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ARSENAL 2 – 0 Sunderland
After the two defeats against Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsenal were left battered and bruised, title chances written off, and nothing left to play for this season. However, this is turning into the craziest of Premier League seasons, with any team seemingly capable of beating another and despite the two losses to our nearest and most feared rivals, their subsequent results have left Arsenal on the outskirts of TitleVille, but not banished into the Wilderness of wherever Tottenham inhabit.
In short, the game is afoot. Just.
Since losing to Chelsea in December, Arsenal have struggled for form, consistency, and a goal threat (save for Portsmouth which doesn't count. The footballing equivalent of holding a midget at arm's length and repeatedly kicking him in the nuts), but Saturday's win against Sunderland showed the slightest signs of all of the above returning in some way, shape or form.
We started as brightly as I can remember us doing so this season, and it was everybody's current Whipping Boy du jour, Theo Walcott, who threatened the very most in the opening exchanges, skinning George McCartney at least three times in the opening ten minutes, and sending two shots across Craig Gordon's goal. We looked dangerous from every part of the pitch, in truth, with Emmanuel Eboue having the best game of his Arsenal career and appearing a constant threat, Aaron Ramsey having a great game in midfield (and showing the onlooking Denilson what can be achieved if you decide to take responsibility and run with the ball yourself or, God forbid, pass the fucking thing forward), and Nicklas Bendtner showing what a difference having an actual centre forward on the pitch can have.
However, Arsenal being Arsenal, we flirted around the box a lot and had the occasional pot shot but despite our dominance we had nothing to show for it despite Walcott's cross-shots, Bendtner having a shot deflected onto the bar and a couple of other half-chances.
The deadlock was broken after 27 minutes though, when Emmanuel Eboue wormed in and out of McCartney and Darren Bent before knocking the ball across goal for an unmarked Nicklas Bendtner to tap in for his 4th goal of the season. Cue relief and ecstasy all around the Emirates, and smiles galore.
So what do we do? Do we score 4 more in 10 minutes and give a real statement of intent to our nearest challengers? Or do we give the ball away cheaply in midfield and provide the opposition with an open goal? Arsenal of course elected the latter, and it was the otherwise faultless Ramsey who dithered and the hapless Silvestre who stepped out at completely the wrong time who provided Kenwyne Jones (who was so bad yesterday I understand he is changing his name by Deed Poll to KenFAIL Jones) with an open goal (well, Almunia was in goal, but this was the first chance they had during the game and the Spaniard is... well... shit, innit?) only for the cumbersome Trinadadian to gub it well wide of the net.
Half-time and 1-0 to the Arsenal. The second half saw us completely dominate, with chances galore falling to every attacking player - Nasri, Walcott, Bendtner, Fabregas, Ramsey - all being denied by the excellent Craig Gordon, blocked at the last minute, or firing wide. Despite Silvestre's best efforts to help Steve Bruce out though, we held firm and in the last minute got the second goal we so richly deserved when Fraizer Campbell (the most Scottish sounding man in the world since Big Jock McTaggart disappeared off the radar) bundled Fabregas over in the box before the Spaniard dusted himself off and planted the ball in the corner for 2-0.
A welcome return to form for Arsenal as we enter the last 11 games of the season. Stoke away next week is as difficult game for our team of midgets, jockeys and softies as I can remember (well, since Chelsea a whopping 14 days ago) and if we are to stand any chance of winning the Title, we can't afford to drop many more points. If we can get three next week and Man City or West Ham do us a favour against Chelsea or West Ham respectively then it will make for the most high-pitched of squeaky bum times.
Star man: Everyone played well - even the Spanish Waiter. However, I want to reserve praise for Theo Walcott who has had worse reviews than The Phantom Menace recently. Arsenal's problem with Walcott is that they don't utilise him to his strengths. He's quicker than shit off of the proverbial stick, and if you put the ball in front of him with space to run into he will terrorise defences the world over, but Arsenal don't do that. They did yesterday and the kid looked unbeatable. Admittedly, George McCartney is to football what I am to Underwater Hang-Gliding, but you can only beat what is put in front of you, and Walcott bear Wor George like the proverbial Ginger Stepson.
Worst performer: Mikael Silvestre is past it. Slow, poorly positioned, bad decision-making... the Premier League is just too much for him.
Best moment: In the first half there was a moment where Fabregas played a bal over the Sunderland defence for Walcott to run on to. George McCartney had five yards on him, but Theo kept going and going, and made up the ground, beat him and sent a shot past Gordon that evaded the far post. Football at its most genuinely exciting and something you don't see all that much of in the modern game.
