WEEKLY AWARDS

TEAM: ASTON VILLA 

There were some very good performances this week that on another day would have been up here, but Villa doing the double over an Arsenal team going for the title tops the lot. 

They had to stay strong in the first half without being overrun. However, they were much the better side in the second half, and apart from scoring two goals, they hit the woodwork twice. so, were good for their impressive win.

Well done also to Cyrstal Palace. Newcastle. Fulham. Man City. Brentford and Chelsea, who were close to winning this. 

GOALKEEPER: DEAN HENDERSON (Crystal Palace)

Going to Anfield, Palace knew their keeper would have to play well if they were to get something, and he turned in a tremendous performance. 

Liverpool missed a hatful of chances, but in truth, the Palace keeper was a big reason due to his heroics to secure a clean sheet and an unlikely away win.

Shout out also to Villa’s Martinez. Liverpool’s Alisson. West Ham’s Fabianski and Wolves’ Sa.

DEFENDER: DIEGO CARLOS (Aston Villa)

There were several players in contention for this, but I gave it to the Villa man, although many of his teammates more than played their part. 

However, he was the man of the match in an impressive away performance and clean sheet at the Emirates against an Arsenal team who have been free-scoring, but especially in the second half, nullified and reduced to half chances.

Well done also to his teammates Kansa, Torres & Digne. Bournemouth duo Senesi & Kerkez. Man City’s Gvardiaol. Burnley’s Esteve. Wolves’ Kilman. Brighton’s Van Hecke. Brentford’s Reguilon. Newcastle’s Schar. Fulham duo Robinson & Castegne. Chelsea duo T.Silva & Gilchrist Also, Palace trio Clyne, Lerma & Anderson who was close to winning this.

MIDFIELDER: COLE PALMER (Chelsea)

The boy is just special. Back-to-back Stamford Bridge hat-tricks. However, this one was a perfect one. Left foot, header, right foot. Plus a penalty. 

His first goal showed his skill and finishing. His second one showed awareness and anticipation. His third showed quick thinking, both feet and quality. He then topped it with a cooly taken penalty after his teammates were in a squabble.

Shout out also to his teammate Fulham duo Iwobi & Pereira. Man Utd’s Fernandes. Bournemouth’s Kluivert. Forest duo Gibbs-White & Danilo. Man City trio De Bruyne, Kovacic & Doku.

Newcastle duo Anderson & Guimaraes. Luton’s Barkley. Brentford duo Damsgaard & Onyeka. Burnley’s Brownhill. Palace duo Mitchell & Wharton and Villa foursome McGinn, Tielemans, Zaniolo & Bailey.

FORWARD: ALEXANDER ISAK (Newcastle)

He is in a real purple patch and scoring for fun. His two goals against Spurs, the opener and the third, both excellent finishes, made it seventeen for the season. 

It also made him only the third player in Newcastle’s history to score in six consecutive home games after Andy Cole and Alan Shearer.

Well done also to his teammate Gordon.Villa’s Watkins. Bournemouth’s Solanke. Man City’s Haaland. Chelsea’s Jackson. Palace’s Eze and Mateta. Also, Burnley’s Odobert.

MANAGER: UNAI EMERY (Aston Villa)

There is no denying he has done a magnificent job, and with Villa sitting in fourth, he is already exceeding expectations. 

But beyond his wildest dreams, he wouldn’t have thought doing the double over his old team was possible. After Arsenal’s decent first half, he changed tactics at halftime, and they bossed the second half and deserved their away win.

Shout out also to Newcastle’s Howe. Man City’s Guardiola. Chelsea’s Pochettino and Crystal Palace’s Glasner who was close to winning this. 

UNSUNG HERO: ANDREAS PEREIRA (Fulham)

This was probably the toughest decision this week. There were so many candidates who missed out on the other awards. Usually, I can compensate by giving them this. 

Although several could have claimed this, I went with the Fulham man. He was the most unlikely, with his two goals and great finishes to sink West Ham. It was a great away win for Fulham, coming off two defeats in a week.

Well done also to Palace’s Anderson. Man Utd’s Fernandes. Man City’s Doku. Villa duo Bailey & Watkins. Palace’ Lerma. Wolves’ Cunha and Chelsea’s Jackson.

GAME: NOTTS FOREST 2-2 WOLVES 

In a thrilling midlands battle Wolves’ took the lead with a great goal, all made and finished by Cunha, who ran down the right, cut inside two players and lashed a ball top corner (40).

Forest was level on the stroke of halftime when Gibbs-White rose at the near post to nod home Reyna’s corner from the left (45+1).

In the second half, Fores took the lead. Gibbs-White galloped through the middle. His pass came back off a defender, and just as he was about to strike, a tackle came flying in. The ball fell to Danilo following the play to control and finish from the six-yard box (57).

However, Wolves equalised when Sarabia swung in a right-sided corner. Kilman then headed back across the goal, where the keeper tried to punch out, but it bounced off Cunha, who used his strength to hold off the defender and scramble across the line.

There was also a good game at Bournemouth, who drew 2-2 with Man Utd.

GOAL: MATHEUS CUNHA (Wolves) vs Notts Forest

Sa collected the ball, and his quick throw sent Cunha running down the left. Cunha carried the ball from his half, with two defenders into the Forest box. 

Just inside Forest’s box, he turned his back, then swivelled between the two defenders expertly to make space, then, from the left side of the box, at an angle, hit an unstoppable effort into the far top corner.

There were also good goals from Man City’s Doku, Kovacic and Gvardiol. Also, Chelsea’s Palmer.

FOOL: MICKY VAN DE VEN (Tottenham) 

This was a tough one to call as there were several candidates. Liverpool then Arsenal unexpectedly lost at home to hand Man City the advantage. Everton was terrible, and back-to-back mistakes from Burnley keeper Muric cost his team points. 

However, after much praise this season, the Spurs defender had a horror show. Not once but twice in the space of two minutes, he found himself one-on-one with a Newcastle striker, and both times he lost his footing to concede a goal.

If that wasn’t bad enough, his poor awareness allowed Isak to run through unchallenged to score the third and end any hope of a comeback. It’s fair to say it was a performance to forget. FOOL!