Hull City 1 - 2 ARSENAL
After our month of hell that was January, pundits everywhere looked at Arsenal’s remaining fixtures and immediately asserted that winning the Title would be easy for Arsenal as we only had ‘two difficult games’ between then and the end of the season – Spurs away and Man city at our place. Those pundits have obviously never seen Arsenal play in the north on a rainy evening. I looked at the fixture list and my eyes immediately looked at our away fixtures at Stoke, Hull, Birmingham and Blackburn as the game that would make or break our chase for the Championship.
We despatched Stoke a fortnight ago with arguably our most spirited performance of the season, and Saturday’s game was set to be exactly the same. Hull did not disappoint, and proceeded to kick us off the park for the whole of the first half and referee Andre Marriner should be ashamed of himself for his sheer refusal to apply the rules of the game. More of that later.
Arsenal started brightly, cutting open the Tigers’ defence three times in the first ten minutes albeit with no chance created at the end, but with less than 15 minutes on the clock, Nicklas Bendter played in Andrey Arshavin who, with a combination of sleight of foot and a lucky bounce off of a defender’s heel found a yard of space and rifled the ball past Boaz Myhill and Arsenal were one-up inside the first fifteen minutes for the first time in the Premier League season.
What followed next was a display of sheer cynicism from Hull, and brazen ineptitude from Andre Marriner. Emmanuel Aboue was haring down the right wing with Denilson in support. Out of nowhere, the hapless abd ultimately fucking useless and undeserving of a place in a Premier League team Fagan headlocks Denilson, WWF-style. Literally grabs him around the neck and wrestles him to the ground. Linesman waves his flag, yet no booking. Then, off the ball, George Boateng flicks out at Bendtner, gets to his feet and then pokes the Dane in the eye for no reason. Linesman sees again, and the referee books both players. You raise your hands to an opponent’s face on a football field and it is a red card. I’m not arguing the point; it is an incontrovertible rule of the game. And quite what Bendtner had done to deserve a booking is beyond me.
It was only when Boateng went through Sagna’s knee with his foot 3 feet off the ground that he was ordered from the field of play, and if it is going to take near-crippling for referees to grow a pair of balls and send players off when deserving of it then football is a sad game nowadays.
I can only think that Marriner was intimidated by the amount of fouls that were occurring on the pitch and he didn’t know what to do, or how to counter it. Three Hull players could have conceivably been sent off in the first half, but Marriner didn’t want to make a rod for his own back and become known as the ref who sent off three players before half-time and instead did nothing. He is a coward and I wonder if he was able to look his wife in the face when he got home later that evening.
Anyway – back to the game, and Hull equalised halfway through the first half when the leaden-footed Sol Campbell (whose place of birth gives him far more leniency amongst the Arsenal faithful then Philippe Senderos or Mikael Silvestre have ever received) bundles over Jan Vennegor of Hesselink and Jimmy Bullard converted the penalty. Notwithstanding the fact that the Dutchman was a good two yards offside and in full view of the linesman when the ball was played, I’m not convinced it was a penalty. The ball was behind VoH as it came over the top to him, and sensing the presence of Campbell behind him he already started going down. Campbell then makes the slightest contact on him and a penalty is given. IT IS A CONTACT SPORT AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BRUSH AGAINST EACH OTHER WITHOUT A FOUL BEING GIVEN. How the ref gave that and didn’t book Fagan for wrestling Denilson is beyond me. But there we are.
After the sending off, Hull shut up shop. Knowing that 9 v 11 would be too much even for their spirited attitude Hull stopped fouling us and concentrated on trying to stop Arsenal from scoring a winner. We didn’t threaten all that much, despite having something like 146% of the possession and only Arshavin and Bendtner had anything like clear-cut opportunities. Arshavin blasting wildly over, and Bendtner denied by a fantastic interception.
Time wound down, Theo Walcott was brought on and couldn’t quite fashion anything and it looked as though we were heading for two dropped points and the shattering of our Title dream. Then, from nowhere, Denilson appeared in space, 30 yards out (missing presumed dead for the rest of the game. Utterly anonymous) and tried a pot shot straight at Myhill...
