Compression

Last gasp wins at the very top and bottom of the table meant once again that nobody can predict results from one week to the next. Wigan’s winner was absolutely imperative for their survival chances, and compresses the league once again, leaving the entire bottom half separated by just six points. The bottom club’s tally of 30 points at this stage also seems to be a high for a 38 game season.

Manchester United breathed a collective sigh of relief after finishing off plucky Bolton only with an 88^th minute winner, after Jussi Jaaskelainen had attempted to gather a Nani shot into his body; allowing it to bounce out to the lurking Berbatov, who scooped it into the net via Jaaskelainen’s desperate hand. United were chronically undermanned in defence once again, this time picking the always shaky Johnny Evans at centre-back with Chris Smalling. The Red Devils started with the flourishing Rooney-Hernandez tandem up front, and Hernandez was furiously protesting for a penalty early on, when his swivel and shot bounced up and away off the hand off Gary Cahill. A superb swivelling volley from Rooney was well dealt with by Jaaskelainen, while a Kevin Davies effort was brilliantly blocked by the lunging Carrick; launching a counter culminating in Rooney almost finding his strike partner but for the intervention of David Wheater. Dimitar Berbatov came on for Hernandez, and was thwarted from a one-on-one by a magnificent last-ditch sliding tackle from Gary Cahill. Wayne Rooney cut inside two challenges and stung Jasskelainen’s hands, while Bolton missed their best chance of the game when a lovely cross found Matt Taylor on his own in the middle of the box. He could only direct his free header tamely at Van der Sar, and the rest, as they say, is history. Johnny Evans later compounded Fergie’s defensive woes by getting himself sent off after opening a gash in Stuart Holden’s knee. To be fair, it was a 50-50 ball, but Evans’ studs faced Holden and went through the ball to catch him badly, so there were few complaints from United.

Arsenal lost ground in the title race but also breathed a collective sigh of relief that Manuel Almunia once again did his Manuel from Fawlty Towers impression and they got away with a point from a game they were two down in. The game started brilliantly for the home side, as Stephen Reid headed in a corner practically unchallenged on three minutes. The Gunners fired a broadside when Robin Van Persie rattled the Baggies’ crossbar, but Aaron Ramsay was smothered out on the rebound. A lovely West Brom move saw Marek Cech send in a low cross that was agonisingly stabbed wide on the stretch by Chris Brunt, but the home fans were in raptures just before the hour mark, when a hopeful punt bounced just beyond the retreating Squillaci, with Odemwingie on his shoulder. There appeared to be little danger, until from out of nowhere Almunia raced into the picture; careering out of his box only to find his path to the ball understandably blocked by his own defender. He made a token shove to get Squillaci out of the way, only to find Odemwingie was the one he should have been shoving. The Nigerian gleefully cashed in on the farce to leave the Arsenal teams collectively cupping their heads in their hands, while Almunia had no place to hide. Fortunately for the gaffe-prone Spaniard, his team got him partially out of jail Twelve minutes later, Andrei Arshavin exchanged passes in a tight area with Chamakh and thrashed his return ball into the net. Eight minutes after this, the Russian again was heavily involved; brilliantly outwitting two men on the touchline before whipping in a cross which Nicklas Bendtner flicked back at the back post. Abdoulaye Meite got his feet in a tangle and Robin Van Persie tackled through him to score the equaliser. Sebastien Squillaci later affected a great block on Marc-Antoine Fortune, while Carson saved well from Clichy. Meite partially made amends for his mistake at the death by blocking a Chamakh swivel to preserve their well-earned draw.

Chelsea got a measure of revenge over Mancitti with a comfortable victory at Stamford Bridge, while Edin Dzeko is no nearer proving he is worth anything like £30 million. Someone who has proven to be worth that fee; Carlos Tevez, was missing, and, as usual, City suffered in front of goal. Someone else with a hefty fee also suffered in front of goal, and we all know who that is. Nigel De Jong affected a superb crunching tackle on Torres as he shaped to shoot, and Vincent Kompany was once again imperious. Chelsea curiously started with both Anelka and Drogba on the bench, and Salomon Kalou proved he is as profligate as they come; spurning chance after chance. Branislav Ivanovic thought he had opened the scoring with a thumping close-range header, only for that man Kompany to prove he is positionally flawless, being in the right place to stop a certain goal. Finally, Ancelotti tired of Kalou and Torres and released his beast. Drogba soon created the opener with a whipped free-kick headed in by David Luiz: half the price of Torres and currently proving twice as effective; as classy in defence as he is potent in attack. The second goal was bizarre, with the City backline parting like the Red Sea as the wiry Ramires wandered through to shoot past Joe Hart. Chelski still seem too far adrift, but this certainly rules out a City team who have spent the Earth but yield a sparse goals harvest.

