ARSENAL 1 - 0 Wolves
Last minute goals make or break weekends. It’s a science. I was on a Boys’ Weekend last time out and had to rely on my BlackBerry to break the news that Arsenal had scored 10 minutes from time and were then robbed of victory in injury time thanks to the hapless Almunia. Despite the copious beverages that followed my mood was soured and the weekend effectively wiped out. On the contrary, this weekend was the total opposite, and Nicklas Bendtner put a smile across my chops that has been there throughout Easter Sunday, even despite my brother getting concussed at a Rugby match and my knee still killing me despite the Doctors assuring me it would be better by now. Nothing could stop my utter delight at our last minute winner. Thanks, Nicky.
We started with a skeleton line-up as a result of the exhausting draw against Barcelona on Wednesday night, and the second leg that is to follow this Tuesday. Seven changes in all, and you know that Arsene is shuffling his pack when Eduardo and Silvestre both start. I’m not sure whether Wolves repeated the trick from their trip to Old Trafford and played their own second string as their players are all shit and I wouldn’t know which were first choice and which were reserves. With the possible exception of Sunderland I have not seen a worse team at my ground this Season.
So, of course, we made an utter dog’s breakfast of it. As always, we started brightly and in the first ten minutes could have been three goals to the good. However, as has become de rigueur for this Arsenal side, we never score in the opening exchanges, and Eduardo missed two decent opportunities. One ‘effort’ with his unfavoured right boot led me to wonder whether if Martin Taylor had broken that leg in two places rather than the left foot, would the diminutive Croat have been able to play on?
Theo Walcott looked menacing as always and put three balls across Hahnemann’s goal which were begging for Nicklas Bendtner to get on the end of. Unfortunately for us, Nick was on the bench and we instead watched Eduardo ‘do his thing’.
The second half was more of the same. Walcott creating half chances, but Arsenal suffering badly from fielding a team of reserves and first teamers with more than half an eye on Tuesday night, as well as the lack of Cesc Fabregas who has confirmed his status this season as one of the world’s pre-eminent attacking and creative forces in God’s own game.
The turning point came when Karl Henry went through the back of Tomas Rosicky with an awful challenge and was rightly sent-off. Despite the protestations of Messrs Hansen and Lawrenson on MotD on Saturday night, this was a red card. Henry was late, went through the back of Rosicky with both feet and the tackle was plainly dangerous. Whether you like it or not, a dangerous tackle is punishable by dismissal, so the hapless Andre Marriner was left with no choice but to send Henry off.
After that, we continued to flirt around the edge of Wolves’ area, Walcott scuffed a half-chance wide, and Hahnemann made two stunning saves from Rosicky and then Nasri. It looked like it was going to be one of those days.
Then, when all hope seemed lost, in the 94th minute, Walcott found some space on the right wing and released Sagna who, after 31 previous league games of terrible, TERRIBLE crosses, finally got one right, finding Bendtner’s forehead perfectly, and the languid Dane powered a header back from whence it came, into the corner, and the entire ground erupted. We went berserk. Yes, it might have only have been Wolves with ten men. Yes, it may have no effect on Chelsea’s charge to the Title. Yes, it will neither help nor hinder us on Tuesday in the Camp Nou, but a last minute winner is the greatest feeling in the world and I loved it. I screamed myself hoarse over the next 10 minutes, and it is moments like that that completely validate the hours we put into watching our teams.
We now have 10 days until we play Spurs away from home. Chelsea’s win over United would suggest they have the League all but wrapped up - their only ‘difficult’ fixtures of note being a trip to White Hart Lane to play a Spurs side who were handed their arses yesterday by Darren fucking Bent, and Liverpool. Who are a standing fucking joke.
Arsenal probably won’t win the League and whilst I wouldn’t rule us out completely, I wouldn’t expect us to. But in this season of all seasons, when Wigan can beat Chelsea and United can ship goals against Burnley, anything is possible…
Star Man: Nobody was particularly outstanding on Saturday, but the game changed with the introduction of Bendtner and Nasri. Fabregas’ sorrow could turn out to be Nasri’s gain, as the young Frenchman (who is the same age as Fabregas, lest we forget) has impressed when given the licence to play in the advanced central role. In his ten minute show on Saturday he made three or four winding runs in and around the Wolves defence, and created two clear-cut opportunities. Nicklas Bendtner, for me, gets better and better with every game. The kid has so much talent it is untrue, and has developed a knack for scoring vital goals. What price more on Tuesday…?
