Wigan Athletic 3 - 2 ARSENAL
Well, at least we can start making arrangements for the End of Season Party now. It’s a sad indictment of how this Season has turned into a wet fart in the wind that Tottenham’s will come after ours as Arsenal capitulated to perhaps their most pathetic defeat of the season against a team struggling against relegation and which boasts Titus Bramble as a starter. Yesterday was unacceptable and should set alarm bells ringing in Wenger’s ears, if they have not done so already.
The team that went out was a curious one, with Craig Eastmond starting his second Premier League game, Conor Henderson on the bench, and Edaurdo nowhere in sight despite being fully fit. We also had Lukasz Fabianski in goal as the Spanish Waiter has apparently got a ‘wrist injury’ – insert wanking joke [HERE].
The first half was all Arsenal. Well, by and large. Wigan offered absolutely nothing and we passed the ball around nicely enough without ever really threatening save for a Barry Bender half-chance which went straight at Chris Kirkland. Then, out of nowhere, Theo Walcott showed us a glimpse of his awesome potential. Barry Bender plays a perfect ball through to Walcott whose quick feet make space for himself. He then muscles a defender off the ball and slides the ball through Kirkland’s legs. A truly wonderful goal and Arsenal go in a goal up.
Second half, and Arsenal decide they want to finish the game quickly. Bendtner, the architect in chief, playing Diaby through on goal and rather than blasting pass the ball past Kirkland, the hapless, languid streak of piss tries to chip it instead, and the Wigan ‘keeper claws it away. However, from the resulting corner, Mikael Silvestre of all people finds time and space and places a perfect header past Kirkland for 0-2 and we’re suddenly coasting.
IN THEORY.
What happened next brought back memories of the West Ham game at Upton Park before Xmas when we displayed how NOT to hold on to a lead. We didn’t know whether to stick or twist, and our band of unmotivated, self-centred, completely detached from reality, overpaid chancers masquerading as professional footballers allowed a very poor Wigan side to come back into the game. Our midfield simply gave up. Eastmond may prove to be a footballer in time, but was ill-suited to the situation owing to his total inexperience. So it was up to the likes of Diaby and Nasri (relatively senior players) to stand up and help. They did not.
Wigan were allowed the freedom of the park, and merrily passed the ball around, poking holes in our wafer-thin, out of form and half-decrepit defence regularly. It was only their poor finishing that stopped them from making a quicker comeback than that which ultimately transpired.
However, into the last ten minutes, and we’re still two goals to the good. Surely we can ride the storm out for this period, no? Well, no. Firstly, the ever decreasing Sagna is left on his bum and a ball is poked across the box for the on-rushing Ben Watson to plant the ball UNCHALLENGED through the legs of Clichy and the ‘goalkeeper’. 1-2, but only 8 minutes left. Surely the danger can be averted?
No.
Wigan then laid siege on the Arsenal goal and save for Campbell, nobody seemed to know what to do. But 7 minutes later, we’ve just about seen off the danger and all we need to do is not concede from this corner and we should be fine.
So we concede from the corner. In hilarious fashion. Ball comes across and Fabianski tries to catch the ball despite there being five players around him. In this situation you’d be entitled to expect your goalkeeper to make the right decision and punch the ball away for safety’s sake. Instead we see this buffoon try and catch the ball and inevitably drop it... on to Titus Bramble’s head for 2-2. Actually unbelievable. A point away at Wigan. Really? REALLY?
Well, no. Not even a point. In the last seconds of injury time, Hugo Rodallega skins Gael Clichy (there should be a Facebook group called’ I’ve skinned Gael Clichy!’ It’d have 1500 members or something), plays the ball across to Charles N’Zogbia who skips past Silvestre like he wasn’t there (incidentally, there is a poll on the OnlineGooner website at the moment as to whether our centre back for the next game should be a) Mikael Silvestre, b) a cardboard cut-out of Mikael Silvestre; or c) Frank McLintock. As he is now. Frank is about 40% ahead) before planting a shot in off the post which Fabianski does
Star Man: Oh, do fuck off. At a push, Sol Campbell, Nicklas Bendtner and the first 45 minutes of Theo Walcott’s performance can get the bus back. The rest can fucking walk.
Worst Performer: Where to start? Nobody covered themselves glory (unless you spell glory ‘F-A-I-L’). Perhaps special ire should be reserved for Gael Clichy who is going backwards quicker than you can say ‘Shit,ManYooaregoingtofuckingwinthis?howdidthathappen?’. Devoid of attacking flair, defensive stability, positional awareness or any basic footballing aptitude at the moment. I can’t help but think he’s got a Kieran Gibbs voodoo doll at home.
Best moment: In the game? None. The final whistle at a push.