Tactics: The manager hinges Arsenal's creativity on Fabregas and Arshavin, despite the Russian having been MIA since the defeat at Old Trafford at the start of the season. Without him, there is a requirement for some of the others to take responsibility, and Samir Nasri relished his role in the front three. His interplay with Bendtner, in particular was excellent, and Walcott added an extra dimension out on the wing
Chant of the game: 'One Song! We've only got one Song!' It's a testament to the progress and improvement made by Alex Song that we have made a song up about him and I hope he gets the place in the PFA Team of the Year that he deserves
Oppo fans: A comment on both sets of fans here, as they were equally as bad as each other. Turning up late, leaving early, not making the blindest bit of noise. Absolutely disgraceful. If you don't want to be at football, or can't be bothered to turn up prior to kick off and stay until the final whistle then fuck off. Fuck right off, because you don't deserve your ticket.
David Oudôt, http://www.onlinegooner.com and http://taxloser.blogspot.com
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ASTON VILLA 5 – 2 Burnley
I think Martin O'Neill can do my talking for me today....!
He said: 'I thought we started pretty slowly. We didn't get into gear, we
were sluggish. In a game where expectation was very high, with us trying to
win, to come from behind was very pleasing.'
Nicely put by MON, we were very slow in the 1st half, there was no urgency
or tempo, second half we had a spell that just ripped the guts out of
Burnley though and with another 3 points on the table, all is well!
Some good goals today as well, especially by Downing, who hopefully will
have had a massive confidence boost from his brace, just hope we don't try
to come off the blocks this slowly at Wembley next Sunday!
Star man: Well, people were starting to doubt him but with two good goals, Stewart Downing deserves the star man title along with James Collins who had a massive gash on his head following a clash but still came back on after I presume stitches (or do they staple or glue now?!) without any fear!
Worst performer: What you talking about, we won!
Best moment: Good old Emile getting a goal, I'd said to a mate before the game he'd score - on the theory that Burnley had already leaked 50 goals this season!
Tactics: Spot on, we lulled them into a false sense of security giving them a goal lead before pumelling them in the second half. What could possibly go wrong!?! :)
Chant of the game: Wasn't the best atmosphere for much of the game today, it started slowly and the first half really didn't get going, so not much of note chant-wise, but once ahead, the Wembley chants did the rounds and that is always fun!
Oppo fans: Hard times for Burnley fans, they came in decent numbers and
supported their team from start to at least 3 goals down, then half went
home, the ones who remained did so in fine voice.
Jonathan 'no pies for me I'm losing weight' Fear, http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Aston Villa 5 – 2 BURNLEY
Oh woe is me! Where do you start with this embarrassing scoreline?
The joke seems to be that for the first 55 minutes of this match we were coping with Villa and playing them at their own game. We even managed to score our first goal on the road in over 540 minutes of football, not to mention take the lead for the first time since the game against Manchester City at Eastlands back in November! Yes we were one nil up after just ten minutes thanks to some nice play between Cork and Nugent to set up Fletcher. The weary travelling Clarets fans yet to see a victory on the road this season in the league could once more begin to dream. The dream though was about to become a nightmare.
A cross from Ashley Young on 32 minutes started the rot; somehow it went through a mire of players and finished up in the back of the net. On close inspection, it looks like Fox should have done better but the ball glanced off him to deceive Jensen and ensure that Villa went in at half-time on equal terms. There was no panic though, Burnley were still in this game and a point on the road would be both vital and a great achievement against a side pushing for a Top 4 finish. We still looked comfortable for the first ten minutes of the second half and then the spell from hell arrived.
Wham on 56 minutes, Downing puts Villa 2-1 up. Bam, he gets another to make it 3-1 just 2 minutes later. "Thank You!" say Villa as the Clarets wilt and Heskey makes it 4-1 on 61 minutes and, man, it’s suddenly 5-1 with Agbonlahor getting in on the act seven minutes later.
In just 12 minutes we had folded, capitulated and been destroyed! Thankfully for the Clarets, Villa did not push much after that to make the score even more embarrassing, probably now sitting back and dreaming of Wembley and the Carling Cup final next week against Manchester United.
Deep into added time we actually pulled one back to make the final score 5-2. That might even turn out to be a vital goal if goal difference comes into play at the end of the season. Paterson scored and that was good for him after a long lay-off with injury for most of the season. This was his first goal in the top flight and will be a great boost to his confidence.
In the end though it was same old, same old for Clarets fans once again making a pointless journey and coming away pointless!