Worst Performer: Martin Taylor didn‘t just break Eduardo‘s leg on that ill-fated day at St. Andrew‘s. That really was the day the music died. Despite showing glimpses of promise on his initial return to fitness last season in the FA Cup games against Cardiff and Burnley, 2009/10 has not been kind to Eduardo and he is a dimly-lit shadow of the player he was before his injury. Bereft of pace, touch and confidence, his only goals this year have been tap-ins, and he has lost all clinicality in and around the area. Presented with two gilt-edged opportunities on Saturday, one was hit straight at the keeper, and the other hopelessly spooned wide. With Chamakh arriving in the summer, van Persie returning from injury and Bendtner improving daily, you do have to wonder where Eduardo will fit in next season.
Best moment: Last. Minute. Winner.
Tactics: He played the Reserves and we won 1-0. You can’t really argue with that.
Chant of the game: The guy sat two rows behind me hilariously kept shouting “NNNNGGGHHHHHHEEEHHWWWW!!!!” every time Denilson got the ball and pretty much summed up how we all felt. However, on turning around and seeing that the poor fellow had Down‘s Syndrome I realised that I am a bad, bad man.
Oppo fans: There had more fans there than Barcelona yet failed to make any noise whatsoever. It was almost surreal. Although most of them seemed to have their mouths open wide as they looked up at the planes and the big stadium they were in for most of the game. Bless.
David Oudôt, http://www.onlinegooner.com and http://taxloser.blogspot.com
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Bolton 0-1 ASTON VILLA
Have to be honest, I was not at all bothered about how we played who scored
and when, I just wanted to see Villa come home with a win after 'that'
result the week before and hey presto, we did just that.
I had pictured a dull hoof ball battle against Bolton and did fear a draw
but to be fair, the first half especially, wasn't a bad game and did have
end to end action, albeit Bolton never really looked like threatening
Friedel. The goal was sublime by Ashley Young and that was basically it for
the game!
The second half, as you would expect for a home team, Bolton took
the game to Villa more but still failed to really threaten.
We also had a great chance to put the game beyond the Trotters when Gabby
went one on one with the keeper but sadly - and not for the first time this
season - he fluffed his lines shooting wide when getting it on target looked
an easier thing to achieve. He HAS to start burying these chances, if he
does, then he'll be a 20 goal a season striker and might just push his way
into regular England call ups, if he doesn't then it is down the road of
Joachim and Vassell before him.
We wanted a win, we needed a win, we got a win. No complaints.
Star man: Ashley Young, great goal, nearly scored a carbon copy later and contributed in the match well. Worst performer: Downing was a bit 'flat' and his crossing has sort of gone astray recently. Think he'll be a different player next season after a full pre-season with the squad.
Best moment: Really one of those games when the final whistle is the best moment purely because the points were all that mattered to get over the ... can't even say the score of last weeks game, especially as we face the buggers again next Saturday at Wembley!
Tactics: We won, that is the end of it. Some fans were questioning this that and the other, as us fans all have a tendency to do but for me 3 points = all was ok!
Chant of the game: The Villa fans singing MON's name very loudly following the daft reports in the week that he had resigned!
Oppo fans: Difficult to comment, they didn't really turn up! ;o)
Jonathan Fear ... http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk
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BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 - 1 Liverpool
Another big crowd filled St Andrews on Sunday for a game that had been put back to give poor Liverpool an extra day's rest. In the first half they looked like they could have done with a couple more. In fact both sides played as if they had eaten a few too many Easter eggs in a mostly forgettable first half. The only highlight was a finger tip save by Joe Hart that pushed the ball onto the cross bar. In fact the half was so dull that included in the highlights shown on the big screen at half time was a throw in!!! Blues were showing Liverpool far too much respect and defending too deep.
