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Birmingham City 1 - 1 ARSENAL
For reasons that are still not apparent, our esteemed Editor elected not to print last week’s match reports [Sorry, I was partying in the Alps and my replacement was, well, a RETARD! - Ed]. Despite you regulars being devoid of your weekly football fix, you also missed the last sounds of optimism from this particular writer. After the victory-in-the-face-of-adversity against West Ham alst week, I had real hope that Arsenal would take the final steps to glory and that we would win the League. But that was all dashed by Kevin Phillips’ last-minute equaliser at St. Andrew’s on Saturday. The entire game showed up Arsenal’s collective and individual shortcomings in all their ‘glory’ and a painful wind-down into the end of the season where we inevitably get knocked out of the Cjhampions League by Barcelona, no FA Cup to play for, and the inevitable slump into third place awaits before another summer of frustration where the Manager promises to strengthen in several places and the only incoming turns out to be Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux, purely because he is free.
But what of Saturday? Well, we were poor. That’s the bottom line. In the absence of the suspended Thomas Vermaelen, Alex Song was redeployed as an emergency centre-half in a move that surely sounded the death knoll for Mikael Silvestre’s mysterious Arsenal career (injured, my arse), and Denilson was playing the anchor role in the centre of the park. Allegedly.
The first half was drab, with incidents few and far between. The recalled Theo Walcott pressured Roger Johnson into a poor header back to his goalkeeper, but the ever-brilliant Joe Hart was quick off of his line to thwart the diminutive England front-man. Apart from that, the only other hot spot was when Craig Gardner clearly went through the back of Cesc Fabregas without punishment from the ridiculously poor Howard Webb. Gardner’s initial tackle was good enough – he got all of the ball – but the guy clearly follows through and wraps both of his legs around Cesc’s in a scissors motion. This is clearly contrary to the laws of the game, and yet nothing is given. Craig Gardner is crap – that’s why he couldn’t get a game at Villa despite them only having 14-man squad, and why the only other team interested was a side that finds a place for Stephen Carr and Lee Bowyer in their starting XI, despite them both being years past their sell-by date. Gardner is symptomatic of the archetypal English journeyman midfielder – can’t really pass the ball, but has a good engine, and is well-drilled in the art of putting in ‘reducers’ on players who are better than him. If he was Argentinean the press would be all over him, painting him as a ‘Butcher’. Tackles like this, and their subsequent non-punishment by officialsdom both on and off the pitch serves only to force players like Ronaldo back to the Iberian peninsula where they are allowed to play the game without fear of having their legs snapped in half, and flair and skill is encouraged.
The second half started with a bit more urgency from both teams. Birmingham nearly took the lead against the run of play when a slow-paced header back across goal evaded the hapless Spanish waiter again masquerading as a goalkeeper, came back off the post and generic-Northern-centre-half conspired to knee the ball over the bar from a yard out when it seemed easier to score.
We then had to ensure Howard Webb’s latest short-story, ‘The Curious Incident of the Goal that was Disallowed for no Apparent Reason in the Midlands’. Cesc Fabregas is AGAIN scythed down on the edge of the Birmingham box and the ball falls to some Championship-dwelling no mark who is cleanly tackled by the much-improved Abou Diaby. A couple of seconds pass, Diaby turns on a six pence and rifles the ball past Joe Hart for 0-1 and no protests from the opposition. But somewhere in the middle of it all, Webb has blown for a free-kick. Exactly what for and whom against is a matter for debate, but I haven’t the foggiest. The only player that was fouled was Fabregas but the referee didn’t make a decision on that – no ‘play on’ gesture, no wave at Fabregas to get up... he did not make a decision. I have watched the replay a dozen times and there is no foul. Bizarre.
Wenger then made two substitutions, bringing Nasri and Arshavin into the fore, and it was the young Frenchman who appeared to have won the game for Arsenal with a goal of genuine delight and quality, dinking inside and past three players before sending a scorching daisy-cutter past the outstretched hand of Joe Hart with 9 minutes left. Cue pandemonium and the march to the Title continuing.
Or so we thought.
This Arsenal squad have been banned from owning dogs by the Manager until such time as they learn how to hold onto a lead (BA DM TSH!), and I shouldn’t really have been surprised when we conceded an injury time equaliser. I should have been even less surprised when it turned out to be a goal of total Keystone-proportions. It’s injury time. We’re winning by a single goal. So please explain how the opposition have more players in our area than we do? Please? Anyone?
Anyway, regardless of that, the ball was ping-ponging around in the box when Bacary Sagna finally puts his foot through the ball to try and send it to row Z, far away from his goal. Unfortunately for us, the ball hit Kevin Phillips in the back of the head, and it looped goalwards. Thankfully though, it was looping and going straight at the goalkeeper. But more fortunately for us we don’t have a goalkeeper. We have Manuel Almunia. The ball is travelling straight at him at a negligible pace, at head height. It was catchable. Hell, it should have been caught. So if anyone can please explain exactly why Almunia elected to parry the ball up in the air and, defying 36 separate laws of physics, behind him, that would be great. The ball then drifts agonisingly towards the empty net and Almunia regains footing to help palm it into his own net for 1-1, and our hopes of winning the League are wiped out in less than a heartbeat.
I blame the goalkeeper for the defeat and our falling away from the Title Race so close to the end, as I do the other part-time footballers like the uncommitted and cowardly Denilson, the decrepit and ill-suited Sol Campbell, and the plainly disinterested Arshavin. But underlying each of these players’ faults is the Manager’s faith in them and in the event we do finish potless AGAIN this summer, an inquest needs to be had because this annual bottling is unacceptable.