Now, when time and fitness allows, I play the odd game myself and am a goalkeeper. I never scaled the dizzy heights of the Premier League, obviously, but my odd appearance or two in the Spar Mid Wales Premier League when I was at University were the thing of Legend. And one thing it taught me was that if someone kicks the ball straight at you, you should catch it. It’s what those great big fucking gloves on your hands are for. However, if for whatever reason you can’t catch it, you divert it away from you, out of play, for a corner, throw-in, anything at all. However, Boaz Myhill never had to withstand the barrage that comes with going away to Llanrhystud as I had to and is not as learned as I. Despite the fact that Denilson’s shot went straight at him, Boaz decided to palm it straight in front of him. Not as though I’m complaining, though... it just meant the ball fell at the feet of the on-rushing Barry Bender who sidefooted it home, 93 minutes on the clock, start the car, so long and thanks for all the fish. Triumph in the face of adversity again, the mark of a winning team, cue me in some manky pub on the Holloway Road hugging a stranger and punching the air. Football is brilliant sometimes.
We now have a week off until we play West Ham, also at 5:30pm, this Saturday. And my God, do we need the break. We looked tired in places and the time off could be just what we need ahead of a packed last 2.5 months of the season where we are still fighting for the two main prizes on offer. With the talismanic Cesc Fabregas set to return and Tomas Rosicky also on the way back we should hopefully be stronger, and if Liverpool can somehow do us a favour at Old Trafford, and Blackburn kick Chelsea off the park on Sunday, I may dare myself to dream of glory once more.
Star Man: Nicklas Bendtner is going to be a world class centre forward at the age of 28, mark my words. He is often criticised for his prolificacy/ineptitude in front of goal, but anyone can have the odd day like that. His brilliant header against Stoke, hat-trick against Porto and the goal on Saturday showed the real Bendtner which is a player that never stops running, who isn’t afraid to mix it up, and who has made the centre forward’s role his own in Robin van Persie’s absence. His footballing intelligence grows with every game and his movements and positioning are excellent. He covered every blade on Saturday, made one and scored another, and was a constant nuisance.
Worst Performer: What is the point of Denilson? He seems scared to tackle, refuses to pass forwards, has no pace, a mediocre engine, is lightweight and easily pushed off the ball, and refuses to track back. He was anonymous on Saturday saved for his submission to Craig Fagan’s headlock, and his role in the winning goal was the footballing equivalent of a ‘Hail Mary’ to borrow American Football parlance. The sooner anyone at all is fit enough so that this clown can be dropped and shipped off in the summer, the better. Also, Arshavin didn’t do much apart from his goal, and seems largely disinterested. I can’t help but think that his World Cup ‘shop window’ failing to materialise and the stark realisation that he won’t get the move to Real or Barca that he intended to get off the back of his move to Arsenal has taken the wind out of his sails.
Best moment: It has to be the winning goal. You watch football purely for those moments, and you go through the tear-inducing 0-0 draws in the rain, the 0-3 defeats, the cancelled trains on the platform at Sunderland purely to experience the unbridled and indescribable joy that comes with a last minute winner. It’s a feeling like no other, allows you to legitimate throw yourself into the arms of a stranger knowing there’s no way back for the opposition. And the sigh of relief you breathe after celebrating at the final whistle is the greatest cleansing breath you will ever take.
Tactics: Can’t fault the manager, really. We have no Plan B as the Manager’s belief is that if you keep knocking at the same door someone will eventually answer. He was proved right on Saturday and the fact that we have now scored 16 goals in the last ten minutes of games this season suggests he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Chant of the game: Various chants about Phil Brown’s orangey goodness made me laugh and the news this morning that he has been sacked means the League has lost one of the great comedy managers. However, we will always have this... http://twitter.com/PhilBrownHull
Oppo fans: Like Rugby, whippets, flat caps and gravy.
David Oudôt, http://www.onlinegooner.com and http://taxloser.blogspot.com
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Stoke 0 - 0 ASTON VILLA
Well if anyone expected that to be a pretty game, they'd have been very
disappointed! Luckily I didn't, I expected a battle and that is exactly
what we got.