Tactics: The manager looks more bereft of ideas than his players, which is very worrying indeed. We didn’t look like holding onto the lead, and we didn’t look like winning once they scored the first goal. Worrying times at the Emirates. The only question is whether he has the balls to have the clear-out and rebuild that we all know he should. Time for the likes of Denilson, Eboue, Diaby, Eduardo and Vela to be shown the door, and better players brought in.
Chant of the game: Don’t care.
Oppo fans: Like rugby and pies.
David Oudôt, http://www.onlinegooner.com and http://taxloser.blogspot.com
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Portsmouth 1 - 2 ASTON VILLA
What a bizarre game. The first half was so strange, it seemed both sides were in some sort of mad pre-season friendly giving strikers loads of room and inviting shots! Pompey got first blood through Brown, his first for Pompey in two stints... but I wasn't worried at all ... ahem, (he lies). It was an entertaining affair and we had several penalty claims which on another day we'd have got for sure. The equaliser for Villa - having missed a few chances it has to be said - was a nicely worked goal slotted in by John Carew who was given way too much space. Bish bash bosh, back of the net! As said, a couple of pen claims came and went, one for Petrov making a bit much of a David James contact, the other a stone wall penalty for Gabby being brought down. Strangely the decision was given as a free kick AGAINST him! We got one awarded to us though, which John Carew missed!
As the game wore on, despite knocking on the door most of the second half, it looked like yet another (costly in relation to the season) draw from Villa. However Martin O'Neill brought on young prospect Nathan Delfouneso who got - as all good strikers do - into the right place at the right time to slot home his first Premiership goal. Pompey tried to get back and had their fair share of chances throughout the game, however Villa held on to get the very much needed 3 points.
Star Man: Ashley Young and James Milner excelled. Just hoping they do the same for us next season and not for another team!
Worst Performer: Has to be that bloody bell ringing at Portsmouth. That noise drives me crazy.
Tactis: Who am I to question the messiah?! He got us the three points, that is what counts. The substitution worked as well, set up by Heskey as well which is rare!
Chant of the game: Champions League, you're having a laugh. Bit harsh from the Pompey fans but maybe a point well made!
Oppo Fans: Pompey fans are always good value, loads of noise, the drums and bell (arrgggh) adding to it. Play Up Pompey, hope they win at Wembley and return to the PL quickly.
Jonathan Fear, http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk
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BIRMINGHAM CITY 0 - 0 Hull City
I'll start with a question. You are the manager of a team that has not won in six games and in their last game got spanked 5-1. The team that has done so well this season is beginning to look very tired. Do you
a) Make changes to the personnel and formation for the visit of the team in 18th.
b) Do absolutely nothing.
Yesterday our manager decided to do nothing and just sent out the same squad as before with the same instructions, or possibly no instructions at all. He didn't even use all his substitutes despite the worst Blues performance for quite some time. In the first half we created a few chances although Hull had the best one which brought a smart save out of Joe Hart. In the second half almost nothing happened. I can't remember a single incident and while I usually criticise fans who leave early I think this time they had the right idea. In fact they could have gone at half time and not missed anything. If I'd gone early I could have got back in time to watch Dr Who although that was disappointing as well. It turned out to just be a 45 minute advert for new Dalek toys, not what I expect from the BBC. Anyway back to the game...no, can't think of anything else to say about this yawnfest. I'm surprised that Hull didn't make more effort though as they could have easily secured a crucial three points but seemed happy with just the one. The referee didn't help either blowing up for little fouls but missing a two handed shove by McShane on Jerome that would have given us a penalty. We didn't deserve to win though. If this is what being safe early does for you I'm hoping for a relegation battle next season.
At least our unbeaten home record is still intact. Star man: Not many to choose from but I thought Scott Dann came back well from last week's horror show with an assured performance. Worst performer: Just about everyone else except the goalkeeper. Fahey stunk the place out as usual. Tactics: None. I don't think the manager could be bothered to make an effort for this game.
Moment of the match: When the fourth official showed that there would only be three minutes of injury time and then the torture would be over.
Oppo fans: Came in good numbers, more than I was expecting and made a lot of noise. It was one of those games when you had to make your own entertainment.
Mike, www.joysandsorrows.co.uk
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BLACKBURN 2 - 3 Everton
We all moan about referees, but Andre Marriner’s performance at Ewood was the worst I have ever witnessed.
Mikel Arteta should have been sent off after 21 minutes when he poked Pederson in the eye! Instead, he received a yellow card and was Everton’s most creative player!
Everton started like a house on fire and really took the game to Rovers and they took the lead on 4 minutes. A clumsy challenge by Nelsen on Arteta resulted in a stonewall penalty and Arteta got up and sent Paul Robinson the wrong way from the spot.
It was all Everton and Rovers couldn’t string two passes together and then came Arteta’s poke in the eye – he should have gone for sure.
Rovers gradually came back into the game but some resolute defending by the Toffees saw them go into the break 1-0 up.