Wenger intimated at the start of the Season that this was time for his team of youngsters to step up, and they have failed to do so again. Changes are required.
Star Man: Alex Song was tidy enough at centre-back, following on from his masterclass against West Ham last week, and the Captain was again at the heart of everything good we do. But for me, credit needs to go to Samir Nasri who has had a great 2010 so far. Rested ahead of the Barcelona game on Wednesday, that itself was a sign of how important he has become to the Manager. He only 25 minutes on Saturday but he scored one and could have had another, as well as creating an opportunity for Arshavin. Credit also to Abou Diaby who, with a run of games under his belt, looks immense right now.
Worst Performer: Where to start!? As mentioned, the root of all evil at Arsenal is the goalkeeper who will surely go down in history as the worst we have had. Certainly the worst I’ve seen in the 22 years I’ve been going to watch my beloved Gunners. But it would be remiss to blame him solely for the defeat on Saturday. Sol Campbell and Denilson were equally as poor. I stated a few weeks back that of Sol Campbell were Philippe Senderos or Silvestre, there is no way the fans would afford him the patience that they do. He was slow at the age of 26, and the decade that his since elapsed hasn’t made him any quicker. He has also got bigger, and fatter, and developed a habit for putting his hands all over opposition strikers – Saturday was nearly the third penalty he would have conceded in his brief return to the Club and it might be time for him to pack it all in in the Summer, IMHO. But the real villain on Saturday was Denilson. Admittedly, he was superb in the second half last week when we had been reduced to 10 men, but he was cowardly bordering on criminal on Saturday. He is, simply, a scared little boy, caught in the headlights and is redundant in the Premier League when the opposition are set up to frustrate and kick you. He refused to put his foot in on Saturday and the sooner Wenger bites the bullet and ships him off to whatever Brazilian club will be foolish enough to take him off our hands, the better.
Best moment: You are kidding, aren’t you? Nasri’s goal was the only thing to smile about, but even that is overshadowed by our subsequent capitulation.
Tactics: No problem with the tactics. After all, we only know how to play one way. But his constant reliance on inappropriate personnel like those cited above is frustrating.
Chant of the game: Our boys sang constantly for 90 minutes – a credit to the Club and an example to the football-tourists who litter the Emirates every week.
Oppo fans: Sang songs about how great Watford reserve Martin Taylor is, and how the Arsenal Manager is allegedly engaged in nefarious, deviant sexual acts with young boys. UB40-listening, crab-paste sandwich eating troglodytes with no place in contemporary society, let alone a football match.
David Oudôt, www.onlinegooner.com and http://taxloser.blogspot.com
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Chelsea 7 - 1 ASTON VILLA
Worst defeat since 1964 (so I'm told, not checked myself). Villa got taught a lesson today, one that, with the money spent and time building the squad, we SHOULD NOT have had to be taught.
This was as bad a display as the score suggests and I see little profit in picking over the bones to be honest.
Villa have for the second season in a row, whimpered out of the running for 4th place, whether through tactics, fatigue or just the harsh fact that maybe we aren't as good as we'd like to think we are, I'm not sure right now
would be a sane time to reflect.
Credit to Chelsea, they'd not have dreamt of this result in a month of Sunday's but took full advantage.
Star Man: Are you having a giraffe?
Worst Performer: I've suggested that the entire team and coaching staff donate this weeks wages to Acorns Charity:
http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7504019
Best Moment: The final whistle.
Tactics: Sorry, not today... we lost 7-1, don't care who or what is to blame, this is not acceptable
Chant of the game: Villa fans sang from start to end, they did us proud, the team didn't.
Oppo Fans: Martin, give us a wave, Martin Martin, give us a wave. :o(
Jonathan Fear, http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk
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BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 - 1 Arsenal
First of all I'd like to start with an apology to Arsene Wenger. We are sorry that our pitch wasn't good enough for you. We are sorry that our players challenged yours and didn't just stand off and let you play. We are sorry that one of our players tackled Fabregas and most of all we are sorry that our late goal may have cost you a chance at the title that you have a god given right to win. Hope you feel better now Arsene.... now stop whinging!
As for the game it was an evenly contested match that Arsenal slowly to control in the last quarter. Of course it helps if you can bring on £30 million worth of talent rather than one bloke on loan and another who came on a free. It was the substitutes that made the difference. First Nasri was allowed to run unchallenged to the edge of the box and fired home a great shot past Joe Hart. Then Super Kevin Phillips got in ahead of Sagna and the ball was parried into his own net by the hapless Almunia. Another late equaliser from the battling Blues and the unbeaten home record continues. We now haven't lost at St Andrews for six months. Arsenal fans will say they had chances to make it 2-0 but in fact we had the best chance of the match when Roger Johnson hit the post and Scott Dann somehow managed to knee the ball over the bar from a yard out. He'll never be able to do that again if he tries.
This game had probably the best atmosphere we've had at home all season which was no doubt helped by the visit of the pantomime villain. Keep slagging us off Arsene, we'll keep annoying you.
Star man: Lee Bowyer was competitive in midfield and stopped Fabregas running the show.
Worst performer: No one really, although I don't see why Keith Fahey keeps getting picked in the starting line up. He keeps giving the ball away.
Tactics: Spot on.
Moment of the match: The goal followed by the deathly silence from the away end.