There was plenty of effort from both sides and over the 90 minutes Stoke
shaded the chances perhaps, but then we could have scored late on with a
James Milner free kick beating Sorenson but also sadly beating the target
and going just wide.
We need wins in the run up to the end of the season, so I wouldn't say I'd
have taken a draw at the start of the game but with the bad weather
conditions and the physical nature of Stoke (not a complaint against them,
it is all part of the game and they also can at times pass the ball around!)
we did well to hold on.
The first half I'd say we were equal but the second
half, as Villa so often do, apart from our defenders who were awesome
throughout, we just didn't turn up, there was no outlet and apart from the
occasional break, we piled way too much pressure on our defence. Luckily
they held firm.
Hey ho, a draw for us away from home is a better result than a draw at home
for Stoke I would guess but we really do need wins now until the end of the
season, 1 point doesn't really cut mustard if we do want 4th. I'll not be
banging my head against a brick wall though, I've not thought 4th was on for
a while... then the opti slaps me in the face and says we can still do it.
Football? It's a funny old game.
Star Man: The whole of the defence, Carlos Cuellar was the most exposed but
then he isn't a right back, Luke Young is a right back and yet MON insists
on positioning him on the bench. MON is the boss.
Worst Performer: Difficult one, Emile Heskey if you are looking for shots
(as he is a striker) is awful, if you look at him putting it about a bit, he
isn't so bad. Still wouldn't make my team I'm afraid, no matter what people
say, strikers should at least shoot, if not score.
Best Moment: Well, probably the final whistle, this game won't go down as a
classic, it never was going to be a classic.
Chant of the game: The continued calls for Gabby Agbonlahor to come on,
then when he was brought on, the chants for John Carew (following boo's for
not bringing off Heskey) who was brought off.
Oppo Fans: Think I read somewhere they are the loudest at home in the Prem.
Respect!
Jonathan 'no pies today' Fear http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk
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BIRMINGHAM CITY 2 - 2 Everton
This was a great game. Probably the best game at St Andrews all season. You wouldn’t have thought it from the first fifteen minutes but then Blues put on a ten minute master class of bad defending. After nineteen minutes Victor Anichebe (Who is enormous in real life) fired in an unstoppable shot past Joe Hart. Three minutes later Steven Pienaar had a break from throwing himself to the ground to put in a perfect cross that even Yakubu couldn’t miss. They could have scored again a few minutes later and it was looking like we were going to be on the wrong end of a hiding.
But of course I was forgetting the fighting spirit of the new Birmingham City. Five minutes later Jerome turned and got a slight touch on Keith Fahey’s cross, or possibly not and the cross just went straight in. Having now seen a few replays I’m still not sure. Blues then started to take the game to Everton but needed an excellent save from Hart to stop Baines’ free kick making it 3-1 at half time.
In the second half we equalised with a great goal from Craig Gardner, his first for the club. After that the game could have gone either way but 2-2 was probably a fair result. When you’re 2-0 down you’ll always settle for that. Everton are a good team so I don’t expect we’ll stay above them for much longer but at least we get to be eighth for another week. The only sour point for me was the people who sat at the end of my row who turned up late, left early for half time, returned late from half time and then left early disturbing everyone around them each time. They must have only seen three-quarters of the game. If you don’t want to watch the game…STAY AT HOME!!.
Star Man: A few candidates for this one. Jerome and Ferguson did well but I’m going to give it to Craig Gardner.
Worst performer: The referee who stopped the play twice when Everton players were down but allowed an Everton attack to continue when Jerome was lying injured.
Best Moment: Gardner’s equaliser.
Tactics: Bringing Gardner and Benitez into the starting line up proved to be a good decision.
Chant of the game: “Handball”. After the Everton fans got all upset that they didn’t get a penalty our fans responded with mocking cries of handball every time the ball hit anyone anywhere.
Oppo fans: A good number but went very quiet in the second half. Only seemed to have one song.
Mike, www.joysandsorrows.co.uk
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BURNLEY 1 - 2 Wolves
2010 does not look like being a good year for Claret!