The first 15 minutes of the second half was end to end with Everton coming close to adding a second when Leighton Baines thumped the post with a 20 yarder.
Big Sam then brought on Jason Roberts to partner Nicola Kalinic and they looked a different side! For the first time in the match, Everton’s defence had something to think about.
Then Steven N’Zonzi scored Rovers’ equaliser. There appeared to be little danger when Dunn played the ball back to him but he side-stepped Arteta, advanced and blasted a swerving 30-yard shot past Howard.
The goal was just the confidence boost Rovers needed and Everton looked rattled as Nelsen headed Dunn's free-kick on to the top of the net.
Then Everton brought on Yakubu and he headed the ball home with his first touch after Baines' 79th-minute long-throw was flicked on by the other substitute Victor Anichebe.
Rovers' response was instant as less than two minutes later Nikola Kalinic helped the ball forward for Jason Roberts to smash a 20-yard shot past Howard. Roberts celebrated by taking off his shirt and showing his name to the Rovers’ fans. Yeh, we know who you are Jason – we just didn’t know that you could shoot like that!
You always felt however, that Everton had another goal in them – and it duly arrived in the 90th minute.
Yakubu somehow found space on the left of the area and went past young Phil Jones quite easily and rolled a pass into the six-yard box where Cahill tapped home to deny Rovers a point.
Everton had 63% of the possession and that tells its own story with Arteta running the show, but it could have been so different if Andre Marriner had any bollocks.
Star Man; Michel Salgado – is now showing his class and enthusiasm and has made the right-back spot his own.
Worst performer: Keith Andrews – he’s probably a nice guy and I hate slagging off members of my team but “Keef” is just not up to it.
Best moment: Steven N’Zonzi‘s wonder strike from 30 yards. The vocal support was good until then, but that goal raised the roof.
Tactics: 4-5-1 to start, but Big Sam brought on Jason Roberts and kept Kalinic on! Then he also brought on Franco Di Santo – three strikers on at once – unbelievable!!
Chant of the game: “We’re having a party when Burnley go down, we’re having a party when Burnley go down!!”
Oppo fans: Came to life after each goal but were very quiet for most of the game.
Pete Anslow, http://www.4000holes.co.uk
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Stoke City 1 - 2 BOLTON WANDERERS
Thirteen minutes in and a Wanderers team that has gained 1 point after falling behind in games all season (also a last minute job against Stoke!) are 1-0 down to a Dave Kitson goal. Game over right? Well, the next 70 minutes did very little to suggest that that wouldn’t be the case. A performance in the first half that probably could have been equalled by any school team in the country (only without the endeavour) had people preparing themselves for Championship football next year. Half time changes saw Ivan Klasnic come on for Sam Ricketts and a team that began to show they weren’t completely incompetent after all. Another change finally swung the game into Bolton’s favour. Vladimir Weiss, replacing the ineffective Chung-Yong Lee, contentiously got us a free kick after going down rather easily from a challenge from Dean Whitehead. The horribly out-of-form Matt Taylor showed the class he does possess by dispatching the free kick to make it 1-1 and leaving Wanderers fans thankful they’re leaving with at least a point after a dismal display. But we weren’t finished yet, Weiss again creating an opportunity down the right, again to be finished by Taylor who, simply through being able to score goals, showed why he is worthy of a place in the team even when off form. Cue jubilation amongst Bolton fans, the previous 80-odd minutes of dross forgotten and three points that just about ensure we will be playing Premier League football next season.
Star man: Matt Taylor. He might be painfully slow and unable to take on a man despite being a winger but he can score goals, something that sadly the rest of our team are unable to do. On that basis, he is a vital player for us. Worst performer: Hard to choose just one. Lee continued to offer very little down the right but has now played for over a year without a break so is probably due a rest. Fabrice Muamba also managed to show the sort of skills that made him so unpopular last season, misplacing every pass and basically offering nothing to the team, proving that he is a defensive midfielder, he shouldn’t be asked to play elsewhere.
Tactics: We went with the 4-5-1 that worked fairly well against Chelsea midweek with Ricketts playing the support role and Muamba pushing further forward. Against Chelsea this was successful as it allowed us to counter attack. Against Stoke, we were far to negative. We invited pressure onto a midfield and defence that was never going to be able to handle it. Thankfully, Coyle saw this and changed to 4-4-2 at half time and from then on, we did manage to at least compete in the game.
Chant of the game: The ‘We are staying up’ suggesting that its finally at that stage of the season where we can afford to relax a little, safe in the knowledge that it’s very likely we’ll be back at the Britannia again next season.
Oppo fans: Stoke fans as usual were very loud before the game and obviously their early goal meant that this carried on for the rest of the first half and early parts of the second. When we started to creep back into the game, the noise died down somewhat.
Best Moment: Taylor’s second goal which got us a win that an hour before, was inconceivable.