Oppo fans: Started complaining about everything after just 15 minutes which showed them up to be the spoilt rich kids we always knew they were.
Mike, www.joysandsorrows.co.uk
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Burnley 0 - 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS
This was the East Lancs Derby, the oldest rivalry in English football, where the form book usually goes out of the window. Not today though. Rovers, with only one away win all season, were quite comfortable against a Burnley side that, to be honest, didn't look that interested and Rovers easily secured a league double over their fiercest rivals.
Burnley played like their fate has already been sealed and Rovers didn't need to get out of second gear.
After five minutes of Burnley huff and puff, Rovers took control and Marin Olsen broke through to put the ball in the net. It was ruled out for offside, but replays showed he was onside. After twenty minutes, Olsen burst through again and was brought down by Jensen's outstretched boot - penalty!
Replays showed that Olsen caught Jensen's boot on his way to the floor. A lucky decision, but deserved.
Dunn sent Jensen the wrong way from the spot and that proved enough to win the game.
The stats show that despite all their possession, Burnley only had one shot on target, and to be honest, I can't even remember it! Rovers 'keeper, Jason Brown had an easy afternoon.
Derbies aren't great games, and this one wasn't a classic, but Rovers won - that's all that matters and they have now moved up to tenth in the table on 41 points.
Burnley fans were upset about the penalty decision but they should look at their team - no spirit, no fight, no passion. It was men against boys. I'm afraid they are going down and that means no more East Lancashire
derbies for a while. I'll miss them - and Rovers will miss the six points that they guarantee as well.
Star Man: Martin Olsen - moved from left-back to midfield and was Rovers' most dangerous player. Had two goals ruled out, secured the penalty, and brought a good save from Jensen.
Worst performer: Morten Gamst Pederson - was not as tenacious today and his delivery was terrible.
Best moment: The final whistle - A dire game but let the celebrations begin!
Tactics: 4-5-1 - Jason Roberts played up front instead of Kalinic and he did OK. Martin Olsen shone in midfield and supported Roberts all afternoon. Samba and the teenager Jones were solid as a rock in defence.
Chant of the game: "David Dunn is Blue & White, Blue & White, Blue & White, David Dunn is Blue & White, He hates Burnley!" - To the tune of "London Bridge is falling down".
Oppo fans: As nervous and disappointing as their team, with a complete lack of desire. It looks like they've already come to the conclusion that they are going down.
Pete Anslow, www.4000holes.co.uk
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BOLTON WANDERERS 0 - 4 Manchester United
With team news filtering through that United would be without Wayne Rooney, some of the pre-match hopes in the home stands had increased. The news of Rio Ferdinand's absense, however, was more disappointing as it meant a more capable defender would be filling his boots.
Neither side made any real impact on the game in the first half, with most of the game being played in midfield and both sides having half-chances every few minutes.
That was until Jlloyd Samuel picked out the far corner of the net with perfection. Ryan Giggs broke away down the left flank, crossed low into the area and under little pressure, Samuel panicked and put the ball past his own goalkeeper.
Bolton have picked up just one point from a losing position all season, a last minute penalty against Stoke back in September! The odds didn't look good but Wanderers responded well with Fabrice Muamba coming close a couple of times, only to be denied by the superb, but controversial, Edwin van der Sar.
The second half was more of the same until Dimitar Berbatov capitalised on a poor goalkeeping error from Jussi Jaaskelainen to tap home a second for the visitors.
From then on, the result was never in doubt for United. Nani twisted and turned Sam Ricketts before crossing for Berbatov to get his second and United's third. And the scoring was completed late on when Nani once again embarrassed Ricketts before this time pulling the ball back for Darron Gibson to strike home via the underside of the crossbar.
Five points clear of the bottom three with six games to go. We look safe but with Villa and Chelsea next up, we need to get one more win to push ourselves over the finish line and avoid any last minute panic.
Star Man: Jack Wilshere - The only player who looked up to the pace. Unfortunately he's not ours to keep.
Worst performer: Jlloyd Samuel - Many had called for him to be recalled to the side but his lack of match sharpness was clear to see, scoring an embarrassing own goal to open the scoring.
Tactics: Once again Owen Coyle played with his preferred 4-4-2 formation, but while Bolton were comfortable on the ball, they offered next to nothing in the final third and were second to almost every ball. United eventually took control of the game and picked us off as and when they felt like it.
Chant of the game: F*** off back to Norwich! In response to the silly Newton Heath scarves sported by the majority of United fans.
Oppo fans: Travelled in numbers but failed to make much noise. Seemed happy to protest against the owners once more, with chants and Norwich scarves a plenty. On the verge of a fourth successive league title, in the last 8 of the Champions League, Carling Cup in the bag and all they have to complain about is the owners? Get over yourselves because most clubs would happily swap places!
Best Moment: A certain United fan in the East Stand Lower was ejected by stewards. As he was doing so, he was pelted with punches from Bolton fans, with one bloke making a 50 yard dash to land a powerful uppercut. Amir Khan would have been proud!
Chris Mann, www.burndenaces.co.uk
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BURNLEY 0 - 1 Blackburn Rovers
Burnley put in yet another abject performance at Turf Moor on Sunday losing 1-0 in the big derby game against Blackburn Rovers. They fell to a controversial penalty after 20 minutes when Jensen was adjudged to have brought down Olsson. It clearly was not a penalty but despite the protests and consultation between referee, Mike Dean and his assistant the decision stood and David Dunn made no mistake from the spot-kick.