This is now becoming a nightmare season for Burnley with yet another home defeat against a fellow struggling side. The trouble is we are gifting the opposition too many goals which we simply cannot afford to do at this level and we are being punished big-time for that. On Saturday it was Tyrone Mears chance to compete for the ‘Cock-Up of the Year ‘title. A horribly short headed back pass to the keeper was pounced on by Matt Jarvis who easily rounded Jensen to tap home into an empty net and put Wolves 1-0 up. When you are down, lady luck seems to desert you and there were certainly ample examples of that in this game but we can’t keep using that as an excuse. Individual performances have to improve and we need to gel again as a team. The nerves are kicking in and confidence and quality are both lacking at the moment and when you can’t beat a team that quite frankly were the worst to visit Turf Moor this season things begin to look ominous.
An average performance by the Clarets in the first half probably meant a few strong words from Laws at half-time in an effort to get them to buck up their ideas. They didn’t have much chance to try though and found themselves 2-0 down after just two minutes into the second half. This truly was bad luck in the sense it needed a deflection off Clark Carlisle’s bum for Adlene Guedioura's angled shot to beat Jensen for an own goal. That truly was a killer blow and it also killed the home fans spirit stone dead!
Everybody looks for positive things to say in these desperate times and in truth we did show some fight to try and get back in this game. Although not popular with fans at the time, taking off Eagles and replacing him with Thompson improved the shape of the team and we looked stronger in attack. Laws had also at the same time brought on Blake for Bikey and that also seemed to lift spirits on the pitch with Blake making an impressive cameo appearance.
At long last with 17 minutes to go the Clarets fans had something to cheer about when we pulled a goal back. It was Thompson who headed Burnley back into contention after diverting Graham Alexander's shot from the edge of the area past Marcus Hahnemann. It was all Burnley from now on but try as we could to get that equaliser it remained elusive as the bad luck element kicked in again.
Both David Nugent and Blake hit the woodwork and despite long spells of possession with attack after attack in the Wolves half the away side held on to get the crucial three points leaving the Clarets demoralised with relegation looking a strong possibility. We are now third from bottom three points adrift from safety with those around us having played fewer games. The problem for Brian Laws is that he has only won one of the last 10 games for the Clarets and the home form has evaporated with still no win away all season. The perception of Laws is also not being helped by the fact he was sacked at Sheffield Wednesday and indeed taking both clubs together he has only won one game in 22 matches this season. I really feel for Brian, he truly is a nice guy but unless the Clarets start to win and win quickly the calls for him to go are only going to increase more and more. Now is the time to get behind the manager and players but you just know in the real world that will not happen if results keep being so disappointing.
Star man: Yet another game where a ‘Black Hole’ award would be more appropriate. I would not say anybody deserved more than a 7 with the majority below 5. David Nugent got the fans official Man of the Match award so I may as well say him. A cameo appearance by Thompson and Blake are though also worthy of note.
Worst performer:
Fox continues to show he is more than capable of being our worst left back in the squad despite coming in the January window as the great white hope to plug the defensive problems down that flank. He was substituted though after struggling with injured ribs so maybe that had been affecting his performance.
It has to be said it was even worse on the opposite flank with Mears these days looking a shadow of his former self. Earlier in the season he was being touted as a potential England right back but what was he doing against Wolves? A terribly short headed back pass to Jensen handed the first goal to Wolves on a plate and not content with making gaffs in defence he is also proving consistently useless at taking direct free kicks so why do we keep giving him the chance, Brian?
Mears takes the award that nobody wants!
Tactics: Baffling comes to mind and Laws is very close to losing the patience of the fans. It is true he was forced to change things round for this match with both Kevin McDonald and Jack Cork in midfield out injured and Fletcher still not fit to play with his broken hand, but are we making too many changes in each game and unsettling the players? We are not just changing the players around but can’t seem to decide on the tactics and formation. Players that do well in one game seem to be dropped the next. Players that are dire keep their place. There is often no rationale that the fans can see and maybe it is time for some consistency. Ominous signs for the manager came when the Clarets faithful booed the manager from taking off Eagles to bring on Thompson. Just a sign of the tension and frustration I think, although Eagles was looking lively he just did not seem to have an end product, spurning the opportunity to pass often enough to players in a better position to score. The manager was actually justified taking this decision since play improved and Thompson looked more of a threat but he is walking a tightrope at the moment and badly needs a win if things are not going to turn nasty for him on the pitch. I abhor booing our own manager and for that matter the players, the negativity does not help your cause if you are trying desperately to avoid relegation but you can understand why some frustrated fans feel the need to vent their anger.
