Wigan 0-6 Chelsea
Six’y Six’y Chelsea….
Chelsea hit 6 for the 2nd week in a row as Wigan suffered a 2nd successive crushing defeat in front of there own fans. Wigan started the game much the better with some impressive approach play but was unable to penetrate the rock solid Chelsea defence, then on 34 minutes against the run of play Florent Malouda reacted the quickest to slot home a Kirkland parry following Lampard’s effort. Chelsea started the 2nd half much better and got their reward as Nicolas Anelka finished superbly from an angle on 48 minutes, he soon made it 3 with only 52 minutes gone heading in a Drogba knock back from close range.
With the points in the bag Chelsea made some changes, Saloman Kalou on for Malouda made it 4 following an impressive and strong run from Didier Drogba which took him from his own half into the Wigan box. With a minute to go Drogba again turned provider for Kalou’s 2nd as he clipped a beauty of a ball in the box from the wide left position for kalou to glance home. 3 minutes into stoppage time the rout was sealed as Yossi Benayoun stroked in the 6th from Ferreira’s strong run and cross on the right flank. Chelsea looking unbeatable at the moment, I am sure the Stoke team are looking forward to their trip to Stamford Bridge next week.
Mom Didier Drogba
West Brom 1-0 Sunderland
O “Damn” Wingie
Peter Odemwingie scored a 81st minute winner on his debut to secure a home win for the baggies. The game at the hawthorns was heading for a 0-0 draw before the Nigerian, who only arrived in the country on Thursday struck with 9 minutes to go to send the West Brom fans home happy. In a game lacking some real inspiration up front, Sunderland looked the more out of sorts and hardly created any clear cut chances for Bent and Campbell to feed on, West Brom worked hard as a team and played with a high tempo but too failed to transform possession into goals. The lively Odemwingie had a good chance before scoring the games only goal, shooting just wide of the post before Keiran Richardson produced a good save from Carson, but it was to be a day the debut boy will never forget as West Brom held out for the victory, the baggies will hope they can build on their impressive home victory.
Mom Peter Odemwingie.
Birmingham 2-1 Blackburn
A Foster’s & Gardener’s double
Craig Gardener struck 2 goals for the home side as Birmingham came from a goal down to secure the points at St Andrews. Following a lackluster first half the game came to life on 50 minutes as new signing Nicola Zigic fouled Christopher Samba to concede a penalty, the usually reliable Morten Gamst Pederson stepped up and strike a good penalty hard to the goalkeepers left but Ben Foster produced a magnificent save tipping onto the bar. Only 4 minutes after missing the penalty Pederson sent over a corner which Steven NZonzi headed in from the near post, the lead only lasted 3 minutes as Carr’s long diagonal ball was expertly volleyed first time into the danger area by James McFadden on the left of the box for Gardener to finish from close range.
The game then began to produce chances thick and fast, Foster (are you watching Capello) produced another great save, this time from Kalinic’s low shot, then Samba headed against the post from Pederson’s free kick. Birmingham were up against it, but seemed to have weathered the storm and then with 20 minutes to go Gardener Let fly from all of 30 yards, Robinson should have really done better but the bounced deceived him and the ball found the bottom corner to seal the victory, and keep Birmingham’s 15 match unbeaten home record in tact….Fortress St Andrews Mr McLeish.
Mom Craig Gardener
Stoke 1-2 Tottenham
Lucky Harry gets Bale
Gareth Bale scored 2 goals the 2nd a stunning strike to seal the points for Harry Redknapp’s depleted spurs side. on 19 minutes he was very fortunate to be on the score sheet as Peter Crouch created havoc in the stoke defense, his effort was desperately cleared off the line by Ryan Shawcross only for the ball to rebound in off Bale’s face. Maybe it was the calamitous nature of his first that prompted Bale to even consider attempted what he did on 30 minutes. This was following Ricardo Fuller goal, in for the injured Kenwyne Jones, the Jamaican leveled the scores on 25 minutes from a lovely instinctive strike inside the box to give Gomes no chance.