Yes a cruel decision but to be honest we deserved to get beat in this game. We were simply not at the races and that is what was so disappointing after all the derby hype from Brian Laws and some of the players. The team should have been up for this and shown some passion and grit but instead they played like something that rhymes with grit!
Seven shots on goal during the whole match with just three on target is simply not good enough and nor is the lacklustre performance in all areas of the park. I was ashamed of that performance and the players should be too. For heaven’s sake this was Blackburn Rovers! Playing like that was nothing short of disgraceful. To let Rovers fans keep the East Lancs bragging rights under those circumstances was a farce and no amount of positive spin from Brian Laws including whinging about the penalty will change my view. A 0-0 draw would have been a useless result anyway and we certainly never looked like winning it.
I seriously don’t know where our team has gone. These are essentially the same set of players that beat Manchester United, Everton, Sunderland and Birmingham at Turf Moor earlier in the season with such style and desire. They look a beaten side before they even kick-off these days and the fans seem to sense as much. Has Coyle taken their hearts and souls and left just their shadows? Are some too busy thinking about rejoining him in the summer or moving on in general? They just don’t seem to have enough spirit, desire and motivation to win under Laws even in such a high-profile derby as this.
Brian Laws clearly has problems motivating these players to perform to the quality required but at the end of the day the players must also share the blame for putting in such a poor performance.
I can take defeats, even against that lot from down the wrong end of the M65 but what I can’t take is that gutless performance. We expect better and when the final whistle went the silence from the Turf Moor faithful told its own story. That story was probably ‘The Life of Brian’, in this case the Laws variety. His record I am afraid has been shameful. One win and one draw in thirteen games tell its own story. A defeat to bottom club Pompey, defeats to Wigan and Wolves and now this against Blackburn? I was fearful that the crowd might take it out on Laws and the players but I think the fans were so stunned by that shocking performance they had no emotions left as yet another tragic comedy at Turf Moor came to an end. We are almost gone now and I don’t think any Clarets fan seriously believes we can recover from this and avoid relegation. Yes, of course it’s still mathematically possible but when you look at the team you just don’t have the confidence in them, something is missing, something is not working and Laws does not seem to have the answers.
I spent quite a bit looking at Barry Kilby in the Directors Box yesterday. Let’s face it; the action on the pitch was hardly riveting enough to hold your attention! His face said it all and you could almost read on his forehead ‘I just may have got this wrong!’ I will leave it up to you to decide what I mean by that but in the meantime I suggest all Clarets fans start singing ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ . We are after all being crucified by everybody at the moment!
Star man: Only one person showed the desire and aggression to win in this game and for the second match running we give our Star man award to Michael Duff who was head and shoulders above the rest of his team mates. He also picked up the fans texted Man of the Match award.
Worst performer: You can pick any of the players other than Duff!
Tactics: You can have all the tactics in the world but if your team doesn’t turn up they are all pointless!
Chant of the game:
Clarets fans had to leave Turf Moor with the echoing noise of the locked-in Rovers fans from the Cricket Field Stand shouting ‘We are having a Party When Burnley go Down’. We couldn’t even make a quick exit thanks to the Police cordons and that just seemed to sum up the day. Premier League? You are having a Laff!
Oppo fans: Something is clearly wrong with the atmosphere at Turf Moor these days. Although Clarets fans are still turning up in numbers, the enthusiasm seems to have waned and the singing sounds half-hearted at best. As Clarets fans trickled into the ground, the Rovers fans shepherded into Turf Moor early en masse straight off the convoy of coaches were already in fine voice. In all honesty 2400 Rovers fans seemed to drown out 19,000 Clarets fans for most of the game and their taunts made it a miserable day for anybody wearing Claret & Blue. I just wonder what demoralising effect the Rovers fans singing ‘Owen Coyle da der da da’ had on the players. If anything it should have stirred them up to fight but it didn’t.
Best Moment: There simply wasn’t one!
‘Turfman’ Phil Lea, www.burnley.vitalfootball.co.uk
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CHELSEA 7 – 1 Aston Villa
Almost exactly a week ago we Chelsea fans were down in the dumps. We’re simple creatures us football fans; we tend to live on the emotions of the moment, not looking back or forward.
So off the back of a shocking performance at Blackburn and a gutless performance against ‘His’ Inter side, things weren’t looking good.
But 6 days 2 games and 12 goals later our backs our up once again, and in real style.
The Pompey game was a strange one. I’ve felt unsatisfied by a 5-0 win, its incredible. We were poor, but Portsmouth are just that bad, they practically scored them for us, helping out like some sort of carer for the elderly, giving us a gentle push in the right direction.
Saturday was completely different. There’s no doubt there were nerves inside the Bridge in the build up. After all Villa were the side who, back in September beat us with set pieces and put doubt in our minds that have lingered all season.
And when John Carew equalised plenty of people around me started shifting uncomfortably in their seats. If only we knew…
The stars of the day were without question Flo Malouda and Frank Lampard, and the two combined to give Chelsea the lead.
The Frenchmen drove the ball across the area and Lampard slide in to turn it past Friedel.
Carew then scored in a similar fashion before the also impressive Zhirkov exchanged passes with Malouda before James Collins clipped him, easy penalty.
UEFA delegates would’ve spat out their espressos, surely not a penalty to Chelsea?! You see boys, its not that hard to blow a whistle and point at the white blob…
Needless to say Lampard dispatched it and The Blues never looked back.