Chant of the game: The Fortress is no more at Turf Moor, there is no belief and you can sense the fans apprehension and concern. Going 2-0 down the crowd just went silent and the mutterings and mumblings about the failures of the board and manager simply gathered pace at an alarming rate. Spirits were raised a little when we got a goal back but there was still that doubt remaining. I don’t think I have heard one rendition of Brian Laws Claret&Blue army since the tonking away to Villa and that tells its own story
Oppo fans: Fair play to them they came in reasonable numbers and seemed to easily out-sing a quiet, tense and frustrated set of home fans
Best Moment: I am still trying to think of one two days later! Things are grim up north at the moment
‘Turfman’ Phil Lea, www.burnley.vitalfootball.co.uk
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CHELSEA 4 - 1 West Ham
As Florent Malouda trotted off to a standing ovation with 3 minutes left on Saturday, I know I wasn’t the only Chelsea fan thinking “about bloody time”.
The French winger has spent the entirety of his Blues’ career on the verge doing something great, before falling over or moaning that Frank Lampard plays more than him.
But suddenly, everything clicked and the former Lyon man had a blinder against a struggling West Ham side.
If Gianfranco Zola’s side continue at this rate, the Italian will become an even bigger hero at the Bridge for ridding the top flight of our dear friends from the East End… although the awful Ilan did have a great chance to put them in front early on, but set the tone for his day by skying it.
Alex was left unmarked to head home Malouda’s cross around the quarter hour mark, and we all thought it would be a stroll in the park from there, but fair play to the Hammers and Scott Parker in particular, they can fighting back and Parker’s goal was a great strike.
Two key things about it; firstly it shouldn’t have stood because of Kieron Dyer’s foul throw, but he doesn’t get much football these days so the rules must slip his mind sometimes.
Secondly no hard feeling towards stand in keeper Ross Turnbull, he had no chance with Parker’s effort had a quiet day in the end. He did make a good save late on and hopefully that’ll give him a boost ahead of the massive Inter game.
So after going level, Ancelotti clearly had a word or 2 with his players, I’m pretty sure the words ‘Arsenal’, ‘Man U’ and ‘title’ might have popped up, the players came out for the second half on a mission.
It took a great driving run from John Terry to open West ham up, with Drogba and Malouda combining to put Chelsea back in front.
Malouda then added a goal to his 2 assists, placing the ball into Rob Green’s corner from the edge of the box.
Green probably did his England chances no harm with his performance; he pulled off a fine save to deny Alex a second, but would’ve been disappointed not to have dealt with Lamps’ shot, as Drogba tucked home the rebound.
But England is far from the thoughts of Chelsea fans for now; we’re back on top (temporally for now) looking ahead to the Special One’s return on Tuesday night.
There’s no doubting the special one on Saturday though, step forward Mr Malouda, you’re a big game player now.
Star Man: Not that his name hasn’t been mentioned enough to put this page top of any Google searches for him, but Florent Malouda. I had a conversation with a friend of mine at the Arsenal game last month about his poor distribution of the ball. We had the same conversation back in 2004 about another Frenchman, a fringe player called Claude Make... something, it all worked out alright for him, Fingers crossed for the same again.
Worst Performer: I still worry about Mikel. My opinion on him changes week by week, almost as much as his form. Played some lovely passes today, but when he’s fed the ball he’s still as jumpy as a rabbit in headlights…on a trampoline.
Best Moment: The final minute or so of the game when the Chelsea fans and players started a game of Ole football. A great way to bring down the curtain on the game, almost as good as well you do it and you’re side actually score at the end of the move. But that only happens once every ten years or so.
Tactics: It finally looked like the Man City game was out of our system, The passing was crisp, even Herr Ballack looked bothered, and the width of Malouda made up for Ashley Cole’s absence. Joe Cole also looked back on form, and played like a man determined to impress… maybe the Spurs scouts were in??
