to Molineux needing to win in order to make a good start to their new campaign. After our dismal performances from January onwards last season, it was nice to finally win a game at home as we hadn’t managed that since December. We still haven’t won away from home since March, and if truth be told, we were a little fortunate to come away from Molineux with a point.. After taking the lead, we allowed Wolves to dominate and could have lost the game had it not been for some last-ditch defending.
Star man: Michael Turner. Without him, we’d have lost the game. His block from Doyle late in the second half was sensational, and we’re going to sorely miss him if he is sold to Sunderland before the transfer window closes.
Worst performer: Seyi Olofinjana – Wolves and Stoke fans warned us about him. He doesn’t look like the dominant force that we need, but it’s still early days for the big man.
Tactics: Spot on at the start with our attackers doing the business. However, after the third minute we tried to play on the counter attack and let Wolves dictate the tempo and play.
Chant of the game: “You’re not famous anymore” Stop living in the past Wolves, you will be lucky to have more than a season in the Premier League.
Oppo fans: Not the loudest, plus plenty of empty seats inside Molineux. No wonder the atmosphere was poor.
Matt Wilson, www.hull.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Bolton 2 LIVERPOOL 3
(Awaiting match report)
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MAN UTD 2 Arsenal 1
United picked up where they left off last season and beat Arsenal when it really counts, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s men certainly rode their luck at Old Trafford. Fergie’s team – aiming to counter Arsenal’s use of three central midfielders – started with Wayne Rooney up-front alone and it acted against the striker who was often left isolated as United struggled in the first 45.
Arsenal probably deserved their half time lead from Andrei Arshavin’s long-range strike – if only for the conviction with which they attacked in the first half. But United came out with far more purpose after the break, restricting the visitors to a couple of chances and gaining far more possession in midfield. United’s penalty was the reward for renewed endeavour, and coming shortly after Ben Foster pulled off a superb save with his feet to deny Arsenal a second goal. Abou Diaby’s own goal was a fitting and amusing end for the Old Trafford faithful.
Star man: Ryan Giggs, at 35, is utterly peerless. His running and good use of the ball in the second 45 won United the game. This is what true champions are made of, Arsene.
Worst performer: Not one of Antonio Valencia’s better games. He ran into blind alleys far too often and failed to impose himself on the game. This on a day when Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Real Madrid on his debut.
Tactics: Ferguson reverted to 4-5-1 but it left Rooney 30 yards from the nearest midfielder as Valencia and Nani failed to provide support. It was a complete waste of the striker’s considerable talents and played into Arsenal’s hands.
Oppo support: Were they there? Gooners have the most boring repertoire of songs in the Premiership. The Highbury Library just moved north for the day.
Chant of the game: “Sit down you p....” on second thoughts, let’s not go there. But Wenger took some fully deserved abuse following his ignominious sending off. It’s a week in which he has become a national embarrassment.
Referee: As usual Mike Dean dished out plenty of cards but he got all the key decisions right. It WAS a penalty, Eboué DID dive and Arsenal’s last-minute effort WAS offside. Best decision – sending Wenger off. Hilarious.
Ed Barker, www.unitedrant.co.uk
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Portsmouth 0 MAN CITY 1
Three games, three wins, three clean sheets. It’s taking a bit of getting used to this winning malarkey. Sterner tests lie ahead with games against Arsenal and United next, but it’s been a great start to the season. It was a good time to play Portsmouth, as they’ve lost a lot of good players over summer, and look low on confidence. We should really have won by more (Micah Richards had a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out) and we could have had a penalty, but we’ll settle for the three points.
Star man: Emmanuel Adebayor. Took his goal well and looked dangerous throughout.
Worst performer: Stephen Ireland had a quiet game by his own high standards
Best moment: Adebayor’s goal. City never score from corners, it’s science fact, but we now have two in two games.
Tactics: It was a fairly comprehensive 1-0 win. The only time we looked troubled was late on when Portsmouth threw men into the box. It took 85 minutes for them to register a shot on target
Chant of the game: “Adebayor, Adebyaor, he’s hung like an elephant, his missus is sore...”
Oppo fans: The self proclaimed “best fans in the Premiership” were pretty quiet throughout, but in their defence they don’t have much to sing about at the moment
Ric Turner, www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk
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PORTSMOUTH 0 Man City 1
Four games. Four defeats. Four hard-luck stories somewhere along the line too. The road to the Championship is paved with them... However this was a good performance against a City side who still look somewhat less than the sum of their parts. Adebayor's headed goal was class - I suppose that's what £200m gets you in the end - but there was little between the sides in truth. With the rub of the green Pompey would have earned a deserved point. Either that or a clinical finisher...
