No change for a change

No change at the top or bottom in one of the more predictable weekends of Premiership action so far.

Manchester United comfortably brushed off a Fulham side who have yet to shake off their reputation as easy touches on the road. Fulham actually began the game the stronger, with Chelsea loanee Gael Kakuta producing a classy backheel turn and snapshot which was well saved by Tomas Kusczak, while Bobby Zamora screwed a chance set up by a rare Scholes error well wide. The Cottagers were made to rue this profligacy, when a superb move saw the home side open the scoring. Dimitar Berbatov backheeled to Nani and got on his bike. Nani dipped and swerved past three men, before playing a one-two in a hugely tight area with Anderson, and in the same movement beautifully slipping the ball through for Berbatov to slot home. Replays showed a marginal offside decision, but the Bulgarian was allowed the benefit of the doubt. Anderson dragged his effort wide after being put in by Berbatov, but it was 2-0 just after the half-hour, with Patrice Evra superbly setting Nani away, who duly rounded the goalkeeper and attempted to lob the goal-line defenders. The first defender saved the goal, but only delayed it a second, as it was nodded over the line by the well-placed Valencia. The rest of the match was remarkably languid, bar an Anderson effort beaten out by Schwarzer, and a cracking rising drive from Eidur Gudjohnsen which was fantastically saved, though not noticed by the officials, by Kusczak. Finally, Zamora found Chris Baird rampaging from full-back, but he could only clear the crossbar with his effort. United looked comfortable without Rooney, suspended of course for swearing into a Sky Sports camera after netting a hat-trick against West Ham. A few ‘experts’ have suggested his behaviour was ‘unprecedented’, though they must have very short memories:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/drogba-rages-as-chelsea-crash-out-in-blaze-of-fury-1680489.html

A tremendous spectacle at the Stadium of Light ended with Roy Hodgson celebrating a crucial victory, at the same time as extending his unbeaten stewardship. The Baggies’ board might have shown grotesque disloyalty to Roberto Di Matteo, but they have partially redeemed this with their choice of successor. Hodgson has instilled a defensive nous into West Brom, apparently without compromising much of their attacking verve, and in doing so has almost guided them to safety with six games remaining. Meanwhile, Sunderland’s appalling run of one point from seven matches became one from eight. In fact, since Darren Bent left, they have amassed just four points from a possible twenty-seven. It all seemed so promising when Elmohamedy pressured Nicky Shorey into heading a Gyan cross into his own net. But West Brom are made of stern stuff these days, and they came roaring back with a close-range equaliser from Peter Odemwingie. Sunderland shrugged this off when Kieran Richardson laid off a free-kick for Phil Bardsley, with the aid of a slight deflection, to unleash into the top corner. Mackems fans were gleeful at the break, but it was all to be turned to despair in the second period, as only the Baggies came out bouncing. Some patient passing and movement around the edge of the Sunderland box saw a series of intricate one-twos let in Youssuf Mulumbu to stab cutely past Mignolet with the outside of his boot. A Brunt free-kick was nodded down by Olsson to force a magnificent point-blank save from Mignolet, before another patient and precise build-up saw substitute Andy Reid slide the ball down the line for Odemwingie, who pulled back for Paul Schnarner to ghost in between defenders and guide the ball into the net for a glorious winner.

Liverpool confirmed their renaissance under Kenny Dalglish by wiping the floor with Champions’ League place contenders Mancitti. Andy Carroll scored a brace, putting his ‘makeweight’ Fernando Torres in the shade, while for City it was the worst possible circumstance before their FA Cup semi-final against city rivals United, as Carlos Tevez limped off with a hamstring injury. Uruguayan schemer Luis Suarez had already seen an effort from him tipped against the post by Joe Hart, but when Raul Meireles’ long-range stinger thudded back off Vincent Kompany, Carroll thundered the loose ball home from the edge of the box; with his weaker foot no less. Kompany’s evening got worse, as once again he deflected a cross right to into the stride of a Liverpool player, this time Dirk Kuyt, who ran onto the gift and slid it precisely into the corner of Hart’s net. City’s misery was compounded when Meireles sent a searching cross into the box, and Aleksandr Kolarov could only head onto the muscular challenge of Carroll, whose head guided it sweetly into the net past a despairing Hart. City were bereft of inspiration, even when hothead Balotelli came on for Tevez and then, humiliatingly, was substituted himself for hatchet man Nigel De Jong. Perhaps Mancini felt he needed to tighten up? Yaya Toure produced perhaps the best effort for the away side with a 30 yard rocket that Reina kept out well, but Kuyt narrowly nodded a cross wide and Carroll narrowly over at the death, to leave the crowd in no doubt as to whom had bossed the game.