Chant of the Game: “He’s taking West Ham down, Gianfranco Zola, la lala lala laaaa”, a seal of approval on his management skill for the Chelsea legend.
Oppo fans: Its their cup final really, and possibly the last time they’ll visit in the league for at least a year so they enjoyed it. Continue to hold a grudge against Lampard for no real reason. Admit it, you always hated him, calling him a traitor is bit silly.
Martyn Landi, Cfcnet.co.uk
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Birmingham 2 - 2 EVERTON
This one was almost a replay of this season's corresponding fixture at Goodison as the Blues, once again, let Birmingham back into the game when they looked dead an buried.
As with the Goodison game, the Blues were outstanding for the first 20 minutes and ragged Birmingham everywhere with some stunning football.
Everyone thought Steven Pienaar had opened the scoring on 17 minutes but his curling effort was palmed away by Joe Hart - the first of a few match-saving stops the young 'keeper pulled off.
Hart was at it again a minute later, clawing away a Tim Cahill header, but there was nothing he could do about Everton's opening goal.
Everton had been knocking the ball around nicely when Phil Neville picked up the ball on the right and fed it to Victor Anichebe just inside the Birmingham box.
The young Nigerian held off Liam Ridgewell then blasted a left footed screamer that nearly burst the Birmingham net!
It was like the ones that Hot-Shot Hamish used to twat in on a weekely basis in Roy of the Rovers!
Four-minutes later and it was two-nil thanks to another of Everton's Nigerian contingent.
Steven Pienaar twisted his way to the byline and chipped a delightful ball across goal that Yakubu steered over the line with his head.
It was a welcome goal for Everton's number 22 - well all goals are welcome really - as he's struggled with his form since returning from injury and, had he been given that chance last week he probably would've nodded it over, so poor was his finishing against Hull.
But he didn't and it was butterfly wings and delerium as the Blues looked like they were going to net another five goals this week.
Unfortunately the rout never materialised as, just like in the game at Goodison, no sooner had the Blues sailed into a comfortable lead than they let Birmingham right back into it.
There was no real danger as Keith Fahey clipped a cross from the right into the Everton area but Cameron Jerome stuck out a leg and got the merest flick on the ball which deflected it through Phil Jagielka's legs and had Tim Howard going down like Neil Kinnock on Brighton beach as it rolled into the net.
Cue collective groans and mumbles of "They'll bloody go on and win this now!"
Which wasn't quite how it panned out but Birmingham did earn the draw as Everton heads went down.
Birmingham pressed the Blues and took any fluency out of the game as they never allowed Pienaar or the excellent Mikel Arteta to use the ball as they had in the oepning period.
It may have been different had Leighton Baines' free kick gone in right at the end of the first half but, once again, Joe Hart was equal to the task and pulled off another fine save.
Things may also have been different ahd the referee given any one of two penalty appeals from Everton at the start of the second half, but he didn't and, somewhat inevitably, Birmingham equalised.
Again, there was no real danger as Cameron Jerome flicked on a long ball on the edge of the Everton box and there still appeared to be no danger as Craig Gardener picked up the loose ball.
But, to everyone's surprise - and probably his own - the home debutant hit a low shot that flew past Howard and it was all square.
"Well that's it now, we've blown this one!"
And we had! The game should've been sewn up in the first 20 minutes but some poor defending gave Birmingham a point and left Everton just floundering outside the business end of things.
The Blues had chances to win the game, notably through Tim Cahill who hit an awful shot when one-on-one with Joe Hart and proceeded to injure himself in the process, it was that sort of match!
But a win would've flattered Everton given their performance over the whole game and Birmingham are looking a lot like Everton circa 2004, difficult to beat and capable of griding out results in spite of not being the most prolific scorers.
Which isn't a bad place to be....unlike Birmingham itself!
Man of the Match: Leighton Baines - just shaded Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar. This Everton side really does have some great soccerball players!
Worst performer: Tim Cahill - hate to say it but he stank the gaff out!
Moment of the match: The send off for Landon Donovan, the man has been a revelation and we'll miss him!
Chant of the game: 'USA' - I hate that chant with a passion but it probably warmed Landon's cockles!