Star man: Michael Brown won over his critics. There were plenty of them beforehand...
Worst performer: No one was particularly bad, but late sub David Nugent blew a great chance, yet again...
Best moment: John Utaka's left foot shot looked all over a goal, but flew just wide.
Tactics: Paul Hart gets some unfair stick. His 4-5-1 formation created some decent openings against a good side. No complaints.
Chant of the game: 'Same old Arsenal, always cheating', directed at Adebayor was more witty than usual...
Oppo fans: Surely they have more in their repertoire than 'Blue Moon'? 'Shall we sing a song for you?' showed (unintentional) ironic potential
Colin Farmery, www.truebluearmy.com
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STOKE 1 Sunderland 0
Another win, and the top four have another challenger. Well, for the next fortnight at least... The game started with Jones and Bent showing a great understanding up front but the mighty, mighty Potters were more than match. The ball never really dropped for Ricardo Fuller and he had a frustrating afternoon. Kitson went close with one shot before finally scoring and ending that long, long, long wait for a first Premier League goal for Stoke. Just nineteen more needed by the end of the season then Big Dave! The second half saw us sit back a bit more but never really looked in trouble. We always seem to beat Sunderland at the Brit and this calmed my nerves as the one-nil scoreline continued in the dying stages.
The introduction of Tuncay and Huth brought massive applause. The Turkish delight showed exactly what he can do, every touch was perfect, and I can't wait for him to be unleashed against Chelsea after the international break. 100% home record still intact, just got to beat the Russian bloke's plaything next and then it gets easier – it's champions, Manchester 'Oi ref!' United.
Star man: Glenn Whelan. Ran the game from the middle of the pitch. Possibly his best game in a Stoke shirt, he was everywhere, throwing himself into tackles, keeping the ball (something we usually don't know how to do) and could have grabbed himself a goal had it not been for a brave block.
Worst performer: Nobody played particuarly badly, but if I had to choose one it'd be Danny Higginbotham. Like I say he didn't have a bad game but his poor distribution just left him lagging behind the rest
Best moment: Kitson's first Premier League goal for Stoke. After waiting 14 months for his first goal (that came away at Orient on Wednesday) he grabbed his first in the league. You could see from his celebration just what it meant to him and hopefully there's plenty more from him to repay that £5.5m fee.
Tactics: Both sides played the game how it should be played, physically and with direction in their attacks. Straight to the point when going forward, no fannying around in your own half with 25 passes. The decision to leave Tuncay on the bench was a good move as it gave us an option to get the crowd and team going if we needed too late on.
Chant of the game: 'You can shove your Darren Bent up your...' well you know the ending. Revenge for those Twitter comments in the summer. He got stick throughout the afternoon as did Keiron Richardson for, well, being Keiron Richardson.
Oppo fans: Got chants going, good bit of banter with the Stoke fans in the shared South Stand but were a bit quiet second half when their team could have done with their support
Dan Buxton, www.stokecity-mad.co.uk
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Stoke 1 SUNDERLAND 0
Sunderland were poor from the start, and deserved the defeat. Stoke outplayed us all over the field, and the scoreline could have be a lot worse had it not been for keeper Craig Gordon.
I think Steve Bruce must have read this last week, as Marton Fulop wasn’t even on the bench. And the game showed yet again that we really need to sort our defence out, as yet again they were the weakest link. But in all honesty, the whole squad's performance was bad.
Stoke scored a few minutes before the half-time whistle, Sunderland came out in the second half with not a lot of difference in effort. We had a couple of chances late on in the second half when Andy Reid and Frazer Campbell came on. But it was a case of too little too late, with Stoke keeper Tommy Sorensen equal to the efforts.
Star man: Craig Gordon, things could have been a lot worse for us if it
weren’t for him being on form.
Worst performer: Take your pick on the starting 11.
Best moment: There was any for Sunderland, very disappointing especially
after the money we’ve spent this summer.
Tactics: Worrying that we have one of the best English defenders that has
been as a manager, yet only for our defence to be so poor, they can’t
defend corners and set pieces!!!
Chant of the game: The taunting of Liam Lawrence regarding his adult
amateur video past.
Oppo fans: Got to hand it to Stoke fans they really do get behind there time.
Daryl Baker, www.Sunderland-Mad.co.uk
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TOTTENHAM 2 Birmingham 1
A case of big man, little man as Crouchy and Lennon scored the goals. We dominated most of the game, yet Birmingham got stronger as each half went on, and they could easily have nicked it. That would have been grand larceny on almost the same scale as the one they pinched two years ago at the Lane. We’re 100% still, but injuries to King and Modric could be telling.