Star man: Stars? I could name a few black holes. The only player who showed any quality necessary for this level, consistently enough was Jack Cork and he is on loan!
Worst performer: I would have to throw a dart blindfolded at the photos of all the players who featured in this fiasco (except for Cork). The back four were awful but the one who disappointed the most was Danny Fox. Left back has long been recognised as a weak area for the Clarets and the one the opposition have exploited the most. Fox was brought in to plug that gap but yesterday all he could do was play like a plug with a low amp fuse in it! Dreadful!
Tactics: It doesn’t matter what tactics you play, if your squad comprises basically of Championship level players you will not have a cat-in-hells chance of defeating clubs like Villa on the road, nor for that matter Portsmouth! It’s time for Clarets fans to smell the coffee! It has taken 33 years to get back into the top flight but if the Board make statements that they would rather be in the Championship than go into debt then I am afraid their wishes will more than likely come true. Of course those that support the Board wholeheartedly suggest if we go down we will be better placed to come straight back up. I am sorry but I don’t see it. Half the squad will be leaving in the summer, eleven are out of contract and we won’t be keeping most of them. The likes of Eagles and Mears will no doubt be snapped up. In effect we will have to rebuild and although parachute payments will help, we will be back to gates of under 12,000 and no doubt the club will be tight-fisted and plead poverty again! We will have a team full of Championship players again with no guarantee of promotion and even if we did go straight back-up the cycle will start all over again.
We simply do not have the players with enough quality and experience of playing in the Premier League and all our new January signings were woeful yesterday (except Cork). If you are not prepared to bring in players with better quality and accept higher salary expectations than the ridiculous £15k/week cap then you will reap what you sow
Whilst being debt-free is admirable the problem is all the other clubs in the top flight lap up the concept of taking calculated risks and going into debt be that right or wrong.
Burnley simply cannot compete and now it really is beginning to show. Now we are on a wing and a prayer hoping we can at least win our home games at Fortress Turf Moor with just 12 games remaining to escape the drop. 33 years to get back and now we are on the praying mat with no real confidence we have enough quality. We could have missed our opportunity it seems to stay in the top flight and reap the even greater financial rewards that would have brought. Let’s hope our prayers are answered and we can somehow survive the drop.
Rant over!
Chant of the game: On the road it has been a disaster for Clarets fans, we deserve better. No win all season and its February now with Arsenal our next away match (stop laughing!). I am not laughing anymore. We have surely the best vocal support in the Premier League. Which other set of fans would shout their equivalent of ‘Brian Laws Claret & Blue’ army continually for over 50 minutes? This happened recently at Craven Cottage despite being 3-0 down and at 1-1 yesterday the song was being sung again in what sounded like would be a repeat performance. I am afraid though the spell from hell put paid to that and we simply had the stuffing knocked out of us! The Clarets fans though always have humour and refuse to be totally subdued (unlike the Villa lot at 1-0 down). Martin Paterson’s consolation goal to make the score 5-2 prompted the Burnley fans into song again suggesting we were now going to win 6-5!
Oppo fans: A very subdued bunch with just a few in one corner it seemed wanting to make some noise and only when they suddenly found themselves 5-1 up.
In all honesty yesterday we wiped the floor clean with the subdued Villa fans both in terms of sheer volume and humour, although of course they had the last laugh.
Villa sings-You are just a small town in Blackburn Burnley sing in response-You are just a small town in Walsall
Villa sings-We’re Going to Wembley-Burnley in response sing-‘Been there, done That’
Best Moment: Actually scoring our first league goal on the road since the match away to West Ham back in November and we only lost that one 5-3! There was also a little bit of consolation knowing we were only the second team to score more than one goal at Villa Park in the league all season.
‘Turfman’ Phil Lea, www.burnley.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Fulham 2 – 1 BIRMINGHAM CITY
After last week's last-minute winner we were on the other side of it today. That's the ups and downs of football for you. Blues got a gift early on with a comedy own goal and played well in the first half. However, as the match went on we seemed to sit further and further back in an attempt to hold on to the one goal advantage. This was fine until Damien Duff hit a screamer. McFadden was unlucky that his equally impressive attempt came back off the underside of the bar although I think that the keeper got a touch. As for their winner I thought that our wall could have been set up better, but again it was a good strike.
Both teams looked a bit laboured and probably are beginning to run out of steam with cup competitions taking some of the attention. It's a nice ground to visit Fulham but I do hate games being moved to Sundays. I was going to take my vicar mate with me for a rare taste of Premiership football but Sunday games are an obvious no-no. Church and football just do not mix. Having said that church is often noisier than Craven Cottage. Bloody cold again as well. When will this winter ever end?