Maynor Figueroa was the unlikely hero at the DW Stadium, as Wigan Athletic salvaged a crucial win to keep themselves in touch at the bottom, while dragging League Cup winners Birmingham deeper into trouble. Birmingham, who have been nothing short of dire since that cup win, had the linesman to thank for their opener, as a series of poor clearances and lucky ricochets put an offside Liam Ridgewell in to score. Wigan are known for some delicious interplay with no end product, but their equaliser was a lesson in measured football. Ben Watson played a sumptuous reverse pass between three defenders and left Emerson Boyce to canter to the byline and just keep the ball in; crossing low for Ben Foster to palm straight out to the feet of Tom Cleverley, who scored. Birmingham responded with a Seb Larsson free-kick striking the crossbar, before Charles N’Zogbia had the crowd on its feet; his dazzling footwork in the box beating two men, before cutting back for Cleverley, who horribly miscued but in the process set up for the onrushing Figueroa to drill against Foster’s legs. Liam Ridgewell was the Brum hero as he blocked efforts from Sammon and McCarthy in the same scramble, while Hugo Rodallega had a goal disallowed for a blatant push. There then followed an even more blatant foul by Antonin Alcaraz which ninety-nine times out of one hundred would have been viewed as a cast-iron penalty. The ball was looping just beyond Curtis Davies, who lunged at the ball. Alcaraz couldn’t have been more obvious in taking his eyes from the ball to the player; declining to jump but rather sticking his shoulder into Davies and sending him flying. Lee Probert must have been blind, but Wigan took full advantage of his ridiculous decision to win at the death, when Maynor Figueroa advanced and cut onto his ‘weaker’ right foot, before unleashing the fury. The ball seemed to take a nick as Foster dived all wrong as it crashed past him for a last-minute winner.

Liverpool eased silently up to the cusp of fifth place with a surprisingly comfortable away win at Sunderland. No beach balls saved Steve Bruce’s men, as an awful penalty decision made by a linesman who was seventy yards further away than the referee condemned them to a goal’s deficit. John Mensah’s last-ditch lunge brought down Jay Spearing a yard outside the box, but he crashed down inside and the referee somehow allowed his decision to be overruled by a linesman also unsighted by Titus Bramble. The new Liverpool front two were proving a thorn in the Mackems’ sides; with Luis Suarez drilling in a cross shot which was well saved, and Andy Carroll finding Lee Cattermole guarding his post diligently. Mignolet produced another fine save from a long-range Spearing drive, but it was lights-out at the Stadium of Light when Suarez produced another mesmeric moment, slipping past Lee Cattermole and smashing in from an acute angle as Bramble closed in. Mignolet clearly was not expecting the shot and was beaten at his near post diving the wrong wa, and Sunderland’s day of misery was complete when John Mensah received what looked like a harsh straight red card, though he would have been booked anyway, after hauling down Suarez.

Newcastle were humiliated at the Britannia, as Stoke celebrated their biggest ever Premier League win. Strangely, Newcastle always seem to be a shambles when Sol Campbell forms part of their defence, and he was up to his new tricks here. Ryan Shawcross took down an awkward ball and fed Jermaine Pennant on the wing, who dinked a perfect cross for Jonathan Walters to easily beat Campbell in the air and score the opener. The second goal was farcical, with Steve Harper signalling to clear the ball as his bootlaces were untied yet still receiving the ball from the dozy Williamson. The goalkeeper then stupidly responded to being closed down by poking the ball a couple of yards, leaving the ball to eventually find Matthew Etherington, whose low cross was headed by Campbell straight to the lurking Jermaine Pennant, who stabbed in form close-range. Stoke’s dubious tactics of yanking players away from the defensive wall didn’t even have to be deployed, as Newcastle left a yawning gap through which FA Cup hero Danny Higginbotham drilled a shot that found the net. The only bright spot of the afternoon for Toon fans came from young prospect Shane Ferguson, who looked incisive and brave. One mazy dribble opened up a chance, but his finish was far too weak. Asmir Begovic pulled off a fantastic save from a Joey Barton free-kick before Stoke added the finishing touch with a route one hoof being half-volleyed in by substitute Ricardo Fuller.