Danny Warbrick, http://www.burndenaces.co.uk/
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Sunderland 2 - 1 BURNLEY
It looks like curtains for the Clarets with a drop back down to the Championship seeming inevitable after yet another poor, lacklustre and clueless performance this time against the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.
Clarets fans hopes were high too after that stunning away win against Hull City last week and we had thought that 4-1 victory would have given the lads the passion and confidence to try and get their second double and second away win of 2009-10.
The score line suggests a hard fought match but nothing could be further from the truth. We were completely outplayed and outclassed by Sunderland in the first half. Already 2-0 down thanks to goals from Campbell and Bent after 25 and 40 mins we looked a beaten side at half-time. In truth it could have been far worse with our defence seemingly having returned to its all too familiar suicide mode and Sunderland looking to extend their lead even more. We were also so ineffective up front I am struggling to remember one decent attempt on goal.
We looked slightly better in the second half and enjoyed a lot more possession but you just sensed Sunderland were taking it easy. Thompson was looking more effective up front after coming on at half time to replace Paterson but we had to wait until the 82nd minute before we could give Sunderland a scare. Robbie Blake had only been on the pitch a minute but a little bit of magic from the wizard found Thompson who thumped the ball home from 25 yards out. The Clarets now had something to fight for in the last eight minutes of this match and you would have thought it would have stirred them into action to try and get the equaliser. We just never seemed to press enough after that though and despite four minutes of added time we never looked like getting a point.
Star man: Another poor display with most players having yet another off -day. Robbie Blake put in an exciting last ten minutes cameo and he set up Thompson to score in the 82nd minute. Thompson was probably our most effective striker after coming on from the bench for the start of the second half and would have done better had he got more service. I will give our Star man award though to our loan midfielder, Jack Cork who worked tirelessly in midfield all afternoon and was one of the few players who seemed to be at the races.
Worst performer: This without doubt has to be Chris Eagles. A terrible performance and it looked like his mind was on his next career move rather than trying to save the Clarets from the drop. He needs to be careful if he wants those Premier League clubs to come-a-bidding in the summer. There was no evidence of showboating in this game! He has been linked with moves to West Brom, Everton and Spurs but if any of the managers were there yesterday they might now be having second thoughts after this woeful performance. He was lightweight and totally ineffective. He used to score goals for the Clarets too; I can’t remember his last one
Tactics: The tactics just don’t seem to be working no matter what we try. The number of times I saw Jensen boot the ball up for Fletcher to head on to nobody was unreal. If Fletcher was not heading into a black hole he was chasing around on the wing putting the ball in to nobody! Why do we also persist with playing our strikers out wide? Martin Paterson never has been and never will be a winger. He needs to be in the centre playing off a tall striker in 4-4-2 to be at his best. We may have missed Nugent yesterday who was out with a hamstring injury but surely we can do better in attack than this. I would have played both Eagles and Elliott on the wing and put Paterson upfront with Fletcher. Paterson came off at half-time for being ineffective with Thompson moving into the attack up front and we looked slightly better.
To be honest though it’s no use getting the attack sorted if they don’t get enough service and in this game only Cork looked to be doing enough in the engine room.
There was a lot of debate as to whether we should have brought Robbie Blake on earlier too rather than give him just the last ten minutes to try and impress. A little bit of Blake magic set up our goal but even then we couldn’t seem to turn up the heat to try and get that equaliser and it all seemed to just fizzle out in the end. Blake is an impact player these days; he rarely has the legs to put in a full 90 minute shift. Whether bringing him on earlier in the second half would have given us a better chance is debatable and we will never know.
Chant of the game: Nothing original from our depressed lot and if the Black Cats fans sang anything original I wouldn’t have known (see below)
I am not one for booing players or the manager at matches. It is only counterproductive. Thankfully I did not hear anything of that ilk either although Eagles got some stick from a few.
However some of our fans were applauding the team after that result which I also find bizarre considering we were absolutely dreadful.
Oppo fans: They seemed a pretty subdued bunch and only appeared to come alive when they scored. They burst out in song a few times but what they were singing were anybody’s guess. I forgot to take my Geordie (or is it Mackem?) to Lancastrian Phrase Book. I suppose this was just a routine, end of season midtable mediocrity match for them so they didn’t really have anything to get excited about.
Best Moment: You know it’s been a bad day when all you can do is cheer the fact that Blackburn Rovers got beat.
‘Turfman’ Phil Lea, www.burnley.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 CHELSEA
Apparently we were meant to play at White Hart Lane against Spurs at the weekend. The goal nets were put up, the lines were freshly painted and the grass newly mowed. Fans piled into the ground in their thousands, the officials turned up and the TV crews, photographers and cameramen all took their respective places. Come 5.30pm the home side came raring out of the tunnel ready for the game.
The problem is, Chelsea never turned up. In many ways, it’s lucky Spurs could only win 2-1 in those circumstances.