Tottenham ensured they have not fallen out of contention for a Champions’ League berth next season, as they beat Stoke City 3-2 in a pulsating match at White Hart Lane. Perhaps the most incredible statistic that Match of the Day pulled out was that Stoke had actually shared 53% of possession, against a home side whose game is based on incisive passing, so the route one-ers seemed to adapt their game adeptly. Even the two Potters goals were superb examples of flowing open play. Gareth Bale had already tested Asmir Begovic, before Roman Pavlyuchenko lifted the ball cutely over the goalkeeper, only to find Wilkinson diligently guarding his goal. Unfortunately for Stoke, the resultant short corner was not pressed, and Pavlyuchenko swung in a delightful cross for Crouch to head in virtually on his knees. Just seven minutes later and it was two. Luka Modric instigated a move and received a clever return from Pavlyuchenko, before cantering through and nutmegging Begovic for a fabulous goal. Last week, Jonathan Walters nicked the ball on the halfway line, before racing clear and scoring an incredible goal. This time, Matty Etherington was determined to prove he could do it just as well. Again nicking possession on halfway, Etherington’s Ferrari steamed clear of Huddlestone’s tractor, before beating Gomes from a seemingly impossible angle. The away fans were in raptures and roared their team on to level, but it was Spurs who maintained their two goal cushion. The ball was raked from right to left to Assou-Ekotto, who sent a searching ball cross-field to his fellow full-back Corluka. The Croatian gave the ball to Huddlestone, whose floated cross found Crouch lurking with intent. The beanpole did the business, and Spurs were once again in control, but before half-time the game was flipped on its head once more. Gareth Bale proved he can do wrong, as his dithering on halfway saw him dispossessed with a classic tackle from Wilkinson. Kenwyne Jones took the slack, and before Spurs could compose themselves, the Trinidadian belted a tremendous 25 yard shot in off the crossbar. The fans could not believe what they were seeing, and unfortunately that was it for goals, though the second half was not lacking in incident. Stoke had a clanger of a chance to take a point, but when Jones’ low cross was touched by Gomes, it hit Walters four yards out with an open net and came off the post. Pavlyuchenko’s diving header from a devious Bale cross went inches wide, while Youned Kaboul was bemoaning the officials, when he scored what he felt was a legitimate goal from a corner; appearing to head the ball out of Begovic’s grasp with no foul. A Pavlyuchenko stonger was beaten out by Begovic, and Jones responded in kind with his own vicious effort, but 3-2 it remained. Crouch redeemed.

West Ham’s revival was killed off mercilessly by Bolton Wanderers, at a ground which has never been particularly kind to the Hammers. They had never won at the Reebok, and they never looked like doing so this time. Daniel Sturridge was a class apart for the Trotters, and his relationship with both Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander created umpteen opportunities. That he didn’t claim the matchball was something of a mystery. After Sturridge had spun and fired an early effort just wide, Johan Elmander helped on a Davies flick, and the youngster controlled in an instant, switched feet and guided it beautifully into the net with no backlift. A brilliant Martin Petrov centre found the smallest man on the field; Chung-Yong Lee, who nevertheless headed in expertly for 2-0. Sturridge brought the house down with his second, as he picked the ball up in a seemingly harmless position, out on the left touchline. He then proceeded to move across the box unchallenged, before cutting niftily outside Scott Parker and drilling low into the net with his left foot. He must have thought his hat-trick was secure when he cantered through later on, but was foiled by a last-ditch challenge from James Tomkins. West Ham still showed signs of life, and Jaaskelainen had to be at his best to save a Demba Ba Header, while at the other end, Sturridge’s next chance of a hat-trick was spurned, when he couldn’t clear Green with his attempted lob. Demba Ba again was West Ham’s most potent threat, and slipped as he sent a shot cannoning off the post. Finally Sturridge once again showed the Hammers defence a clean pair of heels, but could only fire his cross-shot wide of the post.