If it had been a contest in the first half, it was anything but after the break, and for the first time in almost a month the football from the home side was fast flowing and creative.
Malouda rounded off a great move to make it 3; sweeping home Zhirkov’s cutback after great build up involving Deco, Lampard and Anelka.
Then, just in case those UEFA fools missed the first one, Zhirkov was brought down again, and the result was the same as Lampard drove home the spot kick. That was Frank’s 150th Chelsea goal, bringing him level with the great Peter Osgood as Chelsea’s third highest all time scorer. Nothing else needs to be said.
Lamps then combined with Ferreira and Anelka to allow Malouda to keep his great scoring run going. All this and still 2 more to come!
First Kalou slotted home after Anelka had led the Villa defence a merry dance, and then Lamps got his fourth and the final say on an incredible day.
Now for a stat attack; Chelsea now average over 3 goals a game at home, and exactly 2 away. But this is an interesting one, in 6 games without Didier Drogba, The Blues have scored 24 goals… does Carlo Ancelotti risk leaving him out of the massive clash at Old Trafford next weekend even after Nicolas Anelka’s wonderful display? Easy answer; play them both and push for a win that could hand Chelsea the title.
Star Man: Frank Lampard just keeps on doing it. 20 goals for the last 6 seasons now, the man is neigh unstoppable. Honourary mention to Zhirkov, Malouda and Anelka. All of whom played out of their skins in a great second half.
Worst Performer: Mikel. Still a waste of space.
Tactics: It's not coincidence that Chelsea’s return to fluency has coincided with Ballack laying out his beach towel on the bench. Deco is better in that role and having Joe Cole starting was a welcome extra dimension down the right.
Best Moment: watching the Villa fans in the half empty away end scarper back in the stand to avoid the apocalyptic rain in the second half.
Best Chant: “Boring, boring Chelsea” was thick with the irony only the terraces can provide.
Oppo fans: Noisy, but disappointing to see so many blue seats for a side who want to taken seriously.
Martyn Landi, www.cfcnet.co.uk
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Wolves 0 - 0 EVERTON
Though the Blues have looked ace of late, there was always a feeling that we'd get nothing more than a point out of this match.
Which is exactly what we got.
Wolves have been in a good bit of form themselves lately, with two wins and a draw from their last three games, and they were determined not to lose this one.
But they couldn't have had any complaints had they lost as Everton were the better side and fashioned the better chances, but the Wolves players threw themselves at everything with Jody Craddock having a particularly good game.
The big centre half had the measure of Louis Saha all game.
But, such is the Frenchman's quality, the one time he did escape his marker he made a chance out of nothing, turning on the edge of the box a thundering a shot off the crossbar.
Had Marcus Hahnemann got a touch on it it would've taken his hand off!
By that point the Blues should already have been one-nil up after a neat one-two between Steven Pienaar and Saha culminated in the South African squaring the ball accross the box to Leon Osman but his shot was too weak and too close to the 'keeper who stuck out a leg to divert the ball wide.
And that was pretty much how the rest of the game played out, Everton creating half decent chances but not being able to finish any of them!
Osman had another couple of good chances blocked and then crossed a delightful ball in to Saha but, again, Craddock did enough to put the Frenchman off and the ball ended up in the crowd and not the net.
Everton were clearly missing Mikel Arteta who missed the match with a thigh strain suffered at Man City in the week and his replacement, Jack Rodwell, never really got into the game at all.
Everton began to get more desperate as the game wore on, as did Wolves defending, and the Blues seemed to create about 10 decent openings in the last few minutes but still couldn't find a way past Hahnemann.
Dan Gosling, on for Leon Osman, had a good chance after he latched onto a Tim Cahill through ball but the youngster touch one touch too many and Hahnemann smothered the ball and clattered the youngster.
Gosling played on but is due to have a scan on his injured knee... more knee troubles, brilliant!
And even when Everton did find away past America's second best 'keeper the ball still wouldn't go in as Cahill's overhead kick in the dying minutes was cleared off the line by Craddock.
He really was a pain in the arse all game!
So it's two points dropped really and we've let Villa and the Shite off the hook with that one...normal service is expected to resume against West Ham next week!
Star man: Leighton Baines - another brilliant example of how to play at full back. Fabio Capello was watching this one and must be thinking that he could do a lot worse than have Baines as his first choice left back!
Worst performer: Jack Rodwell - he didn't have a particularly bad game, he just never really got going and it was a poor performance given the high standards he's set this season.
Best moment: Jackie Graham's half time gig, oh we partyed like it was 1985!
Tactics: David Moyes approached the game as he did at City on Wednesday night but when the onus was on Everton to attack - they really were like the home team in this one - they just couldn't really cut it without Mikel Arteta!
Les Roberts, www.everton-mad.co.uk
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Hull 2 - 0 FULHAM
And so our dismal Premier League away record continues with yet another defeat, this time at the hands of mighty Hull City and Iain ‘Davros’ Dowie.
Now normally I’d be aghast at the thought of losing to such a low-life team but there’s a whiff of something else in the air, is there not.
Ironic that we should suffer a defeat at a port when we’re contemplating far bigger fry to fry, namely European fish in the shape of Wolfsburg this Thursday.
Obviously aware of such glory ahead of us (Sir) Roy Murphy decided that he’d not risk several of his weary first eleven and instead would flood the starting eleven with fringe players.
Okay, on the surface if may have appeared to have back-fired and Hull might have won but if our luck hadn’t been out then Zoltan Gera could have had two goals.