Reminiscent of that Estonia V Scotland debacle in 1998, only one side took the field as there were no signs of any blue shirts at all. Petr Cech managed to make it to the pitch, albeit a little late, in enough time to keep the scoreline down; Frank Lampard was also a latecomer, arriving in injury-time to score a consolation goal.
…If only. We did turn up, and we were terrible. Spurs were good, don’t get me wrong, but we were dire. Playing as narrow as we did, with Didier Drogba having one of his abysmal games up-front meaning we could never make forward progress, it was never going to be anything but awful.
The scheming Luka Modric, the spry Jermain Defoe and the brilliant Gareth Bale – Bale V Paulo Ferreira is never fair – caused us a plethora of problems, but if we can’t even get our own team sorted than we’ll always be the masters of our own downfall.
Like a bored serial killer, tired of giving out clever cryptic clues which never get solved and just going through the motions, ‘Captain Fantastic’ John Terry continued his one-man experiment to blatantly see how much he can get away with in matches. A handball here, an errant tackle there; against Spurs he did both, looking like someone had sewn his ear to his elbow in the first-half when he went to head a bouncing ball in the box, only to see it hit his arm, before swiping recklessly at both Pavlyuchenko and Bale for two bookings. ‘Captain Moron’ is finally unmasked.
By then we were already 2-0 down, having used all three subs, and we had already run out of ideas. There wasn’t much else to write home about; with Branislav Ivanovic hitting a stinging shot from range and Lampard sliding into the box in injury-time to give us more than we deserved.
With Manchester United winning earlier in the day, our lead at the top of the league now stands at just one point. With three games left, Stoke at home, Liverpool away, and Wigan away, we need nine points. The two home games will be nervy now, but Anfield will be uncomfortably tense. Just a though, if United win the league this season, they’ll overtake Liverpool in terms of top-flight league titles won.
Liverpool don’t want to see that, they’ve got nothing to play for in the league, maybe Lucas scores a few own goals in our game and we go home with three points? At the moment, it’s our best chance of picking up three points on our travels.
Star Man: Gareth Bale. So good that somehow he’s our best player too. Of our motley crew, it’s Cech for keeping our goal difference intact.
Worst Performer: Plenty of candidates, with Ferreira reminding us why he’s currently something like 7th choice right-back, Drogba pulling up with an injury whilst preparing to kick-off for the second-half, and Joe Cole having another one of his anonymous games, but the prize goes to Terry all day for his frankly stupid behaviour. What will you do next John?
Best Moment: Seriously? Of this game? One of Cech’s saves when it looked like we were heading for a 0-7 defeat.
Tactics:
Negatives: narrow, narrow, narrow, short on ideas, too much fruitless intricacy, Paulo Ferreira, the late revival was far too late.
Positives: It was only 1-2.
Chant of the game: Reminding Spurs fans that while the game was theirs, the trophies are ours. Not in those words, obviously.
Oppo Fans: All corners and stands sang in unison. Impressive and annoying at the same time. All credit to them.
Rowan Farnham-Long, www.cfcnet.co.uk
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Blackburn 2 - 3 EVERTON
In spite of having 'bore draw' written all over it, this game took everyone by surprise and can only be described as a 'five-goal-thriller'.
And one that, thankfully, the Blues won by the odd-goal, the first of which came with just 4 minutes on the clock!
Mikel Arteta, a surprise inclusion in the starting 11, took down a cross from Diniyar Bilyaletdniov and, a couple of neat sidesteps later, won a penalty thanks to a clumsy challenge from Ryan Nelsen.
The Spaniard netted the resulting spot kick with one of those penalties that would've been easily saved had the 'keeper gone the right way...but he didn't and it was one-nil to the Blues!
Everton then proceeded to do what the've done to quite a few teams this season and played Blackburn off the park for the next 20 minutes with some football that David Moyes described as 'scintillating'...he wasn't wrong.
And Mikel Arteta was the hub of Everton's neat play but he shouldn't have been on the pitch after the first 20 minutes after a strange, but very funny, attack on Morten Gamst Pedersen.
The once half decent looking Norwegian fould Arteta midway in the Everton half and the usually level-headed Spaniard poked a finger in his face then right in his eye!
As fat-head Allardyce put it: "You can't mess with someone's face like that!" but Arteta did and only got a yellow card, as did the unlucky Pedersen.
Blackburn then began to put more pressure on Everton, perhaps riled by the injustice of it all, but late defensive blocks by Tim Cahill and Phil Jagielka ensured that the Blues went in 1-0 up at half time.
All good at the interval then, Everton 1-0 up, played some great stuff and the sun was cracking the flags...well maybe not cracking the flags as, even on the sunniest of days, Ewood Park is possiby the coldest ground anywhere!
Except maybe Boundary Park, a ground so cold that the local brasses charge you a 20 spot to just blow your hands! Now...take my mother-in-law....