Overall a disappointing result today as before the game I would have taken a point at a ground where few visiting teams get a victory.
Star man: James McFadden. He's been in the worst performer section before but today he was a lot brighter and unlucky not to score.
Worst performer: Seb Larsson didn't really contribute anything.
Best moment: McFadden's shot against the bar.
Tactics: Moved McFadden up front but I think McLeish needs to do something to liven up the midfield.
Oppo fans: Livened up after their first goal but don't seem to knowledgeable about the rules of the game. I'll always have respect for people who choose to support the little club when there is a football superpower just down the road.
Mike, www.joysandsorrows.co.uk
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BLACKBURN 3 – 0 Bolton Wanderers
Rovers eased to their biggest win of the season against Sam Allardyce‘s old friends from 15 miles up the road and in the process completed an easy double over their Lancashire rivals.
The scoreline could’ve been even more embarrassing for Bolton but keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen made at least three outstanding saves.
Nikola Kalinic, still only 22, gets better with every game and he confidently hammered home the first goal four minutes before half-time.
Bolton, to their credit, tried to make a game of it for the first twenty minutes of the second half but Rovers defence with Givet and Andrews as make-shift centre backs stood firm.
But Rovers steadily wore Bolton down and with twenty minutes left, Jason Roberts, on as a sub for Hoillett, calmly stroked the ball home as the Bolton defence rushed out looking for offside.
Givet headed the third from Diouf’s cross five minutes from time to complete the rout.
A well deserved victory for Rovers who pull further away from the relegation zone and I think one more win should see them safe.
Star Man; Gael Givet – outstanding at the heart of the defence after Ryan Nelsen had to go off and scored the third goal!
Worst performer: None - everybody seemed committed, even Keith Andrews slotted in at centre-half and didn’t put a foot wrong!
Best moment: The first goal. A brilliant through ball by Hoillett was perfectly laid off by Pederson to Kalinic who smashed the ball past Jaaskelainen with the aid of a slight deflection.
Tactics: 4-5-1 – Junior Hoillett came in to replace the injured Brett Emerton and him and Diouf kept swapping wings. Bolton’s Paul Robinson didn’t know whether he was coming or going!
Chant of the game: “Down with the Dingles – you’re going down with the Dingles!”
Oppo fans: Tried their best, but watching Owen Coyle’s men can’t be easy for the travelling few.
Pete Anslow, www.4000holes.co.uk
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Blackburn 3 – 0 BOLTON WANDERERS
(Awaiting report)
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Wolves 0 – 2 CHELSEA
Buoyed by the early kick-off and Everton’s win over Manchester United, we pitched up in Wolverhampton with the opportunity to extend our lead at the top of the Premier League to a healthy four points. Ninety or so minutes later, job done.
It certainly wasn’t a classic, but it is routine wins like this that win championships so we can’t complain. With a number of players out injured there was always a chance that we would emulate Wolves and pick up a fine for fielding a weakened team (well, Paulo Ferreira was playing after all), but in the end we only really needed Petr Cech and Didier Drogba on the pitch and we still would have taken the points.
Wolves actually made more of an impact early on, testing our patched-together defence (again, Paulo Ferreira was playing) but a lack of a cutting edge up front ultimately cost them. Cech was in imperious form, saving a couple of shots in then first 45 and kick-starting (or throwing) attacks of our own with his distribution.
Eventually, we absorbed the pressure and started to control proceedings, with Yuri Zhirkov bombing down the left – ably assisted by Herr Ballack – and picking out Drogba in the box. Unlike Kevin Doyle at the other end, the Ivorian is the definition of clinical, and our first shot on target resulted in the first goal of the game. Football eh?
Indeed, we only had two shots on target in the entire game, but considering we have hit the most SOT’s in the league and scored from just a third of these, it’s nice to balance the equilibrium a bit.
The FA must have raised an eyebrow when our side was weakened further in the second-half, with Zhirkov coming off injured to be replaced by young Jeffrey Bruma. If there is a rule on fielding one of our strongest players but deciding to let him have one major uncharacteristic error a game (there probably isn’t), then John Terry would have been the guilty culprit this time around. A ridiculous attempted scissor kick by the Lothario almost let Wolves back into the game with Kevin Foley bursting through into the box onto be foiled by Cech again.
Not long after, we put the game to bed with a true route one goal. A long Cech kick found Drogba, who rounded a wandering Marcus Hahnemann and slotted into an empty net.