The second half sparked into life early on as Steven Gerrard was given too much space in the penalty box and he put the ball into the far corner. As usual Blues have to go behind before they start playing and it wasn't long afterwards when James McFadden twisted and turned and put in an excellent cross that Liam Ridgewell forced into the net at the far post.....off his shins! It's amazing how often Ridgewell can just wonder into the box like that without anyone noticing him. There wasn't a Liverpool player anywhere near him, I assume they just don't see him as a threat. It was Ridgewell again not long after who got free down the left again and put over a nice cross to the unmarked Lee Bowyer in the six yard box. Unfortunately he completely fluffed his volley when it looked easier to score. To give him credit he did keep trying to make amends but it just wasn't his day.
After 65 minutes Rafa Benitez decided to take off Torres and put on David N'Gog which at least gave the home crowd the opportunity to have a good boo. We haven't forgotten how he dived to win a penalty in the reverse fixture in November. Fortunately for us he went on to miss the two good chances he had late in the game which Torres would probably have taken. I do agree that Torres did look tired though. Alex McLeish on the other hand does not see the need for too many substitutions at all and the only he made was to bring on Phillips for McFadden who left to a standing ovation. Our manager just plays the same team every week and makes the same subs. Never in football has one man achieved so much by doing so little.
Last up a trivia question. What have Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City all have in common. They have all left St Andrews disappointed this season. That's six months unbeaten at home now. Watch us lose the record by losing to Hull.
Star man: James McFadden. Our only creative player. His play for the goal was brilliant.
Worst performer: I'm really not sure what Keith Fahey brings to the team at this level. He is clearly just a defensive appointment as other than one cross he didn't offer anything in an attacking sense.
Tactics: A bit too defensive for me. Liverpool are not a great side and we looked a lot better when we took the game to them. In the first half we just stood off them too much.
Moment of the match: The goal closely followed by Torres being taken off too early.
Oppo fans: They didn't do anything really noteworthy so I'm going to talk about the two fans sitting next to me instead. Why do people come to football only to moan and complain. These two were particularly bad since they didn't seem to know the rules of the game either. Of the two the lady was the worst and I very nearly turned to the bloke and said “Can't you tell your missus to shut up”. It was lucky I didn't as I found out later it was his mum!
Mike, www.joysandsorrows.co.uk
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Portsmouth 0 - 0 BLACKBURN ROVERS
Rovers had to settle for a point on the south coast in a goalless encounter at a muddy Fratton Park.
Despite only drawing against a depleted Pompey side, Rovers are now unbeaten in four games and have only conceded two goals in the process, but Portsmouth were there for the taking.
Rovers dominated for most of the game and twice hit the post. Maybe Lady Luck was not with us despite all the chances created and missed and the weather was atrocious which made the pitch resemble a bog – but it was the same for both teams.
When Pompey’s Vanden Borre was sent off in the second half for two bookable offences, Rovers scented victory, but for all their efforts it was not to be.
Maybe Big Sam should have been a bit more adventurous, but if Portsmouth had sneaked a late goal he would have been crucified.
It’s another point on Rovers' travels, but they'll be making the long journey north wondering quite how they didn't pick up three.
Star Man: All of the defence played well, but I think Phil Jones just edged it. What a prospect!
Worst performer: El Hadj Diouf – Slow, slow, slow slow, slow. It was cold and wet though.
Best moment: Gael Givet’s header off the line when it looked like Jamie O’Hara was bound to score.
Tactics: 4-5-1 – same old trusted formula, but the pitch nullified any passing moves today. Yes, Rovers did try to pass now and then but they picked the wrong day!
Chant of the game: “Down with the Dingles, you’re going down with the Dingles!” Nearly 1000 Rovers’ fans made the long trip and certainly made themselves heard.
Oppo fans: Portsmouth fans are among the most passionate in the Prem, but even they were drowned out by the rain!!
Pete Anslow, www.4000holes.co.uk
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BOLTON WANDERERS 0 - 1 Aston Villa
After two defeats without even scoring, Bolton were hopeful of catching a
Villa on an off-day and with maybe one eye on their FA Cup semi final next
weekend.