Anyway, Everton started the second half well and should've been two up ten minutes in as Tony Hibbert whipped in a wicked cross that Cahill somehow managed to head over the bar.
Shortly after that everyone in the ground thought it was 2-0 to the Blues as Leighton Baines smashed a first time shot goalwards only to see it crash off the post...the noise of the ball hitting the woodwork was the first that Paul Robinson even knew of it!
Then two minutes later Blackburn were level through a screamer of their own as Steven Nzonzi - who can often be seen around the town wearing a leather jacket, sat astride a Harley and shouting "Eeeeeeeeyyyy(up)" to passers by - cut in from the left and smashed one in from the edge of the area.
So, for the third game in succession, Everton had let the lead slip but instead of getting all jittery at Blackburn turning the screw on the Blues, David Moyes pushed for the win and replaced Hibbert with Yakubu.
And it paid off immediately as the big Nigerian was on hand to nod in a Victor Anichebe - on for Bilyaletdinov - flick on from a long throw by Baines.
Then two minutes later Blackburn were level through a screamer of their own as Steven Nzonzi...hang on, sorry, it was Jason Roberts this time!
Everton's new found propensity to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory looked like it was about to play out again as Roberts took advantage of some ropey defending from Sylvain Distin and vollyed a 20-yard screamer into the bottom corner of the Everton goal.
But just when it looked like the Blues had blown another two points Baines played the ball to Yakubu who showed there's still some life in his legs by completely smoking Phil Jones with a drop of the shoulder before rolling the ball across the six-yard-box where Tim Cahill was on hand to tap the ball into the net.
Job done!
Man of the Match: Mikel Arteta - showed just how much we've missed him these last couple of games with another stellar perfromance... 10 out of 10 for the eye poke too!
Worst performer: no one stood out as being particularly bad.
Moment of the match: Tim Cahill's tap in - there was some great football played during the match, and some great goals but for sheer joy, and the sight of Yakubu turning defenders once again, it has to go to Cahill's tap in. Incidentally it was that good a tap in that it was the only thing mentioned after the highlights on Match of the Day. Gobshites!
Tactics: With John Heitinga out Moyes gambled on Arteta's fitness and it payed off! The substitution of Hibbert forYakubu can only be described as inspired too!
Les Roberts, www.everton-mad.co.uk
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FULHAM 0 - 0 Wolves
London can be a grand old city, there’s so much to suit everybody.
The best city in the world has the theatre, the museums’, the night-life, the culture, the arts, the river meandering its way through the capital city and a whole host of sport to enjoy.
Yesterday the weather was perfect, it was almost sun-bathing weather, the coat was flung to one side, the shades were stuck in the top pocket and the skies were strangely quite thanks to that volcano over in Iceland.
Sat in y seat I could see the sun glistening on the tide of the River Thames as it ebbed and flowed, I could see the occasional bird merrily sailing down the river, its upper body all serene whilst its legs went ten to the dozen beneath the water.
It was one of those afternoons you hope never end, one of those afternoons you dream about all week when you’re stuck in a dreary office and an afternoon not even the noisy banter of the Wolverhampton fans could disturb.
It was just a shame the fare served up on the Craven Cottage pitch didn’t match the surroundings. It was far from pleasant, it lacked excitement and far too often my thoughts were elsewhere, the Reaperbahn perhaps?
True there was one good chance when the effervescent Bobby Zamora lost his marker and rattled the post but the rest of it resembled that week in the office I talked about, instantly forgettable.
Here’s to Hamburg, volcanic ash permitting!
Star Man: Bobby Zamora – One bright moment lit up a dreary afternoon!
Worst Performer: No comment, they had other things on their minds!
Best Moment: Getting home and checking my Hamburg flight tickets were where I’d thought I’d left them!
Tactics: Both teams nullified each other, so somebody got something tight!
Opposition Fans: Noisy and glad to take a point, see you again next season my Wolves friends!
Andrew Joyce, www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Manchester City 0 - 1 MANCHESTER UNITED
Sir Alex Ferguson charged on the pitch as Gary Neville embraced match-winner Paul Scholes and fans danced on their seats. Scholes' injury time strike won the Manchester derby in an encounter low on quality but high on drama. City may feel its time will come but for now, deep into 'Fergie time,' the Reds retained local honours.
The game began with Ferguson placing trust in veterans Neville and Scholes, together with Ryan Giggs. In recent fixtures the United legends' ponderous displays have seen Ferguson's side knocked out of Europe and all but cede the Premier League to Chelsea.
But experience told, with man-of-the-match Scholes rolling back the years. Imperious in the middle of the park, Scholes' goal capped a team performance that brings United to within a point of Chelsea with just three games remaining.
United began in frantic mode, eager to capitalise on Wayne Rooney's return to the starting line-up. But withdrawn by the 75th minute, the striker's inspirational qualities failed to mask Rooney's obvious lack of fitness.