And that was it really. As I said, not a classic, but a 2-0 win nonetheless. Who’s next?
Star man: Pick between Cech and Drogba, both immense at their respective ends of the pitch. Cech kept us in it, Drogba won us the points.
Worst performer: Oh Joe Cole, what has happened to you? It will be such a shame to see you in a Spurs shirt next season.
Best Moment: Drogba’s second goal was so simple. It’s a pity Arsenal were playing at the same time as us, otherwise they could have watched Cech’s long kick to the Ivorian and probably twigged that goals win games, not pretty patterns.
Tactics: We did what we could with what we had. And it worked.
Oppo fans: The opposition fans are always a barometer of where we’re at regarding the John Terry saga. Mild boos today = everyone’s getting bored of it now.
Rowan Farnham-Long , www.cfcnet.co.uk
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EVERTON 3 – 1 Man Utd
Well, I don't think anyone saw that coming!
It's been a mad season at Goodison and even our good run of form has been punctuated with displays like the cup match against Birmingham, the display at Anfield and, to a lesser extent, the display against Sporting last week.
So, even after working it right up Chelsea in our last league match, there was never a great deal of optimism going into this game...it's Man United after all and we generally just let them get on with taking the points off us!
And our worst fears looked to have been realised as, on 16 minutes and in United's first attack of any note, Antonio Valencia got the better of Leighton Baines and Dimitar Berbatov smashed the Ecuadorian's cross into the roof of the Gwladys Street goal.
But there wasn't even enough time to think 'here we go again' as Everton were level three minutes later.
Louis Saha challenged John Evans for a high ball and possession broke to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov who took one touch before firing... no, smashing... no, TWATTING the ball past a flat footed Edwin van der Sar.
Foot like a traction engine!
And the Russian could have doubled his tally five minutes later, but Patrice Evra did enough to put him off and he fired a Baines cross high over the bar.
Then came what was possibly the game's pivotal moment as Wayne Rooney missed the chance to put United back into the lead.
The fat lad only ever performs at Goodison when he's wearing an Everton shirt, but he's been in devastating form lately and is the sole reason that United are still in the title race!
So when he rounded Tim Howard there was a collective gasp as everyone expected to see the ball rolled calmly into the net.
But his second touch was uncharacteristically awful and Phil Neville was on hand to shoulder the striker of the ball and the chance was gone!
Everton then took control and were by far the more composed side, making Man United chase after everything and just passing the ball around them, in short, playing the way Man United normally do against us!
On 37 minutes Landon Donovan, who once again looked the part, should have put the Blues in front but he horribly miscued his shot after Wes Brown made a complete balls of another Baines cross.
The ball initially dropped over Donovan's head - right onto the arm of Wes Brown - but as the ball bounced back to the American he was caught completely by surprise and could only partially scuff the ball into the arms of a very grateful van der Sar.
1-1 half time and Everton on top!
Everton picked up in the second half where they left off in the first and our midfield quartet didn't give Man United's a minute to settle when they had the ball and made sure they couldn't get it back when they didn't!
But for all our possession there was still the nagging feeling that United were just one flash of inspiration away from turning the game on it's head - like they so often do - and everyone was still expecting Rooney to conjour something up.
He very nearly did as the game entered the final minutes - his curling free kick deflected narrowly wide off the head of Sylvain Distin - but by that point the Blues were 2-1 up and cruising!
Dan Gosling replaced Bilyaletdinov after the Russian had put in a productive 70 minute stint and five minutes later found himself on the score sheet.
A great move down the left saw Donovan play Steven Pienaar in and the South African hit a low cross in from the byline and Gosling expertly side-stepped Brown and stuck out a leg to stab the ball past van der Sar.
From thereon in Goodison was awash with Blue emotion and madness - the way only Goodison is on days like this - and the best was still to come.
Wayne Rooney lost possession on the half way line and Leon Osman played the ball to Jack Rodwell - who had two minutes earlier replaced Setevn Pienaar - and the youngster seemed to glide through the Man United defence and placed a low shot into the corner of the Street End net.
It was off the scale!
And the best thing about the whole day was that we beat them because we were better than them, genuinely better than them in every area of the park... and it's not often you get to say that after a game against United!
Star Man: Leon Osman - he was simply wonderful all game, used the ball well and dictated the play. He's always been massively underrated but this was possibly his best ever performance for the Blues.
Worst performer: Every one of them was different class!