Star man: Aaron Lennon, constant threat and now end product too
Worst performer: Carlo Cudicini and Alan Hutton - fatal hesitation gifted equaliser
Best moment: The winning goal with virtually the last kick
Oppo fans: Got increasingly noisy as their team came into the game
Andy Knaggs, www.spurs-web.com
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Blackburn 0 WEST HAM 0
Does anyone really like 'Big Sam'? Have any of his teams served up anything that could even vaguely be considered as 'entertainment'? The trouble is that his teams drag whoever they are playing down to their own level, and so it was here with West Ham.
We were tired after the exploits of midweek, and still lacking strikers with Carlton Cole the only one we have (apart from Ashton who hasn't been seen for some time). The game had nil-nil written all over it, and so it came to pass. Very few chances, both keepers very bored, and still Allardyce found plenty to moan about including a penalty appeal that was turned down. The surprise was that Blackburn played one up front at home, they clearly needed a single point. They will struggle to win games if they approach them like this.
There must be a case for sticking teams like Blackburn, Bolton in a big pot and combining them, so the Premier League is only forced to endure one of them: Boltburn, anyone?
Star man: Luis Jimenez - a class above anyone else on the pitch, and will be some player when he gets used to the Premiership.
Worst performer: Mark Noble - a poor performance from Mark, who is normally our driving force away from home.
Best moment: Final whistle - sweet relief....
Tactics: No surprise to see Zola go one up front, but disappointed he didn't take the game to Blackburn in the second half, the game was there for taking. Putting Kovac on to close the game out when we could have introduced Hines and gone 4-4-2 was disappointing.
Chant of the game: 'Twist and shout' got a good airing.
Oppo fans: I pity them having to watch this every week, luckily their season tickets are only a fiver.
Saul Rice, www.westham.vitalfootball.co.uk
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WOLVES 1 Hull 1
This was one of those games that you look at and feel that you have to win to stay in the Prem with the big boys, but any expectation of the such were dashed within 120 seconds when the Wolves defence looked like they were on Nightol and let Geovanni score an easy opener.
McCarthy must have given the team a right bollocking at half time though as we equalised within a minute with defender Stearman coolly slotting home. From then it was mainly us but Andy Keogh missed a few chances (as always). Vokes should have won it in the 92nd minute but missed an easy header.
Star man: Kevin Doyle - Given a start in a Wolves shirt for the first time and is already adding an extra class to the squad. Unlucky not to score in the second half, but the partnership of Doyle and Ebanks-Blake will start in two weeks, then it should be lift off for Wolves
Worst performer: It's difficult labelling him "the worst performer" because he does "try hard" but he is missing the chances to win games and that clearly is not good enough. Ebanks-Blake should be back in two weeks, so Keogh will be demoted to bench-warming duties.
Best moment: Only one decent moment for Wolves (as we missed so many chances) and that was Sterman's cool finish to equalise just after half time
Tactics: 4-4-2 . McCarthy changed from a 4-5-1 and the new formation will look good once Ebanks and Kightly are back against Blackburn
Chant of the game: Phil Brown got a bit of stick for being the sunbed king and Stephen Hunt for looking like a gypo
Oppo fans: Like most of the teams outside the top six, Hull fans were a credit to their club. Very vocal and at times outsung the Molineux faithful
Wolf306, www.wolves-mad.co.uk
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Everton 2 WIGAN 1
A considerable improvement on previous games (defeats to Wolves and Blackpool) and we had the chances to win the game. We gave the ball away too cheaply in our own third putting ourselves under unecessary pressure and sloppy defending cost us dear.
Martinez needs to focus on defensive coaching as we look for to open at the back. Saha managed to get his head to the ball without jumping and he surrounded by four defenders.
Jordi Gomez was much improved on the previous games but still needs to think quicker and try playing the ball first time. It seems he needs an age to take five touches before playing a pass but I guess he's new to the top flight.
In all we had the chances to win the game and we fully deserved at least a point. Two individual mistakes cost us in the end. Sinclair should have squared the ball when we had 5 on 2, and Boyce should have let Jo go: he was on the by-line and defenders were on the way back. There are a lot of good points we can take from that game although I'd have preferred some actual points.
Star man: Paul Scharner, he always seems to score against Everton.
Worst performer: No-one in particular stood out for critiscm. It was sad to see Baines enjoy scoring against the club that gave him his break.
Best moment: Paul Scharner heading the Latics into the lead.
Oppo fans: It's a sad story when a "minibus" of away fans are louder than thirty-five odd thousand in an old run down stadium.
Paul, www.wiganer.net
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