TEAM: LEICESTER CITY
I understand West Ham must feel hard done by to come from 3-1 down to win 4-3 and not get this award. As well as Everton, who toppled Chelsea. However. Leicester went down to 10 men as early as the fourth minute. Away at Burnley, so virtually played the whole game with a man down and still came away with a 2-1 win. Amazing feat. It’s the earliest a team have lost a player and still won a game. Along with West Ham and Everton. Well done also to Liverpool.
GOALKEEPER: JORDAN PICKFORD (Everton)
More or less by default. The Everton man takes this award. However, he was the only goalkeeper to claim a clean sheet. And it was no mean feat as he did claim it against a Chelsea team who, despite their own issues. Are still fighting for a Champions League place. Have already reached a cup final and are in the quarter finals of the Europa League. Shout out also to Leicester’s Schmeichel.
DEFENDER: WES MORGAN (Leicester City)
It was a captain’s performance in every which way possible. Thrust into the game early after Maguire was sent off after just 4 minutes. He was superb and equal to everything Burnley threw at him. Full of towering headers and superb challenges. If that wasn’t enough, he popped up in the last-minute to miraculously head in the winner. Well done also to his team-mate Evans. Everton duo Digne and Mina. Also Liverpool’s Matip.
MIDFIELDER: IDRISSA GUEYE (Everton)
Although it was one to the most lightly contested midfielder awards. There was still a worthy winner. Against a midfield that possessed Kante, Barkley and Jorginho. With also Pedro, Hazard and Higuain on the pitch. He was the stand out performer with his tireless running, interceptions, no holds barred challenges and good use of the ball. Shout out also to his team mates Richarlison and Sigurdsson. Huddersfield duo Bacuna and Moon. Leicester trio Tielemans, Ndidi & Maddison. Newcastle’s Richie and Liverpool’s Milner.
FORWARD: JAVIER HERNANDEZ (West Ham)
The baby-faced assassin strikes again. He came on the pitch at half time with his team losing. It seems he wasn’t getting a sniff in the game. But in true predatory fashion, with his team losing 3-2. He found space on two occasions and scored twice, to turn the game around in the last ten minutes, to help his team to a late, last-minute, dramatic, come from behind 4-3 victory at the death. Well done also to Huddersfields’s Grant. Bournemouth’s King. Newcastle’s Rondon and Liverpool’s Mane.
MANAGER: BRENDON RODGERS (Leicester)
Not sure how he pulled it off but. His team played virtually the whole game a man less, never went behind and still came up with a late, last-minute winner from the substitute centre back, who was only on the pitch due to the sending off. Not only that but, after the sending off, he had to shuffled his pack, but bravely managed to keep an attacking team who gave Burnley all they could handle with Maddison, Barnes, Tielemans and Vardy.
UNSUNG HERO: YOURI TIELEMANS (Leicester)
The young Belgian international on loan from Monaco, has quietly impressed since moving to Leicester. He has only played a handful of games but has made a huge impact on the team with his ability on the ball, helping him to link up with the likes of Maddison, Gray and Vardy. It’s not easy moving to a new country in such a demanding league, at a young age. Many players need months to adapt but he has shown his talent by slotting straight in to the team with good effect.
GAME: WEST HAM 4-3 HUDDERSFIELD
Noble opened the scoring from the spot when Lanzini was fouled and the captain made no mistake (15) Huddersfield were quickly level when Bacuna headed in Mooy’s right sided corner (17). Huddersfield then took the lead when Grant turned Lowe’s cross from the left inside the post (30). In the second half. Huddersfield got a superb third when Grant collects the ball inside the West Ham half, rolled his marker, beat another defender and unleashed a wicked effort into the top corner (65). West Ham pulled a goal back when Ogbonna powered in Cresswell’s corner from the left (75). With only six minutes to go, Hernandez equalised when he was left all alone in the box and he made no mistake with a diving header from Nasri’s cross (84). The come back was then complete when Hernandez again flicked in Filipe Anderson’s cross for a dramatic late victory (90).
GOAL: KARLAN GRANT (Huddersfield) v West Ham
Huddersfield defender stole forward with the ball just inside his own half. Then played a low, straight ball into Grant inside the West Ham half. With the defender close by he rode the defender and galloped forward with the ball. As a second defender closed him down, he cut inside the defender onto his right foot and curled an unstoppable, ferocious effort into the top corner of the net.
FOOL: HUDDERSFIELD FC
What can I really say? Rock bottom of the league, struggling for goals. In the running to break an unwanted record of scoring the least amount of goals in a Premier League season. Amazingly found themselves 3-1 up away at West Ham, with a mere six minutes to go. However, due to some woeful and diabolical defending. They somehow contrived to lose the game 4-3 in the last minute. Even when they score three goals away from home they still managed to come away with no points. It’s no wonder they are rock bottom of the league and destined for the Championship……FOOLS!