Tactics: No one expected us to go after Man United like this but full credit to the manager for putting out a team of ball players. We were always comfortable in possession and this completely threw and frustrated Man United. And both substitutes scored so that always looks like a stroke of genius!
Away Fans: As irritating as most of their songs are they're always dead loud...until they realise they're going to get beat then it all goes a little quiet!
Moment of the match: Jack Rodwell tucking in the third...fuck me, we've actually beat them, 3-1!!!
Chant of the match: There was nothing like the usual amount of venomous chants aimed at Wayne Rooney - everyone seems to have gotten a lot more philosophical about the whole thing all at once - and it's on days like this, when the whole of Goodison are singing 'Grand Old Team', you realise why you love it all so much!
Les Roberts, www.everton-mad.co.uk
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FULHAM 2 – 1 Birmingham City
I’ve always been an advocate of staying into the ground until the very last kick and today proved to be justification for such an addiction.
Anyone who left early to scamper home eager to get to the public transport early will have been stopped in their tracks by the roar that greeted Bobby Zamora’s 91st minute winner.
What with the win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday these are starting to become good times for us Fulham supporters, let’s hope it continues.
For the match Roy made one change from the eleven that started on Thursday evening with Nicky Shorey returning, at left back, for Stephen Kelly.
Whereas on Thursday night it was us that enjoyed an early goal it was to be the visitors that took an early lead in this one. When Lee Bowyer slung over a cross, Chris Baird scored the most spectacular of headed own goals.
Fulham huffed and puffed in the remainder for the first half but couldn’t beat Joe Hart who is in such a rich vein of form he must be a good bet for gate-crashing Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.
Thankfully, the second half was different and it was to be Damien Duff that was to bring Craven Cottage to its feet. The Irishman cut inside from a wide position, exchanged passes with Zoltan Gera and hammered a shot past Hart that went in off the post.
It appeared to be only a matter of time before Fulham got that winner although they had Mark Schwarzer to thank for tipping a James McFadden thunderbolt onto the cross bar.
But with the clock ticking down it looked as if we’d run out of time until that fateful 91st minute With a free having been given some twenty two yards out Zamora stepped up to curl a left-footed shot that Hart got his fingertips to but could only help it into the net.
Cue pandemonium and if you were one of those trudging through Bishops Park, having left early, serves you right!
Star man: Bobby Zamora – Rumours suggest that Fabio Capello was in the crowd today, please don’t let him be one of those who left early and missed Bobby score his 15th goal of the season! Anyone see Fabio trudging through Bishops Park at 16:45 hours?
Worst performer: Sorry, but they were all outstanding as they, once again, beat a side that are higher than them in the table!
Best moment: Realising that Joe Hart, despite his impressive display, couldn’t quite keep out Bobby’s blistering free kick!
Tactics: Spot on, as usual, from the most under-rated gaffer in the Premier League, Gentlemen Roy!
Oppo fans: Do I feel sorry them after they suffered their third defeat in London in a matter of weeks, of course not they’d not give a second thought if the boot was on the other foot. Watch it Birmingham – pantomime season – we’re behind you (but closing fast)!
Andrew Joyce, www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk
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West Ham 3 – 0 HULL
(Awaiting report)
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Man City 0 – 0 LIVERPOOL
(Awaiting report)
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MAN CITY 0 – 0 Liverpool
(Awaiting report)
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Everton 3 – 1 MAN UTD
(Awaiting report)
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PORTSMOUTH 1 – 2 Stoke
Go out with a bang we said, let's get a win and make a fight of it we said, this is a MUST win we said, well bugger, Pompey went down the worst way possible, even the most blindly optimistic fan must have stepped through the gates of inferno after that match.
Let's face it, if you could sum Pompey's season up in one match this would be it, denied by an incompetent linesman in the first half, plenty of effort but little creativity, we conceded from a set-piece and lost to a sucker punch, sound familiar?
Pompey went with one up front again, a tactic I am not fond of, I'm sure Avram will say it was a front three, but Piquionne was by himself with Quincy and Dindane in wide positions, the diamond formation worked lovely when we had Benjani up front with pacy players in the team to support him, but Diop is a carthorse from midfield, not a Diarra or Muntari.
I am confident in the fact that 90% of people reading this have seen the game now, either live, both at the match or on telly, or on MOTD, you will know it was not much of a spectacle.