With West Ham losing, Wolves could have done with a result at home to an unpredictable Everton side again shorn of any experience on the bench, and youngster Maguaye Gueye making an appearance. The Old Golds gave their fans something to cheer first, when Stephen Fletcher had a header cleared off the line by Leon Osman. It was the first action of a man-of-the-match display from the diminutive midfielder. Wolves felt they should have had a penalty when Sylvain Ebanks-Blake wriggled into the box, and went down under a dubious challenge from Phil Jagielka, though they both had firm hold of each other’s shirts. Everton took the lead somewhat against the run of play, when a perfect cross into the ‘corridor of uncertainty’ between goalkeeper and defenders saw Jermaine Beckford gambling and running across his man to nod into the net. Guedioura replied by bending a good effort narrowly wide, and Osman superbly turned Berra before sending in a dangerous cross for Beckford to head powerfully at goal which Hennessey saved brilliantly. A goalmouth scramble at the other end saw Wolves only fail to score because of a magnificent saving block from a combination of Jagielka and Osman, and this proved crucial when they scored the killer second. George Elokobi had almost scored an own-goal, and in the aftermath Jermaine Beckford picked up the pieces; holding the ball up and laying back to Phil Neville, who struck a rising drive that took a nick on its way into the top corner. Youngter Gueye was sent through soon after, but ran out of legs as he approached goal under pressure, and could only poke an effort that was saved by Hennessey’s legs. The third goal was a collective disaster for Wolves before half-time. Stephen Fletcher won a 50-50 on halfway, but Jamie O’Hara left it for a team-mate, only to see the loose ball seized upon by Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who advanced a few yards before swerving a belting shot into Hennessey’s top corner for a glorious third. The Molineuk faithful let their team know in no uncertain terms that this was not acceptable. The second half saw an improvement of sorts, though efforts from Henry, Guedioura and a near own-goal from Jagielka all fell short of the target Wolves needed, and David Moyes celebrated a fantastic victory, despite his threadbare squad reaching breaking point.

Another storming game at Bloomfield Road, another demoralising defeat for ‘Ollie’s Tangerine army. Blackpool’s vibrant attacking play was countered by the kind of laissez-faire defending that Arsenal wish they could face every week. A raking crossfield ball from a Cesc Fabregas who couldn’t believe his space found Robin Van Persie on the left, and he was given adequate time to comfortably deliver a low cross for a completely un-noticed Abou Diaby to glide into the box and finish. Keeping tight after a goal is an alien concept to Blackpool, and so less than three minutes had elapsed before Emmanuel Eboue of all people had exchanged passes with Wilshere before crashing the ball into the net with his left foot before a challenge could be made. Fabregas’ favourite piece was the chipped dink over the top of an incredibly high Blackpool offside line, and it let in Samir Nasri to swivel and volley brilliantly past Kingson, but his effort bounced off the outside of the post. A carbon copy Fabregas through-ball then let in Robin Van Persie, though this time Kingson had made himself a makeshift sweeper. This delayed the striker enough to have to look for Diaby in support, and the big midfielder dithered and tried to walk the ball in; inevitably losing out. Blackpool’s offside trap finally worked, when a Squillaci flick was volleyed in from close range by Van Persie, only to be correctly flagged. Blackpool’s attempts to reduce the arrears before half-time were thwarted, when somehow a combination of Lehmann’s legs and Nasri’s composure cleared a scrambled effort off the line.