Les Roberts, www.everton-mad.co.uk
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Man United 3 - 0 FULHAM
After going through February unbeaten and earning Roy Hodgson the manager-of-the-month award, we now find ourselves struggling to get wins in March!
But, it’s fair to say that not many of us expected a result up at Old Trafford, after all we’ve only twice up there in our entire history.
Besides, although it might seem strange for a Fulham supporter to say – we’ve got bigger fish to fry than the Premier League at the moment!
Fulham defended like Trojans in the first half, players were getting in blocks, closing down forwards and throwing their bodies in front of the opposition, it was the perfect display of how to frustrate the opposition.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last very long in the second half. With the half time cup of tea still warming the throat United went ahead when Rooney scored from close range. Many thought it might now be a case of how many United would get!
But Fulham had a glorious chance to level matters when a ball split the central defence of Vidic and Ferdinand and Zamora was one on one with Van der Sar. Sadly the ball kind of got caught up in Zamora’s feet and the chance was gone.
As the clock began to run down, United proved their overall dominance adding two more goals. Rooney scored from close range after an assist from Berbatov and Berbatov expertly finished off a Park cross.
3-0! The same as at Craven Cottage, so can we call it all square?
Star Man: Mark Schwarzer – He may be getting older by the day but he’s still producing world class saves. What will we do when he hangs up his gloves?
Worst Performer(s): Danny Murphy – He looked a little out of sorts today and some niggling challenges could have seen him dismissed.
Best Moment: When Zamora escaped the clutches and was one-on-one with Van der Sar, it was only a fleeting moment though as Zamora never got around to seriously testing the keeper.
Tactics: Roy had his eye on the bigger picture and a chance of some silverware in the FA Cup or Europa League, today was always going to be a no-brainer result wise so let’s just move on!
Opposition Fans: Looked like Norwich City fans all that see of yellow and green. As an outsider I just love those Americans ruining that club!
Andrew Joyce, www.vital.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Sunderland 1 - 1 MAN CITY
Very much a game of two halves this one. City were awful in the first 45 minutes, and Craig Gordon was rarely called into action. We deservedly went in a goal behind. The second half saw a much improved performance, thanks in no small part to the introduction of Patrick Vieira and Adam Johnson. City created a host of chances, but a combination of poor finishing and saw good saves from Gordon looked to have won the game for Sunderland, until a sublime late equaliser from the mercurial Johnson earned City a well deserved point.
Star man: Even though he was only on the pitch for 20 minutes, Adam Johnson was our brightest player.
Worst performer: Both SWP and Roque Santa Cruz failed to impress.
Best moment: Johnson's equaliser. It was an incredible finish so late in the game, and he clearly meant it.
Tactics: Mancini deserves credit for having the ability to change things around when it isn't going our way, but equally you have to question why he consistenly gets it so wrong to start with, particularly away from home. Top four still seems beyond us.
Oppo fans: The atmosphere was pretty subdued, acombination of it being a Sunday game and Mother's Day.
Ric Turner, www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk
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MANCHESTER UNITED 3 - 0 Fulham
As the first sun of spring broke over Old Trafford Wayne Rooney's brace and a late Dimitar Berbatov header were enough to restore Manchester United to the Premier League summit. But as routine wins go, Sir Alex Ferguson's men worked pretty hard the three points.
The trip to Old Trafford is never an easy task for Fulham with just two wins from 29 visits but with just three days rest after a demoralising loss toJuventus it was near impossible on Sunday.
While Hodgson's well-drilled outfit frustrated the home side, once tiredness set in United took over to apply the pressure on Arsenal and Chelsea in the title race.
Man-of-the-moment Rooney added his 33rd and 34th goals of the season in a rare two man United attack.
Indeed, with at least four men piling forward at any given time United piled on the pressure in the early stages of the match with Ferguson's team dominating both possession and territory.
Nani, seeing plenty of the ball in the opening half, created a chance for Berbatov from the left that the Bulgarian headed wide. Then Rooney and Berbatov had opportunities to open the scoring in quick succession before referee Mark Jones denied a good shout for a penalty after the Scouser fell in the area.