Pompey cannot be accused of lack of effort, they cannot be accused of that for the most of the season, perspiration is there, inspiration is not. We as fans have been patient with a quite obviously a hamstrung side, quite a few pockets of turned on Mark Wilson of late, quite harsh when you consider he is still learning his trade. If Pompey still had Kaboul, Distin or even the scrooge that is Campbell, he would of been eased into the defence at right back rather than pitched straight into the centre: his every mistake is highlighted, quite harsh on a young lad trying his best in dire circumstances.
Anyway, the first half was flat and devoid of quality, Pompey tried, Stoke contained and relied on set-pieces as we knew they would, Delap launching in bombs from the touchline and Sidibe and Fuller trying to force the ball home, that is their style, one I hate but for them it is effective and keeping them up.
20 minute passed before a worthwhile effort on goal, Belhadj firing narrowly over with his right boot after cutting in.
Then came Piquionne's 'goal' he was played in and lifted over Sorensen, only for the lino (is it the same one every week, short and dumpy?) to raise his flag.
Quincy showed moments of threat, but more often than not his second touch was too heavy and he was dispossessed; O'Hara was trying but was not finding his top form; and Diop was plodding as usual.
We took the lead however after Quincy managed to fire in a shot that Sorensen squirted out again, Piq got there first and forced home from a tight angle, we were one up in a game of little chances and half-time was approaching.
There was just time for James to keep out Tuncay and we could all have a Bovril.
Second half and Pompey came out of the blocks flying, Kanu who had replaced goalscorer Piq won a corner after we bombed forward only for it to come to nothing.
Next up came Pompey's Achilles heel moment, a corner came over and Huth got up above a flat-footed Wilson and nodded home easily, Stoke were level and Pompey had done little to stop it.
The rest of the half was proper scrappy, no team threatened and it took a red card for Wilkinson to liven it up, his first yellow was deserved but the second was quite harsh as he tussled with Dindane, Pompey had quarter of an hour to unlock a stubborn Stoke defence, but did we have the keys?
Avram went for it by having Dindane, Webber, Kanu, Utaka and Quincy on the pitch, but we could not muster a single decent chance. O'Hara wasted a few free-kicks by firing into the wall, but that was it.
Then came that sucker punch, Fuller got free on the right and squirmed over a cross for Diao to fire home his first goal in about 33 years, the game was gone and so was Pompey's tenure in the Premiership, maybe not mathematically, but in reality.
(MATCH REPORT WRITTEN BY PAULTSMOUTH.)
Star man: To be honest it is hard to say, no one really stood out – not something that I can always say he has been praised for but Aruna Dindane put in a good shift, so I would say him.
Worst performer: Many would point the finger at Marc Wilson, and have. Maybe it is my 'Wilson tinted specs' but I would say Papa Bouba Diop.
Best moment: Going 1-0 up as for a little while at least we were given some hope that we could actually get something.
Tactics: To be fair Avram Grant went for it, we ended with 5 forwards on I think – although, and being ultra critical, I would say his introduction of Kanu as Freddy P's injury replacement was the wrong call. I would have gone for John Utaka.
Chant of the game: Nothing especially stood out – the 'Avram Grant's blue and white army' is having more of a ring to it the more you hear it and goes on longer, and gets louder, the more it is heard.
Oppo fans: Did not hear much from them until they scored, pretty quiet again until they got the winner.
PLAY UP POMPEY!
Rug, www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Portsmouth 1 – 2 STOKE
Tommy S should really have held the initial effort but it was a good finish from a tight angle. We bounced back after half time when we played much better, not allowing Portsmouth the space to create and had countless set pieces and had a
lot of time in the Pompey third. Huth equalised just afer half time and then Salif netted a tap in in injury time after some fantastic work from Ric taking apart the Pompey defence
Star man: Rob Huth. Defender scored vital equaliser and was a rock at the back, keeping the lively looking Pompey attackers quiet
Worst performer: Danny Collins. Put us under the cosh a few times and dived into a few tackles leaving the winger free
Best moment: Salif's winner. Eight years since his last goal, he had played seventy odd games for Stoke without ever netting. There is no better feeling than a last minute winner away from home
Tactics: Stay in the game by matching up to the hunger and desire of the hosts and then hit them on the break. They had good pace so we dropped a bit deeper no nullify it and used the pace of our own Ricardo Fuller
Chant of the game: 'He's got all your money' aimed at John Utaka when he came on as sub
Oppo fans: Seemed very angry, understandably, but the fight and passion seems to have gone.
Dan Buxton, www.stokecity-mad.co.uk
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Wigan 0 – 3 TOTTENHAM
Ah yes... the warm glow of victory. The Spurs supporters had been summoning Roman Pavlyuchenko vocally from the bench long before Harry finally did, but there was sweet redemption for the Russian striker – the best natural finisher at the club, for me – as his two smartly taken goals sealed a handsome away win in the DW quagmire.