Before Rooney left the action, United created the first opportunities of an opening period the visitors dominated. First, Darren Fletcher struck a 20-yard shot just wide and then long-range specialist Darron Gibson missed the target with another overly ambitious attempt.
The first moment of controversy came with half an hour of the match gone. Wayne Bridge, returning to the City team after injury, handled in the area only for referee Martin Atkinson to miss an obvious spot kick. City's vocal criticism of the official this week, who added six minutes to the Old Trafford fixture in September, having the desired effect.
But United continued to create opportunities with Antonio Valenica at the heart of the action.
The Ecuadorian created a chance for Rooney, whose drop of the shoulder bought space before he sent a left-footed drive wide of Shay Given's goal. Valencia, giving Bridge a torrid time, then crossed for Giggs whose weak flick found only the City 'keeper.
Not that United had the tie all its own way. City hit back with former United forward Carlos Tevez drawing a flying save from Edwin van der Sar in the visitors' goal.
Much of United's best work channelled through Scholes, who given time and space by City's outnumbered midfield, dictated both tempo and direction of the Reds' play. It took Roberto Mancini more than an hour to change City's shape and bring the home side into the tie.
First Craig Bellamy fired wide with Emmanuel Adebayor well placed in the area and then City claimed a penalty when Gareth Barry fell under pressure. Replays showed an outrageous dive by the England midfielder that went unpunished by officialdom.
It mattered little with United pressing hard for a winner the spirited display had earned. First Giggs just failed to reach substitute Nani's cross and then Dimitar Berbatov, on for Rooney, headed inches wide with the goal at his mercy.
Then came the stunning dnouement, with Scholes demonstrating the heading art to a tee to send United's fans, players and management into raptures.
Worst performer: Wayne Rooney clearly wasnt fit, although even at 80% hes better than almost any other striker. But it was unfair on the forward, who was restricted to limited movement before being withdrawn with 15 minutes to go.
Best performer: Paul Scholes rolled back the years to dictate the tempo and direction of the match. Often run out of games due to his advancing age, Citys midfield stood off the Ginger Prince and allowed him time and space.
Best moment: Scholes injury time winner. The fans went mental and Gary Neville stuck his tongue down Scholes throat. Surreal.
Tactics: 451 with Rooney leading the line although only half-fit. Uniteds extra man in midfield made the difference with Roberto Mancini taking more than an hour to work out the obvious tactical flaw in his sides make-up.
Chant of the match: He scores goals me lord, he scores goals. Oooooah Scholes, he scores goals!
Oppo fans: Proof if required that money cant buy you love nor class. City fans threw blow-up aeroplanes, sung songs about Munich and then beat up Mame Biram Dioufs brother.
Ed Barker, www.unitedrant.co.uk
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SPURS 2 – 1 Chelsea
Now we’re in dreamland. Arsenal and Chelsea vanquished in the space of four days? No-one believed it possible, as they trudged away from Wembley a week ago, searching inwardly for the reasons why Portsmouth, and not Spurs, would be in the Cup Final.
It has been a hell of a week, that’s for sure – one that will be long remembered. After the backs-to-the-wall heroics against the Goons on Wednesday, this performance against Chelsea was something else entirely. The eventual scoreline of 2-1 is some sort of travesty, because quite frankly the League leaders could have been seriously embarrassed, had our finishing come anywhere near to approaching the quality of the rest of our play.
We were at Chelsea from the start, and it was sustained right to the end. Hardly a pass was misplaced. There was an attacking verve to the Spurs play that belied aching limbs and fuzzled minds. Gareth Bale was magnificent once more – to be honest, he is every time he crosses that line at the moment. Michael Dawson was colossal (again), Sebastian Bassong next to him was Ledley King with knees. In midfield, the pairing of Huddlestone and Modric was outstanding – work rate, positional sense, craft on the ball, just sheer quality.
I mention those players, but in truth there were 11 guys out there that put in 10 out of 10 performances. Maybe 9.5 out of 10 for the chances squandered. A friend of mine that has been going down the Lane since 1970 said he can’t think of a better performance against a top side in all that time. We just never gave the ball away.
And what about the supporters? The noise was incessant. I had a sore throat long before half time, although that was partly through shouting my disbelief at referee Phil Dowd concerning certain decisions. There had seemed a nailed on penalty when Bale was body-checked, which Dowd turned down, but within a minute we had our penalty anyway, when the ball struck John Terry’s arm. Our record from the spot is atrocious – so bad that penalty taking duties have gone all the way around the team and are now back with Jermain Defoe. He did what we prayed he would and smashed it, sending Petr Cech the wrong way.