Tottenham fans may be beginning to chew their fingernails at the prospect of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. With Mancitti and Chelski ahead of them in the table and Liverpool making a stealth move from oblivion, Spurs really needed a victory over West Ham but were left frustrated. Jermain Defoe particularly will feel he should have made the difference, particularly when Aaron Lennon got onto his right foot and slammed a shot against the foot of the post, only for the rebound to hit Defoe on the heel and spin wide from a few yards. Michael Dawson rattled the crossbar from 30 yards early on, while Luka Modric fired fractionally wide. West Ham saw Demba Ba thwarted by a cracking Gomes save, while Carlton Cole shot feebly at the goalkeeper when put through one-on-one by Ba. Roman Pavlyuchenkko came on late and tested Green to the full with a snapshot down low, but the Hammers goalkeeper saved the best save for last, as he launched himself up to the ‘postage stamp’ region to somehow tip Bale’s magnificent free-kick onto the crossbar and away. A brilliant result for the happier Hammers, but ‘Arry may be feeling glum when Spurs finally fall in the Champions League.

The battle of the Blacks saw ‘Pool pegged back by a stirring ‘Burn comeback. The first half was pretty much the Charlie Adam show, as the midfield schemer’s free-kick set up Sheffield Wednesday reject Luke Varney to score, but it was disallowed by a linesman’s flag so late the crowd had gone home. If this was a dubious decision, the Blackpool opener was farcical. Gary Taylor-Fletcher was put in for a shot and fired over the bar. As he followed through, Ryan Nelsen slid in. The ball had already cleared the crossbar by the time Nelsen made minimal contact with the Blackpool player, and bizarrely the penalty was awarded and converted impeccably by Adam. Adam was at it again five minutes later and produced a ‘postage stamp’ free-kick to make it 2-0 at the break. Blackpool were once again denied a Varney strike for  offside before the half ended, and it looked like there was only one winner. The second half saw ‘Burn take over the initiative, and Christopeher Samba rammed the ball home from a scramble to halve the deficit. Stephen N’Zonzi struck the outside of the post, before a Christopher Samba header was cleared off the line, and his second effort hit Jason Roberts in the back of the head and went wide. Blackburn continued to press, and a deep cross hit Hoilett’s heel as he fell over and hit the post. Blackpool defended resolutely right up until the last minute, when they were left devastated. Blackburn resorted to the old ‘up and under’, as a Robinson hoof saw Richard Kingson come for it and fail. Ian Evatt was there to nod the first effort off the line, but Junior Hoilett was on the spot to nod back into the net for a precious equaliser that leaves both teams tied on 33 points.

David Moyes began his Everton career against Fulham nine years ago, and, just as then, he came away with a victory. Carlos Salcido worked overtime for Fulham in brilliantly clearing first Saha then Jagielka efforts off the line, but it was to no avail, as a dinked cross from Leon Osman was nodded home by Seamus Coleman, and then a free-kick laid off was drilled through the wall and in by Luis Saha. Fulham clawed their way back into the game with a clinical Dempsey finish, but the Toffees held on for a win that takes them to the magical forty point total, though most would not have doubted Everton’s survival under their marvel of a manager.

Gerard Houllier’s detractors were in fine voice as Villa slipped to a crushing defeat at home to fellow relegation candidates Wolves. This was despite Wolves having two goals disallowed. The goal came when a deep Wolves cross was only half-cleared for new England boy Matt Jarvis to crack a crisp volley low in off the post. Jean Makoun then made a fool of himself by somehow heading a perfect cross wide unmarked from eight yards. Villa were aggrieved when Darren Bent was clearly fouled a yard inside the box with no penalty forthcoming, but they were their own worst enemies with some particularly profligate finishing. Ashley Young whipped an effort off the underside of the bar and away, while Carlos Cuellar missed a sitter at the death, to leave the Claret fans urging Randy Lerner to ditch the failing Frenchman.