TEAM: SOUTHAMPTON
This will be one of the easiest awards I will give all season. The Saints absolutely destroyed Sunderland, who actually had a decent defensive record before this game. Koeman and his team have really impressed me since the first day of the season and are looking like a real force to be reckoned with. Well done also to Man City, Everton and West Ham
GOALKEEPER: JOE HART (Man City)
He proved exactly how important a top class goalkeeper can be. He made a string of fine saves, especially in the first half when the game was still in the balance. Then in the second half while leading 2-1 he made a great penalty save. Not that long after Spurs went down to 10 men and conceded and penalty which virtually ended the game. Shout out also to Tottenham’s Lloris, WBA’s Myhill, Liverpool’s Mignolet and Leicester’s Schmeichel.
DEFENDER: LEIGHTON BAINES (Everton)
He was an absolute menace going forward all afternoon and had a hand to two of his teams three goals. In addition, he was largely untroubled defensively and looked solid throughout. Well done also to his team-mate Coleman, Southampton’s back four Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bartrand. Hull’s Dawson, Burnley’s Trippier, WBA duo Dawson and Wisdom also West Ham’s Jenkinson.
MIDFIELDER: ALEXIS SANCHEZ (Arsenal)
He scored a superb opening goal and then created the important equaliser, very late in the game to maintain his team’s long unbeaten home record. What was equally impressive was his work rate. He was full of running, defending from the front by relentlessly closing down the opposition. Shout out also to Man City’s Milner, Tottenham’s Eriksen, West Ham’s Downing, Chelsea duo Oscar and Matic, Liverpool’s Coutinho, Stoke’s Adam, WBA’s Sessegnon also Southampton trio Davis, Cork and Schneiderlin.
FORWARD: SERGIO AGUERO (Man City)
Even though two of his goals were penalties and he missed one penalty, it still was a masterclass of forward play from the Argentinian. He gave Spurs endless amount of problems with his movement and he took the two goals in open play extremely well. Also showed great character to get his hat-trick from the spot after missing one in the first half. Well done also to Arsenal’s Welbeck, West Ham’s Sakho, WBA’s Berahino, QPR’s Zamora and Southampton trio Long, Pelle and Tadic who was close to winning this.
MANAGER: RONALD KOEMAN (Southampton)
As stated previously, he has impressed me from day one. His signings have all been a hit and made an impact early, his formations and tactics have been spot on, he’s even been unlucky in defeat. This week it all came together spectacularly. Every attack seemed to end up a goal or a goal scoring opportunity. Even this early in the season his team looks a formidable outfit.
UNSUNG HERO: DUSAN TADIC (Southampton)
I’ve given him this award purely on the fact that I wanted to give him the forward award but just couldn’t ignore Aguero’s four goals. Nevertheless he has impressed me tremendously since he came to the Premier League, his unselfishness and link up play has been a huge factor in the success of team-mate Pelle and the team on a whole. This was no more on show then against Sunderland with a superb display, scoring one and creating four goals.
GAME: MAN CITY 4-1 TOTTENHAM
Aguero opened the scoring with a powerful effort from inside the box, making half a yard to fire into the far corner (13). Minutes later, Mason caught Fernando on the ball, Saldado then slipped the ball into Eriksen who powered the ball into the roof of the net (15). Aguero then restored City’s lead from the spot when Lampard was dubiously fouled by Lamela (20). On 32 minutes Aguero failed to complete a first half hat-trick when Lloris saved his penalty after Kaboul fouled Silva. In the second half, Saldado failed to equalise from the spot when Hart saved his penalty after he was fouled by Demichelis (62). Aguero then secured his hat-trick from the spot when he was fouled by Fazio who was then red carded (68). Aguero then scored his fourth goal as he cut in the from right to expertly finished with his left foot into the far corner (75).
GOAL: STEPHANE SESSEGNON (WBA) v Man Utd
Dorrans’ flick sent Wisdom off down the right from just inside his own half. The WBA right back carried the ball unchallenged until he got 20 yards from goal, then put in a low cross, behind two United defenders to the edge of the box. Sessegnon came running onto the ball and hit a first time, unstoppable effort that nestled in the top corner of the net.
FOOL: DAMIEN DELANEY (Crystal Palace)
There are times when footballers have moments of madness but this occasion it was definitely a moment of stupidity. Chelsea are flying at the moment so any kind of advantage your team can gain is needed. If there ever was a great opportunity to beat them, going down to 10 men was it. The absolute worst thing to do, especially only 3 minutes after Azpilicueta’s red card and already being booked was to needlessly pull back Remy to get a second yellow and a red to cancel out your advantage as quickly as it was gained. I take it intelligence is not your strong point Damien? FOOL