Unfortunately it was Bolton who looked like this side and after Ashley
Young made his seasonal contribution of scoring against us once again, the
result never really looked in doubt.
Gabriel Agbonlahor had a chance for Villa and Tamir Cohen wasted a couple
of shots for us but there wasn't really anything to shout about.
The biggest talking point came from a drop-ball late on when Agbonlahor
was put through on goal. Luckily, he missed his shot but Jussi Jaaskelainen
was booked for his protests after it looked like the Villa striker was
yards offside!
Those frustrations seemed to boil over at full time when Jack Wilshere and
Ivan Klasnic were booked for their part in the after-match handbags, with
Young getting away with his part when he appeared to trip the useless
Vladimir Weiss to the floor.
Another defeat, another blank infront of goal and Chelsea away next. Oh
what fun it is to be a Wanderer!
STAR MAN: Jack Wilshere - In a game where any flair was hard to come by, Wilshere was a class above the rest but only because the rest were a class below what they should have been!
WORST PERFORMER: Sam Ricketts - He's played everywhere across the back four for us, but his natural right-back position seems to be his worst. Another poor show from a guy who had recently improved.
TACTICS: Owen Coyle once again went with a 4-4-2 formation, but opted to pick Paul Robinson and Sam Ricketts at full-back. That double decision left Bolton wide open for the most of the afternoon as Villa domainated down the flanks.
CHANT OF THE GAME: The crowd were just as bad as the action on the field.
OPPO FANS: Disappointing away support again. Rare chants of "Villa Villa Villah" were heard along with chants for John Carew, but not much else.
BEST MOMENT: The after match brawl at least brought an eventful moment to
the game!
Chris Mann, http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/
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Manchester United 1-2 CHELSEA
Get those blue ribbons ready, we’ve won the league! Okay, so maybe it’s not as simple as that, and although it was billed as a title decider, the title is still five games away from being decided. But on Easter weekend, we’ve resurrected our title hopes and we look ready to take on the world and beyond. Chelsea better than Jesus? Too right, he can’t handle crosses.
Pre-match nerves were heightened somewhat with the news that the one-man battering ram Didier Drogba would start the game on the bench. Nicolas Anelka has his own special talents, but he hasn’t scored since ‘Jesus times’ it seems, and didn’t even get on the scoresheet in our 7-1 win over Aston Villa last weekend.
Nevertheless, Anelka and co started the game with a feverish pace and did all the early running. At times though, it did appear to resemble what it would look like if two bricks were continuously thrown at each other, with neither party willing to give an inch to the other.
Suddenly, Chelsea’s pressing paid off in spectacular style. Florent Malouda, Manchester United players bouncing off of him as he ran down the left wing, managed to squeeze a low cross into the near post, where Joe Cole met it with a ridiculously cheeky finish, backheeling past Edwin van der Sar. Not enough for him to earn that megabucks contract he supposedly wants, but enough to put us 1-0 up in the biggest game of the season.
We continued to push, and we even saw a case of ‘our penalty shout was more of a penalty shout than yours’, when Gary Neville (nickname from Chelsea fans omitted, but safe to say it rhymes with hunt) threw himself at Anelka in the box shortly after Ji Sung Park threw himself over Yuri Zhirkov’s leg at the opposite end of the pitch. Just another day in the life of Mike Dean, as Neville’s blatant foul was completely ignored.
1-0 was enough to take us into the break, and shortly after the restart we almost doubled our lead. Cole played a delicious ball into the box, and accepting the gift Paulo Ferreira took a touch to take him through on goal. But then he remembered that he is Paulo Ferreira, and instead of thumping the ball past van der Sar, he sort of passed it wide of the far post. Was it a shot? Was it a pass? Who knows? It was just Paulo Ferreira’s attempt to play football, and we love him for it.
That effort was to be one of few for us in the second-half, as United pushed us back at every opportunity, and we seemed content to just give the ball back to them whenever we (rarely) won it. Despite that, Petr Cech was never seriously troubled, no matter how many times he seemed determined to come flying off his line with no concerns as to where the ball actually was.