As it turned out that vanquished hero, Jimmy Bullard, just had to be the perpetual villain with a smile on his face. Booed by the travelling support he was the one who sweetly struck home the penalty, on sixteen minutes, after Chris Smalling pulled back Jozy Atidore. Thoughts of a second half revival were blown away when Craig Fagan looped a header home but do we care? Not really, bring on the big bad German wolf!
Star Man: Zoltan Gera – Revelling in his role as a striker and could easily, bar for two excellent goal line clearances have had a brace up at the KC Stadium!
Worst Performer: Sorry, but with bigger and better things on their minds I’ll not blame anyone for having an off day! Best Moment – Getting home and talking about the Wolfsburg game.
Tactics: Spot on, as usual, from the most under-rated gaffer in the Premier League, Gentlemen Roy, why play your stars when there’s not much at stake and we’ve a cracking Europa League tie to come this Thursday!
Opposition Fans: They thought they’d won the league the way they celebrated the win, a word to the wise caps, most teams beat us at home!
Andrew Joyce, www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk
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LIVERPOOL 3 - 0 Sunderland
Well that was a lot better.
After the team didn't turn up at Old Trafford last week, yesterday was an opportunity to right a few wrongs and get back into the winning way.
For a long time, Liverpool fans have been decrying the need for two defensive midfielders at home. Lucas and Mascherano are both players I like, just not in the same side. Yesterday we lined up with more attacking intent. The back 5 is picking itself due to injuries presently (with everyone fit, Aurelio would come in for Insua in my team...) with the impeccable Reina and Agger back playing which helps our cause no end having a player that can bring the ball confidently out of defence. Mascherano seems to have settled more and this is evident in his play, his partnership with Gerrard yesterday was very good as they dominated midfield and played the ball with speed.
We tore into Sunderland from the first whistle yesterday and it was great to watch, whilst begging the question - why haven't we seen more of that this season?
Babel has justified his starting place in the last couple of weeks with a lot more commitment than previously seen. I actually saw him tackle and chase back yesterday. Who'd have thunk it? If he could align his evident skill with a little more of a football brain, we could have a player there. Too often he commits men on a mazy dribble and should release the ball into space but holds onto it, allowing the opposition to reclaim possession. It is better from him, though.
Maxi and Kuyt also played very well and were both at the heart of most of our good stuff yesterday. This was definitely Maxi's best performance since joining the club and he was unlucky not to have scored with Gordon making a fine (one of many, to be fair) save.
Which leads us on to the boy Torres. Nando didn't cover himself in glory last week at Castle Greyskull with acts of petulance and missing chances he would normally have buried. Not taking anything away from his header though, which was class. Yesterday he was back to his normal self, playing with a smile on his face and filling defenders (rather than penalty spots) with terror. His first goal was sublime and it was placed in the only spot that would have beaten Gordon. Overall though, his play was better and we were seeing him run at defenders and some great close control that has been missing this season.
3-0, whilst a good result, could have been a lot better if it weren't for some poor finishing and superb goalkeeping. Goal difference could prove to be key and we will have to take chances like that if presented them again and especially in tight games, which I think Sunday's will be.
4th spot is still a long way off and Spurs are deservedly in the box seat presently with 4pts lead and a game in hand. City also have a couple of games in hand on us (both of which look quite winnable for them) and they have to play Spurs at home also. I wouldn't write Villa off just yet however it remains to be seen just how much effect that spanking will have on them.
I had a horrible premonition around Oct last year that we would face Chelsea in the penultimate game of the season needing a win, which would hand the title to the Mancs. Nothing I have seen recently dispels that fear.
Star Man: Got to be Torres after his goals, however it could have been any of 5 including Gerrard, Maxi, Agger or Johnson
Worst Performer: One of those days where there wasn't one that should be highlighted. We were either 'that good' or we have been used to watching muck all season. Probably the latter.
Best moment: Torres' strike after 3 mins. World class.
Tactics: Played 4-4-2 against opposition that we should attack. I hope this becomes the norm. Too often we concentrate on stifling other teams when we have shown we can attack other teams and should let them worry about us.
Chant of the game: "Steve Bruce has got a big fat head" merging into "He's got a head like a Beachball". True. Apt. Current.
Oppo fans: Their beachball japes were a bit late after we totally embarrassed the mancs when they tried similar last year.
Keith Barkley, www.liverpool.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Bolton Wanderers 0 - 4 MANCHESTER UNITED
In recent history Sir Alex Ferguson's gamble in resting Rio Ferdinand, Park Ji-Sung and most pertinently Wayne Rooney at Bolton Wanderers may have backfired. But this is a Bolton side with a softer core than under Ferguson's close friend Sam Allardyce and United ran riot to regain the Premier League lead despite the absentees.
With the Scot insisting Rooney's knee is not a worry, despite the England international missing training this week, the forward's absence was something of a surprise. But with two games against Bayern Munich, sandwiching the visit of Chelsea to Old Trafford in the next week, fitness protection was the name of the game.
Ryan Giggs, restored to the starting line-up, provided support to Dimitar Berbatov in attack with Nani and Antonio Valencia offering width from the flanks. It was all too much for Bolton in the end, although the score didn't tell the story of a match in which the home side offered a real threat.
But first United created multiple chances in the opening minutes with Fletcher's cross from the right and Berbatov's flick at the near post to forcing a save from Jussi Jaaskelainen and then Jonny Evans blasting over moments later.