In the 30th minute of the first half, Gareth Bale produced a strike worthy of ANY stage in the world. Aaron Lennon was the creator with some good work on the right, getting past his man before crossing high into Bale’s path, with one swift movement bale swung his left boot connecting with a sweet volley that flew into the top corner, amazing goal. Stoke improved in the 2nd half and looked determined to get an equalizer which would have been deserved as the lively Tuncay was causing all sorts of problems for the spurs back line. Then, controversy 1 minute into stoppage time, from a Stoke corner following an almighty scramble in the Tottenham goalmouth, Walters header seemed to have crossed the line before Crouch blocked it, the Ref Chris Foy seemed to be in a perfect position to see but claims he was unsighted, thus denying Stoke an equalizer and gifting all 3 points to a happy and relieved Harry….. Another one for the goal line technology argument then.
Mom Gareth Bale
Arsenal 6-0 Blackpool
Walcott’s three and easy for the gunners
Theo Walcott’s Hat-trick Brought Blackpool back down to earth with a harsh lesson on how cruel life can be in the premiership this season. The gunners got started on the 12 minute mark when Walcott finished off a lovely move to slot confidently in the far corner. Gary Taylor-Fletcher wasted a good chance to equalise before Ian Evatt hacked Chamakh in what looked suspiciously outside the box, but ref Mike Jones pointed to the spot and sent Evatt off to practically end the game for the seasiders. Andrey Arshavin duly despatched the penalty to make it 2, Walcott then made it a 3rd 6 minutes before the interval with a shot inside the box on the turn.
Only four minutes into the 2nd half Abou Diaby gave Arsenal a fourth goal following great work from Sagna on the right, Diaby’s cool finish making it look all so easy. Walcott’s afternoon was sealed on the 58th minute when he collected a pass from Diaby on the edge of the box, twinkled past a defender and slotted into the far corner with his left foot to complete a memorable hat-trick. Finally with 7 minutes to go following chance after chance, Chamakh rose high to nod in a corner to make it 6for Arsenal to cap off a fulfilling afternoons work. Ian Holloway will be glad he won’t have to go back to the Emirates any time soon, although they will have many trips to London this season.
Mom Theo Walcott
West ham 1-3 Bolton
Johan’s the man…..der
A Johan Elmander double capped a spirited 2nd half display from Bolton to extend there winning run against West Ham to seven games. West Ham was all over Bolton in the first half and should have taken the lead from the penalty spot but Carlton Cole’s 35th minute penalty was struck, rather scuffed straight at Jussi Jaaskelainen. West Ham had further chances through Dyer & Piquionne but failed to find the net, Bolton then made the home side pay 5 minutes into the 2nd half when under pressure from Kevin Davies, Upson headed into his own net.
Elmander made it 2 for the away side from a towering heading following good work on the right-wing from Lee chung-Yong, West ham were up against it but responded well as they pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, Scott Parker was pulled back by Paul Robinson and Mark Noble confidently put away the spot kick. Unfortunately any thoughts of a hammers comeback was thwarted with 6 minutes to go as Kevin Davies’s flick found its way into the path of Elmander who slotted into the bottom corner to secure the win for Bolton. Looks like Portsmouth all over again Avram lol
Mom Johan Elmander
Everton 1-1 Wolves
Sylvan banks a point for Mick’s men
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake salvaged a point for Mick McCarthy’s men late in the game at Goddison Park to give Wolves a well earned, hard thought point. Tim Cahill’s 74th minute goal looked to have given Everton all 3 points when he reacted quickest from a blocked Arteta free kick to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
With Everton seemingly coasting to a home win, substitute Adlene Guedioura mounted and counter attack helped by a few stern tackles in the midfield, he fed Doyle on the right who’s pinpoint cross was missed by Guedioura but fell invitingly for Ebanks-Blake to slot home from close range. Everton substitute Louis Saha did have a good chance for the winner with a header late on but it wasn’t to be leaving David Moyes cursing his luck, and his team’s inability to close out a game.