When Bale doubled the lead before half time after turning Ferreira inside out, there was absolute euphoria. Could we maintain, was the question at the interval. After 120 energy and spirit sapping minutes at Wembley on Sunday, followed by the emotion of a North London derby on Wednesday, it was quite reasonable to expect the team to fade. It didn’t happen though, and the fans were with the players all the way. This week has brought the whole club closer together.
In the second period Defoe was thwarted by Cech when through on goal, Pav missed two glorious chances, and Bale rolled a shot narrowly wide when Cech was exposed again. Chelsea never really seemed to get a foothold in the game. It was tempting to think that they were shell-shocked by the atmosphere and the fact that they found every single man in white in fabulous form.
John Terry’s red card fitted perfectly with his role as pantomime villain throughout, and Lampard’s late goal was undeserved, but thankfully didn’t cost us. It was bloody annoying though, giving the scoreline a respectability for Chelsea that was laughable. So, it seems we have blown the doors off the title race this week, with two of three protagonists coming to grief in N17. And we get the chance to do both of them a favour next week when we go to Old Trafford. Now that would be a famous threesome....
Star man: They were all magnificent, so this week it can go to the Spurs fans, who have responded to FA Cup disappointment and the arrival at our door of two top quality teams and bitter rivals, with renewed passion for their football club.
Best moment: Probably the second goal, scored by Gareth Bale. Any number of situations in the second half might have surpassed it, had the finishing been better. No doubt about it, a third goal would have blown the roof off.
Tactics: The usual 4-4-2 with Modric partnering Huddlestone in the middle, Bale and Bentley wide; Defoe and Pavlyuchenko up front. High tempo passing, continuously feeding Bale’s left-sided darts.
Chant of the game: “He’s off the pitch, he’s f*cking your wife, he’s off the pitch, he’s f*cking your wife” Dedicated to you, JT..........
Oppo fans: Couldn’t hear them above the constant cacophony of the home support. They probably didn’t know what hit them.
Andy Knaggs, www.spurs-web.com and www.THFCTalk.com
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WIGAN 3 - 2 Arsenal
This certainly wasn't on the cards. Just days after a mediocre performance and a 0-0 draw with a depleted Portsmouth side, who would have back the Latics at 2-0 down with ten minutes to go against the Gunners?
Another fine example of how things can change in football. Arsenal, with help from the referee, were cruising to another three points against Little Wigan.
However there were eleven men, lifted by 22,000 supporters, who had a different point of view.
Firstly, the Latics went in at half time 1-0 down as Theo Walcott was given too much time and space and opened the scoring for Arsenal.
Mikael Silvestre added a second for the Gunners shortly after the break, just minutes after Ben Watson was denied a stone wall penalty. What a turning point we thought that was going to be.
However it was Watson who turned to be the inspiration for the victory as he slotted home Victor Moses' pull back with ten minutes to go. Surely Wigan couldn't fight back from here?
As the clock ticked down, Titus Bramble, the man who epitomises the spirit of Wigan Athletic Football Club, nodded the ball home to equalise. The crowd went mad, happy at scrambling another point in the race for safety.
That wasn't to be the end of it. Arsenal through on Robin Van Persie as they went in search of a last minute winner, but it was Gunners target, Charles N'Zogbia who rifled in a beautiful curling shot off the post to give the Latics three points. The stadium errupted in a crecendo of noise and relief as Martinez and his team pulled away from the drop zone.
Hopefully a further three points against West Ham will follow next weekend and then a defeat to Hull which will send the not so might Hammers down. Wiganers still haven't forgotten the London club's antics with Carlos Tevez and Sheffield United, and also Brian Deane's header almost ten years ago as the Latics chased the Championship play offs.
First things first however, three points against the Hammers to secure our safety for another season. Well done Wigan Athletic on a courageous fight back today. Savour the three points and the victory that makes the league table all the more pleasing.
It will be a long journey home for Arsenal, but given their present side, they have plenty to be optimistic about next term.
Star Man: It is hard to pick out any single player from that performance. I think Titus Bramble edges it though, purely on the basis that he epitomises the Wigan Athletic ethic.
Worst performer: No-one in the Wigan team had a bad game after that result! Best moment: When Charles N'Zogbia curled his screamer in off the post in stoppage time. The last time I was jumping around like that, David unsworth fired in a penalty at Bramall Lane two years ago.
Tactics: Prior to this season we hadn't beaten the so called big four in numerous attempts. Under Roberto Martinez we have beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and now Arsenal. We always seem to have a belief now, particularly against the bigger teams, that has been lacking in the past.
Chant of the game: It was great to hear the return of "You are my Sunshine", parhaps no coincidence that we managed three points as soon as this anthem was belted out!
Opposition fans: Arsenal had a good travelling support, but I guess that's common ground for top four sides with an outside chance of the title. They were relatively noisy when leading but were embarassingly quiet when losing. Perhaps they would be better seeking a better football supporting education at a lower league club to understand this.
Paul Farrington, WIGANER.net
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