No doubt about it, Jermain Defoe’s opener after 26 minutes was offside. Miles offside in fact. What was the assistant referee doing? So we got away with that one, and if we did just edge the first half, it was still pretty laboured stuff. Our inability to hold onto the ball up front was a particular concern, with the ball continually bouncing off Crouch and back to Wigan.
It was hard fought throughout, until late in the game when Harry sent on Luka Modric and Pavlyuchenko in place of Niko Kranjcar and Defoe. Everyone else seemed up to their knees in mud, but little Modric was quite brilliant, skipping across the glue as if he was out for a summer frolic in the sunshine.
Wigan had rarely threatened and now seemed spent, while both Defoe and Crouch had drawn good saves from Chris Kirkland. Now, with the changes made, Modric hit the post and saw another effort saved, before the Croat rampaged once more at the heart of Wigan’s backline; he teed up Super Pav and Super Pav proved the fans right by sliding home in style.
Into time added on, and a floated free kick was flicked towards goal by the onrushing Pav. Kirkland sprawled to foil that one, but after a tangle of legs with a defender on the deck, Pav had the presence of mind to flick into the net from a tight angle for a vindicating third. Job done. Our turn again in the 4th place merry-go-round...
Star man: Pav and Modric come close even though they weren’t on for long, but I’ll give it to Michael Dawson – never missed a thing and would have loved the scrap in the mud
Worst performer: Peter Crouch – not enough from the lanky one
Best moment: The second goal – lovely movement, crisp passing, deadly finish, three points safe
Tactics: The usual 4-4-2, Modric held back to punish tired Wigan legs late on
Oppo fans: Consumed with a sense of injustice by the sounds of it. I didn’t think much of the ref and his assistants either, but then I never do!
Andy Knaggs, www.spurs-web.com and www.THFCTalk.com
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WEST HAM 3 - 0 Hull
Life’s good at the moment! After suffering all season and unable to string two results together my beloved West Ham United have now won two games in succession!
More importantly we look like a side that can throw off the daunting prospect of relegation, a prospect so horrific it doesn’t bear thinking about; West Ham in the Championship, a dream that really would have died.
Against Hull, West Ham were fluent, attractive and on top for the majority of the game. In fact the only complaint I’d have is that the score line didn’t really reflect our superiority.
The crowd of just under 34,000 didn’t have long to wait for the atmosphere to go up a notch or two. With only three minute son the clock Valon Behrami, the subject of much transfer speculation, put us ahead drilling in a shot for his first goal in over a year.
Dominating proceedings Alessandro Diamanti will rue the fact that Boaz Myhill prevented the score from being more favourable as the half came to a conclusion.
Matters got worse for Hull in the opening minutes of the second half when Craig Fagan was dismissed for a second yellow card. Down to ten men ‘The Tigers’ were to get a second half mauling.
With fifty-nine minutes on the clock a superb ball from Julian Faubert split the Hull defence and there was Carlton Cole racing through to drive it past the keeper.
There was even time for Diamanti to try the audacious and spectacular but Myhill foiled the Italian’s attempt at scoring from seventy yards. With the game all but over, Faubert got his reward for a great display, bursting into the box and beating Myhill with a shot into the top corner.
West Ham winning 3-0, whatever next!
Star Man: Alessandro Diamanti – the Italian is fast on the way to achieving the same cult status that a previous Hammer, Paulo Di Canio, had at Upton Park. Skillful, direct and the possessor of a wonderful free kick, the Irons faithful just love him!
Worst Performer(s): The whole of the Hull City team. On this form Hull are destined for the drop and hopefully there will be no serenade of ‘My Way’ from Phil Brown on the last day of the season.
Best moment: Opening the scoring as early as the third minute, the wave of relief that swept around the ground set everybody up for a smashing afternoon.
Tactics: Gianfranco Zola appears to have switched to 4-4-2 now that his injury list is diminishing and it looks to be working in our favour.
Chant of the Game: Any rendition of “I’m forever blowing bubbles” still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up!
Oppo fans: Give them credit with there appalling away record it must be tempting to stay back on Humberside but they gave their team some encouragement, not much, but some!
Ross Charles, www.vital.westham.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Arsenal 2 – 0 SUNDERLAND
(Awaiting report)
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WIGAN 0 – 3 Tottenham
(Awaiting report)
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WOLVES 0 – 2 Chelsea
(Awaiting report)
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