Not that the visitors had it all their own way with Nemanja Vidic making a last-ditch tackle to deny the home side and Edwin van der Sar providing a strong hand to stop Johan Elmander's near post shot in the opening quarter.
Berbatov and Giggs then worked an opening only for the Welshman to fire just over. But the veteran's left-wing cross forced the opening goal for Ferguson's side moments later as Jay Lloyd Samuel put the ball in his own net for the 11th own-goal of United's season.
Bolton continued to offer a threat and van der Sar, at nearly 40, produced a wonderful save to keep Ferguson's side in the ascendancy.
The game ended as a contest 15 minutes into the second half after Valencia and Giggs worked an opening for Darren Fletcher, with the Scot's shot blocked by Jaaskelainen, only for Berbatov to fire home on the rebound.
Now United opened up Bolton at will, with Nani offering brilliance from the left. First the Portuguese skinned Sam Rickets to offer Berbatov the Bulgarian's second of the night with 20 minutes to go. Then the winger cut in from the left to provide Darron Gibson with an opportunity to finish with a trademark flourish.
Next to Munich with Ferdinand and Rooney likely to return despite the "minor knocks" suffered by the pair this week.
Worst performer: In truth nobody let United down today, although the 4-0 scoreline didn’t reflect the true difference between the sides.
Best performer: Nani produced two sublime pieces of skill to skin Rickets on the left wing. He has talent in abundance, if the former Sporting player can find some consistency we have a potentially top class player.
Best moment: Nani’s jink down the left and cross for Berbatov to poke home United’s third. A day after the Portuguese winger signed a new four-year contract, he showed why Ferguson has kept faith when many fans lost it over the past two years.
Tactics: 4-5-1. At times Berbatov has felt isolated when the Bulgarian is deployed as the lone front-man. But Giggs kept close on the Welshman’s return to the starting line-up. Two strikers is seemingly a thing of the distant past.
Oppo fans: They turned up for their cup final – well at least some of them. Why was there a massive block unsold when so many Reds missed out on tickets?
Ed Barker, www.unitedrant.co.uk
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Spurs 2 - 0 POMPEY
Pompey's woes go on
Anyone remember Harry Redknapp's cry of 'Bare bones' just around every transfer window? He would know the true meaning of the term if he were to look inside Pompey's dressing room right now: Wilson got crocked in training to join Rocha and Smith from Wednesday, and they were soon joined by Hermann Hreidarsson, Danny Webber and David James on Saturday.
The hacks will have called this a semi-final dress rehearsal, but Pompey were fielding the only bodies we had available, 3 youth players were on the bench and they may well have a part to play by the end of the season.
It has been noted in the forums that Pompey's starting 11 added up to a total transfer outlay of £1M, surely the cheapest squad in Premiership history!!
Spurs, however, could afford to leave the red-hot form of Pavlyuchenko, all £14M of him on the bench. He sat alongside Younes Kaboul who was the first name on Pompey's team sheet in January.
Well, Pompey's rag and bone men went about their task against the Bentley and Rolls Royce set rather well in the first half hour, Spurs were not settling and Vanden Borre playing in an advanced role nearly broke the deadlock. He combined with Piquionne and had only Gomes to beat, but the Brazilian beat his shot away when he should have scored.
Within 10 minutes though Pompey had undone all their good work. Bale was allowed to progress down the wing unchecked and centred over Mokoena right onto the head of Peter Crouch who opened the scoring and celebrated in front of the Spurs fans.
This lifted Spurs who had been struggling to find their feet, Huddlestone almost doubling the lead, he smashed in a shot which crashed against the bar and came to Crouch, his shot was more directed, but he too found only woodwork.
Spurs were not to be denied however, and it had to be Kranjcar who scored, Modric's deflected shot coming to the Croatian who flicked home, his celebration was muted however in respect to his former club.
Pompey should of had a lifeline before half-time, Kanu's flick found Brown who chested the ball up unmarked and Gomes smothered his effort.
Again on chances alone it should of been 2-2, but Pompey lack quality where it matters most.
The second half was a stalemate, Spurs had done enough, and Pompey had the stuffing completely knocked out of them when Hreidarsson went down unchallenged clutching his Achilles, his season is over and his career must be in the balance.
Danny Webber replaced him and Vanden Borre slotted into the back four, Pompey now had Finnan and Mokoena as centre backs, the situation was more desperate than ever.
Webber left the same way as the man he replaced, on a stretcher receiving oxygen. In one week Pompey have four players carried off with serious looking injuries, James joined then, hopefully as nothing more than a precaution.
(MATCH REPORT WRITTEN BY PAULTSMOUTH.)
Star man: Tough call, in all honesty as with so much of this season the 'real quality' was lacking, although the effort and commitment was there from all from the first minute to the last. I would go for Michael Brown though, put his foot in where he had to and got forward in to good attacking positions and on another day could have had a couple of goals.
Worst performer: No one, I saw 11 players, that started, and the 3 that came on, give all they could - that for me is enough to tell the truth. As I have to give it to someone I would say the overzealous stewards and the police!
Best moment: We enjoyed the game, that is what we wanted to do so that was a highlight. Had this been 'worst moment' the countless injuries picked up and the fact that Crouchy celebrated his goal would have been up there. Again though, as I have to opt for something, or someone, I will give it to Kranjcar - earned respect from me for NOT celebrating his goal, so hats off to the guy.
Tactics: Let's be fair to Grant here, he basically had around 17 players to select from, 3 of these were kids on the bench so all in all, given what he had to work with, can you knock it!