But Carlo Ancelotti still had an ace up his sleeve in the shape of Drogba. Seeing as we couldn’t keep possession in their half, it was an obvious time to bring on the sticky-chested Ivorian to help hold the ball up. A few minutes later, and we were 2-0 up.
Blatantly offside, Drogba ran on to a through ball from fellow sub Salomon Kalou, and powered a shot past van der Sar. Were you watching Paulo Ferreira?
Another sub tried to steal the headlines minutes after, with United’s Federico Macheda (still living off his two goals from a year ago and threatening to take over from Geoff Hurst in those regards) bundling in from close range to drag United right back into it. Squeaky bum time is an understatement. As many Chelsea fans are probably still clenched right now, just in case.
The usual four minutes were added on, but other than a scuffed volley from Dimitar Berbatov which Cech easily dealt with, we managed to hold on.
A hard fought win, a league double over United, and perhaps a title in the bag. As it’s Easter, do I get away with saying it was egg-celent?
Star Man: There are shouts for Malouda and Cole, but the main plaudits go to John Mikel Obi. He has his share of knockers, but he was almost Makelele-esque today.
Not as Good Performer: After such an imperious performance last weekend, Frank Lampard was very quiet at Old Trafford, but he still had his part to play and therefore can’t be called the ‘worst’.
Best Moment: Despite the two goals, despite the ramifications of those two goals, despite the fact that we scored one of those goals when Drogba was about the length of one of Roman Abramovich’s yachts offside, and despite the fact that United didn’t get given a penalty when so many refs would have yielded to the crowd’s catcalls, the best moment comes in quote form. Peter Drury, on one of those dodgy internet streams from America that no-one watches because they’re illegal and that, managed to get away with saying this about John Terry: “The harder they come, the harder he gets.”
Indeed they do Peter, indeed they do. Tackles of course…what did you think he was talking about?
Tactics: We were a bit overrun in most of the second-half, but we controlled the first and played well on the counter when our backs were against the wall. Would have been nice to see another 7-1 though…
Chant of the game: Gary Neville just doesn’t make friends easily does he?
Opposition Fans: Got their side going in the second-half, but same Old Trafford atmosphere as usual really.
Rowan Farnham-Long, www.cfcnet.co.uk
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MANCHESTER UNITED 1 - 2 Chelsea
For the second time this season Manchester United lost to Chelsea in controversial circumstances with the officials' decisions pivotal in handing Carlo Ancelotti's side all three points. Chelsea's 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, much like the Londoners 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in November, earned with a goal that should never have been.
Substitute Didier Drogba's 78th minute winner, lashed past Edwin van der Sar at the near post, stood despite the Ivorian being at least two yards offside. In November Chelsea profited from John Terry's header following a highly dubious free-kick.
This time Mike Dean's performance at Old Trafford was among the worst Sir Alex Ferguson's side has suffered in recent months. The result, with just five games remaining, hands Chelsea a two point advantage in the Premier League title race with a superior goal difference to boot.
In truth United's limitations, as they have been all season, stretched well beyond incompetent officialdom with the home side lacking either drive or invention during a first half that Chelsea dominated.
The home side struggled to retain possession for the second game in a row, with none of the home Ferguson's three central midfielders able to create a platform for lone striker Dimitar Berbatov. On this evidence, it is not unfair to suggest time is catching up on the last of United's golden generation, with Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville each poor.
Chelsea took the lead on 20 minutes with the superb Florent Malouda running past Darren Fletcher and Neville before delivering for Joe Cole to flick home the opener. It was no more than the visitors deserved for far greater endeavor.
Berbatov cut an isolated figure with neither Giggs, Antonio Valencia nor Park Ji-Sung able to get close enough to the Bulgarian to offer support. Yet Dean denied the South Korean a clear penalty after the Yuri Zirkov felled the midfielder inside the area on a rare foray forward by United.
With the half-time hairdryer suitably employed United finally took the game to Chelsea as the home side piled forward in search of an equaliser. On the hour Berbatov headed just wide from Giggs' cross in United's best effort of the match to that point.
But with Drogba held in reserve by Ancelotti the big striker was always going to have a say in the outcome. With 12 minutes remaining the former Marseille forward delivered Chelsea's denouement. It mattered little to the visitors that Drogba was yards offside.
