TEAM: NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Although I generally prefer a good away win over a good home win, I had to debate this decision long and hard.
However, the only away win this week and the only win by more than one goal added to the fact that this win saw Forest move up to the lofty position of seventh in the league. I feel they deserved this the most.
Well done also to Crystal Palace. Chelsea. Brentford. West Ham and Man City.
GOALKEEPER: MARK TRAVERS (Bournemouth)
These days, if you are going to Villa Park, then your keeper will have to have a good game for you to get something.
In only his second appearance this season, he put in a man-of-the-match performance, making several saves which proved crucial as Bournemouth snatched a very late equaliser.
Shout out also to Southampton’s Ramsdale. West Ham’s Fabianski and Palace’s Henderson.
DEFENDER: MARK GUEHI (Crystal Palace)
He put in a man-of-the-match performance to help his team to a vital clean sheet and their first win of the season.
Spurs were nullified, although having more possession, but the England defender was a rock at the back, led by example and in control at all times to reduce Spurs to scraps,
Well done also to his teammate Chalobah & Lacroix. Liverpool duo Van Dijk & Konate. Fulham’s Diop. Arsenal duo Partey & Timber. Wolves’ duo Doyle Ait Nouri.
Man City’s Gvardiol. Bournemouth’s Senesi. Chelsea duo Fofana & James. Brighton’s Estupinan. Everton’s Young also Forest duo Aina & Murillo.
MIDFIELDER: COLE PALMER (Chelsea)
He is not exactly a one-man team but in these past two seasons, he is not far from that, as once again, he was the main man for Chelsea.
It was his defence-splitting pass that created their opening goal. Then after Newcastle equalised, he picked up the ball in the second half and ran unchallenged to expertly finish and win the game.
Shout out also to his teammate Neto. Forest’s Yates. Fulham’s Iwobi. Man City’s Savinho. Ipswich’s Szmodics. Brentford duo Damsgaard & Lewis-Potter.
Villa’s Barkley, Arsenal duo Rice & Marino. Wolves’ Doyle. West Ham duo Summerville & Bowen. Man Utd’s Casimero, also Palace duo Wharton & Eze.
FORWARD: CHRIS WOOD (Notts Forest)
He is a real purple patch. I am not sure many expected it, but along with Haaland, is bringing back the old No9 striker.
He took both his goals very well, demonstrating natural finishing, touch and strength, but also a bit of finesse.
Well done also to Arsenal’s Saka. Brentford duo Wissa & Mbeumo. Brighton duo Welbeck & Ferguson. Wolves’ Cunha. Liverpool’s Salah. Man City’s Haaland.
Chelsea’s Jackson. Bournemouth’s Evanilsen. Newcastle’s Isak. Leicester’s Vardy. Everton’s Beto. Ipswich duo Hirst & Delap. Palace’s Mateta & Fulham’s Jimenez.
MANAGER: OLIVER GLASNER (Crystal Palace)
This was probably the hardest decision this week. There were several in the running, but in the end, I wanted to acknowledge the Palace manager who had a tough time this season.
However, he stayed strong, stuck to his guns, and against a Spurs team who seemed to be on the up, knocked them right back down with a plucky performance to get their first win of the season.
Shout out also to Forest’s Santo Espirito and Chelsea’s Maresca.
UNSUNG HERO: DANNY WELBECK (Brighton)
Although his team didn’t get the win in the end, I couldn’t ignore his contribution this week and throughout this season.
Wearing the armband, he is really leading by example. He scored last week and then was stretchered off. Many weren’t expecting to see him start this week, but he did and scored, and now has already passed his goal tally for last season. He is playing so well, there are even England call-up whispers.
Shout out also to Brentford duo Wissa & Mbeumo. Bournemouth’s Evanilsen. Man City’s Gvardiol and West Ham’s Summerville.
GAME: BRENTFORD 4-3 IPSWICH
Ipswich raced into the surprising two-goal goal lead with good finishes from Szmodics (28) and Hirst (31). But Brentford pegged them back through two quickfire Wissa goals, (44), (45+1), although the second was given as an own goal.
In the second half, Brentford took the lead with Mbeumo’s penalty (51). Ipswich then had a man sent off (69) but miraculously equalised late in the game through Delap (86).
However, with minutes ticking away, Mbeumo’s cross-come shot drifted into the net and sealed a very late victory (90+6).
There were also good games at Arsenal, where Liverpool came back twice to draw 2-2 and at Brighton, where Wolves came from two goals down to score two late goals, to also draw 2-2.
GOAL: ALEX IWOBI (Fulham) vs Everton
The move started with good work from Smith Rowe, who picked up the ball in his half and ran past a few Everton players towards goal.
He then played it square to Iwobi, who turned inside one Everton player, then ran towards the goal and as he got inside the box, where three players were descending on him, he neatly and calmly side-footed the ball inside the near post.
FOOL: HARRISON CLARKE (Ipswich)
Man Utd’s Tan Hag, Spurs, and Brighton’s Wieffer can count themselves lucky. However, in only his second appearance, it’s fair to say he had a day to forget. First, scoring an own goal, in first-half stoppage time, which gave Brentford an equaliser after being two down.
In the second half, he held onto Lewis-Potter too long to give away a penalty, which gave Brentford the lead. Then, for an unwanted hat trick, his mistimed tackle saw him get a second yellow for a disastrous end to a disastrous evening. FOOL!