Chant of the game: There was not really anything that outstanding, plenty of singing constantly going on though. We gave a few good comebacks to the occasional burst of song the home fans gave, but, as much as I dislike the song now, perhaps for the 'annoying value' of it to them I would say 'when Sol went up to lift the FA cup we were there, we were there'...
Oppo fans: Spurs fans did not do a lot, whereas we went for the entire 90 minutes. For a home side, pushing on for a 'top 4' finish at that, I thought it was poor.
PLAY UP POMPEY!
Rug, www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk
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SPURS 2 – 0 Portsmouth
Premier League wins ought not to feel as hollow as this. Long before the end, this had the feel of a pre-season friendly, as the needed three points seemed assured, and sympathy for Pompey’s plight took over. A procession of injured Portsmouth players leaving the field brought it home: just what else could go wrong for the visitors?
I don’t think it was just us fans either. Several of our own players (not to mention the manager) have links with Portsmouth, and Peter Crouch seemed to confirm the suspicion that we’d gone easy on our opponents, when he said later on TV that we’d taken our foot off the gas in the second half.
So it was a strange affair really, and the eight minutes of injury time that had to be played left me feeling faintly embarrassed, since half of the stadium had emptied by then, provoking scathing comment from the Pompey fans. Sympathy is not an emotion that sits well within a football supporter’s breast, so let me assure everyone that, come the visit of Arsenal to the Lane next month, we’ll be back on our best partisan behaviour.
Considering the wider story and the whiff of tragicomedy that accompanies it, the actual match seemed almost an after-thought. That we won it was crucial, since we have a daunting April ahead of us. Winning it comfortably didn’t prove too taxing either, with former Pompey boys Crouch and Niko Kranjcar scoring the goals before half time. Kranjcar’s muted celebration again hinted at a less than merciless frame of mind.
Pompey played some bright football in the first half and threatened twice, but found Gomes equal to the task. Gareth Bale was again in rampaging form, and whether you play him at left back or left midfield, he still performs astonishing feats of acceleration and strength to burst through the opposition’s defence and cause havoc. From a typical run he provided the cross for Crouch’s headed opener. There was an accomplished debut from Kyle Walker at right back, and he was heavily involved in the build up to the second goal.
After that, everything petered out as first Herman Hreidarsson and then Danny Webber left the field on a stretcher, and David James hobbled off as well, leaving Portsmouth down to 10 men. Bizarrely, all of these injuries happened without a Spurs player even being close. Maybe these Pompey boys need to eat more Shredded Wheat?
We meet them again in the FA Cup semi-final next month. I suppose it would be disingenuous to say I hope it’s a better match than this was, because getting to the final is the only important thing. Charity does, after all, begin at home.
Star man: Gareth Bale – staggering power, and top notch quality too.
Best moment: At 1-0 we had a corner that was cleared to Tom Huddlestone. He struck a fabulous shot that almost snapped the crossbar; the ball bounced out to Peter Crouch, who planted an equally stunning strike across David James and onto the post. Amazing stuff with James a mere spectator.
Tactics: We paired Eidur Gudjohnsen with Peter Crouch up front, with Pavlyuchenko resting his hamstring on the bench; Wilson Palacios was also rested because he is close to his 10th booking and a 2-match ban; Kyle Walker came in for the injured Corluka to make his debut in defence. It was the usual 4-4-2 with Bentley and Kranjcar, as well as Bale, providing width. Opposition fans: Terrific – they were the real stars of the day .
Best chant: Two from Pompey: ‘Always look on the bright side of life.’ And seconds from the final whistle, surveying a half empty stadium: ‘Is there a fire drill?’
I quite liked our ‘Pay up Pompey, Pompey pay up’, as well...........
Andy Knaggs, www.spurs-web.com and www.gloryfootball.com
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WEST HAM 0 - 1 Stoke
Woeful are we, woeful are we!
Gold and Sullivan must be seriously regretting dipping there hands in their pockets to save us. With the word relegation banded about and being described as Armageddon for the club results suggest that it is something that is going to, rather than could, happen.
Six straight Premier League defeats, with three of them at Upton Park to the giants that are Bolton, Wolves and Stoke do not auger well for our future! How does that saying go – You couldn’t buy a win? I’m not we’d have the ready cash to even if we wanted to.
So what about the game? Well West Ham huffed and they puffed but when you’ve a team packed with players that seem to have forgotten how to perform as a team life is always going to be hard.
Therefore it came as no real surprise when Ricardo Fuller, almost with his first touch, weaved his way past Da Costa and Upson to smash a shot past Green. In our current predicament, there’s not even a way back from 1-0 down!
Never mind, things can get better next week as we seek to avoid defeat number seven with a tasty little trip to Goodison Park to take on in-form Everton!
Star Man: Scott Parker – If only we had a team full of Scot Parkers! Well ten really and Robert Green in goal. Scott is the one shining light amongst a tray of torches with flat batteries at the moment, I wonder if he’ll still be around come next season.
Worst Performer: Mido – Has nobody ever taught him he has to run and that the game does not revolve around him standing still waiting for the ball?
Best Moment: Was there one?
Tactics: Gianfranco Zola is a beleaguered man! It doesn’t matter who he chooses to start, they invariably let him and themselves down. Would I be surprised if he walked away? No!
Opposition Fans: After four straight defeats they danced and sang as if they’d won the cup much to our disgust as we wanted to suffer in silence!
Ross Charles, www.WestHam.vitalfootball.co.uk
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