Federico Macheda's goal, bundled in off his midriff minutes later, set-up a tense final 10 as United threw everything at Chelsea in the knowledge that defeat could mean the end of this season's Premier League aspirations.
Liverpool-supporting Referee Dean, who gave Blackburn a dubious penalty last weekend after a deliberate dive by Martin Olsson, has been under intense pressure this week and Sir Alex Ferguson, asked if this had affected the official, admitted his pre-match concern about the Merseyside referee's appointment.
Its a fair point. If Dean was pulled out of the 2006 cup final because of his Liverpool affiliations then why should he referee a match in which his teams greatest rivals play?
Worst performer: Time is no friend of Gary Neville. He has done an amazing job to force his way back into the side after two years in the treatment room but now is the time for fresh legs.
Best performer: Nemanja Vidic had a solid game and kept the visitors chances to a minimum.
Best moment: Super sub Federico Machedas goal gave us all hope. It may have brushed the teenagers arm but it wasnt deliberate and his arm was by his side. He needs more time in the team now.
Tactics: 4-5-1. Dimitar Berbatov was isolated with none of Ji-Sung park, Ryan Giggs or Antonio Valencia able to get close enough to the Bulgarian. Hes a wonderfully talented player who cant play up there on his own.
Chant of the match: JT took some abuse as he should. Hes a cretin.
Oppo fans: For a team that has won two titles in 50 years theres an amazing arrogance about Chelsea fans. Thisll probably be there year again.
Ed Barker, www.unitedrant.co.uk
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Everton 2 - 2 WEST HAM
Well we didn’t win but the elation at taking a point from Everton, at Goodison Park, will last for a long time, now whether it’s a point that will contribute towards a total that is enough to see us stay in the Premier League remains to be seen.
Before kick-off we were unfortunate to lose the services of Valon Behrami who felt a re-occurrence of an injury that had seemed non-apparent during the fitness test he’d taken that morning, his place was taken by Junior Stanislas.
The Hammers started well, defending in numbers and with a resolution needed in the circumstances we find ourselves in. Sadly, an individual error was to see us fall behind with 24 minute splayed. Jonathan Spector got no distance or power on a headed clearance and Tim Cahill gleefully nodded the ball back into the danger area for Bilyaletdinov to score from close range.
Despite the set back, West Ham should have been level by half time. Howard Webb was convinced that Distin had fouled Carlton Cole as the two tussled in the box, much to the bemusement of the Everton faithful. Mido stepped up to take the kick and his low shot was expertly turned away by Tim Howard. Justice was, in all honesty, seen to be done.
West Ham started the second half at a greater tempo and it wasn’t long before we were level. Mark Noble had performed wonders to hit the crossbar with a shot and when he sent over the resulting corner there was Da Costa on hand to somehow stab the ball home. All square and a point was ours.
Sadly, with five minutes to go that resolute rearguard was breached. Spector saw a clearance blocked and when the ball was worked to Baines on the opposite flank his excellent cross was headed home by Yakubu. Was there anyway back for West Ham, off course there was.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, Julian Faubert galloped down the right and sent over a perfect cross for Ilan to launch himself to head home, 2-2 and that precious point was ours again.
Star Man: Scott Parker – Once again Scott was magnificent, driving us forward and winning the ball time after time. Sadly a tenth yellow card of the season will mean that he’ll not be available for our next two games. Who will step into those formidable boots?
Worst Performer: Jonathan Spector – Sorry mate but when two individual errors contribute toward two goals your card is marked!
Best Moment: The moment when Ilan launched himself and made contact with that magical cross from Faubert, it had goal written all over it. Tactics – Gianfranco Zola upped the tempo in the second half and the team responded to his wishes. In the end we could even have nicked this one. Plus, wasn’t it nice to see the boss with something akin to a smile on his face again!
Opposition Fans: Thought they’d nicked it with five minutes to go but were shocked by our fighting spirit. West Ham out-sung them for large portions of the game and the away support should be congratulated for that.
Ross Charles, www.WestHam.vitalfootball.co.uk
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