But Fulham are nothing if not well organised by Hodgson who the home manager praised thoroughly in his programme notes. While conceding territory Fulham rarely looked panicked in defence.
The visitors created little but Clint Dempsey's long-range effort dipped just over Edwin van der Sar's bar with Gary Neville grateful that his wastefulness with the ball wasn't punished.
Any hope Fulham had of matching their win at Craven Cottage earlier this season ended less than a minute into the second period with Rooney converting Nani's left-wing cross inside the area. Nani, who had wasted a number of good positions earlier, finally delivered early as Rooney stroke home his 24th Premier League goal this campaign.
Nani, Berbatov and then Rio Ferdinand spurned chances as United failed to add a second. Ferguson's side almost paid heavily for their profligacy when the visitors' top scorer, Bobby Zamora capitalised on former United striker ErikNevland's through ball only for Namanja Vidic to make the late block.
Then, with minutes to go Rooney added the second after superb work by Berbatov on the right. The Bulgarian, rarely noted for his dribbling skills, beat two men before delivering for United's top-scorer to end any hope for the visiting side.
Then as the match ticked over into injury time Berbatov got the goal his performance deserved, nodding home from close range.
Star man: Rooney's double is almost par for the course these days but he was eclipsed by Berbatov on Sunday. It was a rare start for the Bulgarian who has suffered from the rare use of two strikers this season.
Worst performer: Neville was superb against AC Milan on Wednesday but perhaps two games in a week is too much for the ageing defender. His carelessness almost cost United a first half goal and Antonio Valencia a yellow card.
Best moment: Berbatov's outrageous attempt at an overhead sailed miles wide but shows the value of his inventiveness.
Tactics: Two up-front today and a really attacking formation was always goingto be too much for the visiting side.
Chant of the game: Vidic earned a round of 'Nemanja, wooooah, he comes from Serbia. He'll f***ing murder ya' with a solid defensive display.
Oppo fans: Shhhhh. It's far too civilized in Fulham to make any noise at a football match. Right?
Ed Barker, www.unitedrant.co.uk
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Chelsea 4 - 1 WEST HAM
Many might view the score line as inevitable! Others might even raise a chuckle or two! But for us Hammers fans it hurts!
To be beaten by Chelsea is bad enough but to take to the field with a starting eleven that left so many questions unanswered is simply shocking.
Just why did we not start with Carlton Cole and Alessandro Diamanti? Did we give up on these three points before the game had even kicked off?
At a packed Stamford Bridge it was the home side that drew first blood although it could quite easily have been the other way round if Ilan hadn’t been so keen to trouble the upper tier of the Shed End rather than the keeper!
But it wasn’t the case and when Alex powered home a cross from Malouda we knew it was going to be a long day.
But, for a few brief moments we were in cloud cuckoo land, Scott Parker picked up a loose ball some twenty-five yards out and thrashed it past a bewildered Chelsea defence and into the net. It was a goal of real quality.
All square at half time could we hang on to a draw, just like our last game at Stamford Bridge?
Well No was the simple answer.
Terry brought the ball out of defence, found that man Malouda again and his cross was met, firmly, by the head of Drogba. Just under an hour gone and we were back in the mire.
Even more so when after seventy-seven minutes Malouda drilled home a third from the edge of the area. It really was all over now and you just hoped the final whistle would come soon. Unfortunately there was still time for salt to be rubbed into our wounds when Green soiled a shot from Lampard and Drogba swooped to tuck home his second goal of the game.
Time to leave and time for a beer or two (or three, or four, or five…………)
Star Man: Scott Parker – Scored a wonderful goal and did remarkably well denying Lampard the time and space to get off those trademark long shots.
Worst Performer(s): Zola and Clarke – What were they thinking of starting without our two performers who have the ability
Best Moment: Has to be that remarkable strike from Scott Parker, a real beacon of light amongst the doom and gloom!
Tactics: I’ve always supported Gianfranco in everything he’s done but something was amiss on Saturday, almost as if the towel was thrown in expecting it to all end in defeat.
Opposition Fans – Never liked them at the best of times even more so now they’ve filled that place with glory-hunters!
Ross Charles, www.vital.westham.vitalfootball.co.uk
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