The second half finally saw Blackpool take the game to Arsenal, and they reduced the deficit quickly. Jack Wilshere made a scything foul on halfway, but the referee waved play on as Blackpool launched a lightning counter-attack. The ball was slid superbly into DJ Campbell in the box, who rounded Lehmann and was wiped out. Luckily for the German, the referee once again allowed play to continue, avoiding a red card but allowing Gary Taylor-Fletcher to slot in the loose ball. Blackpool then took charge and had Arsenal under the cosh. The referee, who had up til then handled the game well, then made an absolute howler, when Blackpool worked the ball to Taylor-Fletcher two yards inside the box. As Koscielny approached he nudged the ball across to a team-mate, but was clattered by Koscielny’s ill-judged slide well after the ball had gone. The referee appeared to only have eyes on the ball and did not award the cast-iron spot-kick. Keith Southern met a devious cross at the near post from point-blank range, but could only nod across goal, and Blackpool lamented these moments, as Arsenal sealed the game. Diaby brilliantly held off a challenge in his own half before feeding Fabregas on halfway, who flicked expertly to Theo Walcott, who turned on the afterburners and crossed low for Van Persie to finish. There was one more chance from Campbell saved by Lehmann, but this was a tale of what could have been for Blackpool.

Chelsea somehow ground out an ugly win over a team they beat by eight goals in this fixture last season. Wigan offered little in attack, but held out remarkably, until the referee bizarrely allowed a goal which relied on the £50 million substitute Fernando Torres sticking his arm right into Al-Habsi’s face and not getting anything on the ball. Florent Malouda eventually bundled the ball into the net, but it was a shocking decision. Otherwise, Al-Habsi made excellent stops from Malouda, Drogba, and late on a superb reflex save from the one great effort from Torres. Chelsea loanee Franco Di Santo had the best effort for Wigan, who nevertheless must have expected a defeat here. Their lack of goal threat however will cause much consternation amongst the Latics’ support in their increasingly desperate bid for survival.

Two of the uglier sisters in the Premiership pantomime met at Ewood Park, and it ended in a stale stalemate. Lee Bowyer opened the account with a minging goal; bundling in on the line from Cameron Jerome’s centre. Sebastien Larsson sent a free-kick thudding against the inside of Robinson’s post, while Craig Gardner cleared a Rovers effort off the line. Birmingham must have thought they were heading for a half-time lead, but after a Roger Johnson head injury had meant seven minutes of additional time, Liam Ridgewell’s head was clearly already in the dressing room, as he was caught napping and dispossessed by Junior Hoilett, who proceeded to round Foster and score on the stroke of the whistle. The second period saw Hoilett again work his magic, but his dinked cross could only be headed onto the top of the bar by Roque Santa Cruz. It is a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes as to what has happened to Santa Cruz’s ability. Perhaps he has left it in the same place as Fernando Torres.

Gerard Houllier breathed a hefty sigh of relief as his Villa team nicked a vital victory against a Newcastle side who obliterated them 6-0 earlier in the season. Of course that team had Andy Carroll, and Newcastle were also missing their defensive midfield lynchpin Chekh Tiote, their goalscoring midfielder Kevin Nolan, and their next most potent strikers Leon Best and Shola Ameobi, although they did possess ‘England’s best midfielder’ in Joey Barton. Villa’s goal came after Mr Modest had conceded a cheap free-kick to Ashley Young, who picked himself up to deliver a whipped masterpiece of a free-kick which James Collins just had to run across his man to meet and help on its way into the corner of the net. Villa had the chance to extend that lead, but Darren Bent does what he tends to do sometimes; miss a howling sitter, after an inviting floated cross from Downing left the goal at his mercy. Bent then made up for it after Jean Makoun had turned his man brilliantly and sent in a perfect pass for the England man to spin and find the net, though it was wrongly adjudged to be offside. Newcastle’s best chances fell to Peter Lovenkrands, who was denied by the continued excellence of Brad Friedel. Gabriel Agbonlahor tested Steve Harper at the other end, but in the end it was the narrowest of margins for a fragile-looking Villa, who live to fight another day.