Mom Adlene Guedioura
Newcastle 6-0 Aston Villa
Its not Christmas but Carroll’s on song
Andy Carroll Hit a hat-trick in Newcastle’s first home game back in the premiership as the toon trounced Aston Villa at St James Park. It could have been oh so different if John Carew hadn’t blasted a 10th minute spot kick high, wide and handsome after Harper had fouled Ashley Young, only 2 minutes later Joey Barton left fly from all of 25 yards to deceive Brad Friedel into the top left hand corner. Kevin Nolan made it 2 at the 2nd attempt following a good knock back from Carroll, then on 34 minutes Carroll capitalised on some shady Villa defending from a corner to make it three.
The 2nd half started with Newcastle pushing for more goals, their efforts were rewarded on 68 minutes when again from Barton’s corner, Carroll pounced before Dunne to unleash a left footed effort into the left hand corner of the net. With the game virtually over Newcastle began to coast, however they still had time for more goals, Nolan struck a 5th with 3 minutes to go, scrambling in at the near post again from a corner, then 3 minutes into stoppage time Carroll completed a memorable hat-trick, swapping passes with Xisco on either sides of the pitch to stroke coolly pass Friedel. What’s the odds on Villa naming a new manger before their next league game?
Mom Andy Carroll
Fulham 2-2 Man United
Hang mans last minute high
Brede Hangeland grabbed a last minute equaliser to cancel out his late own goal as Fulham twice came from behind to salvage a point at Craven Cottage. In a barnstormer of a game, packed with incident and chances Paul Scholes kept up his good form by scoring his 150th goal for united with a typical powerful effort from outside the box on 11 minutes. Fulham rallied, and could have got back on level terms if it wasn’t for Edwin Van der sar’s superb double save from Dickson Etuhu’s effort. Fulham continued the pressure United in the 2nd half and got just what they deserved on 57 minutes as Damian Duff tricked Evra on the right, played a ball for Zamora, who cut back beautifully for Simon Davies to fire home past the out stretched hands of Van der sar. Jubilation for the home fans.
United began to push for a winner, they piled on the pressure and eventually got what they thought was the winner on 84 minutes when Nani’s corner (one of many balls into the Fulham box), was not dealt with and the ball deflected off Hungeland’s shin and in, despite Stockdale and Greening’s efforts on the line. There was to be drama yet as 2 minutes later from a corner, the ball bounced off Duff’s knee on to his hand (not but a yard away), and the ref points to the spot to the dismay of everyone in the stadium (apart from the United fans), justice was served as Stockdale kept up his impressive form by diving to his right to save Nani’s spot kick. This gave Fulham hope and with a minute to go the 2 men who contrived to give United the lead combined as Hangeland rose majestically to head Duff’s corner in off Van der sar’s palms to snatch a dramatic point. Not quite the student beating teacher but Marks getting there.
Mom Brede Hangeland
Man City 3-0 Liverpool
Money bags v Pennyless
Manchester City enjoyed a comfortable first home win as James Milner created 2 goals on his debut to brush aside Roy Hodgson’s lackluster Liverpool. City opened the scoring as early as the 13th minute when Milner latched onto a pass in the area by another new signing Yaya Toure, to cut the ball back for Barry to side foot home. City were on top from then on as Liverpool never got going, Liverpool, minus Javier Mascherano who Hodgson described as “not being in the right frame of mind to play” ended the half a little better, but still was unable to create any chances for Torres and N’Gog.
The 2nd half started much the same, and just as Liverpool thought they were getting back into the game Milner swung over a corner for Micah Richards to climb high, Carlos Tevez got the faintest of touches on the line while distracting Pepe Reina to make it 2 on 52 minutes. Liverpool did have their moments albeit brief when Joe Hart pulled off a double save from N’gog and then Torres, that was as close as Roy Hodgson’s men got. The game was over on 68 minutes when the impressive Adam Johnson teased the Liverpool left side once again, dribbled into the box then forced Skrtel to bring him down for a penalty where Tevez dispacted with ease for his 2nd. Fulfilment for Mancini, questions, problems, complications and dispear for Hodgson.
Mom Adam Johnson
