Premier League Round-Up Sun 30-11-08
Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2
Chelsea are still finding it hard going at Stamford Bridge when they gave up a first half lead & lose to Arsenal in the London derby. It was Chelsea who started the better but Arsenal could have taken the lead as Peter Cech parried the ball & William Gallas couldn’t stretch enough to reach the loose ball but Chelsea did take the lead after 32 minutes but it was a bit fortunate as a Jose Bosingwa low cross was turned into his own net by Johan Djourou. But it seemed that Chelsea were content with this as they didn’t really push on to add to the lead & were make to pay in the second half with 3 crazy minutes. The first was also a fortunate goal as Denilson played a through ball to Van Persie who looked at least 2 yards off side but his smashed it into the top corner of the net the second was a free kick knocked down by Adebayor & Van Persie send a low shot passed Peter Cech & Arsenal held on for the important win..
Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1
Man United showed Man City that the level they will have to compete at when they won the 150th Manchester derby. It was Man United who dominated the first half but it was City who could have taken the lead when Stephen Ireland saw his shot hit the outside of the post after a poor punch out by Van Der Sar but it was United who got the opening goal 3 minutes before half time as Rooney pounced on the loose ball after Joe Hart had parried a Michael Carrickshot to score. Man City came out in the second half with renewed purpose & were given a advantage when Ronaldo was sent off for United for 2 bookable offences but it took right up to injury-time for City’s best chance when Richard Dunne had his effort cleared off the line by Patrice Evra & then there was time left for Joe Hart to push over a Rooney long range attempt…
Tottenham 0 Everton 1
Harry Redknapp suffered his first defeat as Spurs manager at home to a well organized & stubborn Everton. The only goal to be scored in the match came in the second half after 52 minutes as Steven Pienaar received a quickly taken free kick & he took a quick snap shot that got a wicked deflection on the way towards goal & whizzed passed Heurelho Gomes & into the net. The match was marred by Yakubu’s injury & he will be out for the rest of the season & Louis Saha who looks to have torn his hand sting…
Portsmouth 3 Blackburn 2
Portsmouth won the first match at home under Tony Adams after this thrilling match ended in a Portsmouth win. The first half was a well fort out contest with both teams lacking the cutting edge but that all changed in the second half. Portsmouth took the lead after just 4 minutes into the second half as Peter Crouch headed home a Glen Johnson Cross & they got a second 4 minutes after that as Kranjcar put Jermain Defoe through with a fantastic ball & he made no mistake & fired it past Robinson. But back came Blackburn & after 62 minutes Matt Derbyshire on as a sub looped his header over David James & that spurred them on as 5 minutes later they were level. Blackburn midfielder Tugaystrode forward with the ball & sent a low shot past James into the goal. But poor Blackburn couldn’t hold on as Portsmouth got the winner in the 80th minute Papa Bouba Diop had a shot that was well saved by Robinson but the ball ended up a Sean Davis feet & he calmly lifted it over Robinson & into the net to give Portsmouth the win..
Monday 1st December
Liverpool 0 West Ham 0
Liverpool moved to the top of the table by 1 point after this goaless draw at Anfield. Althoough they dominated possession they couldn’t make it count or turn any of it into goals Sami Hypia came closest for Liverpool with four chances two in each half with one chance being hooked off the line by Carlton Cole. But it was Liverpool old boy Craig Bellamy who could have opened the scoring for West Ham but his firece shot just out the penalty area found the right hand post & not the net. The second half saw Robert green making a great save from Yossi Benayoun while Cole went close for West Ham & right at the death Ryan Babel was inches wide of giving Liverpool the win but it ended all square..
Premier League Round-Up Sat 29-11-08
Aston Villa 0 Fulham 0
Brad Friedel was the highlight of this football match as he set the premier league record for the most consecutive appearances (167) since the league began. Villa had the best of the chances in the first half as Steve Sidwell & Gareth Barry both went close to giving Villa the lead where Fulham were looking to get there first away win of the season. Barry went even closer in the second half but saw his header turned onto the cross bar by keeper Mark Schwarzer but Fulham held on for the draw…
Sunderland 1 Bolton 4
Sunderland started the better in the first half & they were rewarded by the opening goal which was a fine move. Kieran Richardson played the ball to Malbranque who the played a great ball inside to Cisse who fired his shot inside the far post. But Bolton who had won there previous 2 away games equalized in 7 minutes when Gretar Steinsson’s Cross was headed in by Matt Taylor & 3 minutes later they were in front when a clearance by Danny Collins fell at the feet of Gary Cahill who smashed it passed Gorden & into the net. After 31 minutes Sunderland though they had got level from a Cisse goal but it was ruled out as Kenwyne Jones was ruled to have pushed JLloyd Samuel but they were punished on 40 minutes when Collins made a complete hash of a clearance they fell to Johan Elmander who had a clear run on goal & he made no mistake. They second half was just as bad for Sunderland as Nolan won the ball in midfield & fed Elamnder how smashed in his second & Bolton’s fourth for Bolton to make that 3 away wins in a row..
Stoke 1 Hull City 1
The never say die Hull City team where at it again as they showed they can live with life in the premier league in fact they took the lead in this match right at the end of the first half when a deep free kick was sent into the penalty box & it was headed on twice & it fell to Marlon King who made no mistake & smashed it into the top corner. Stoke came out in the second half to try & get something out of the match & did so with a penalty after 31 minutes as Ricardo Fuller was brought down in the box by Hull keeper Boaz Myhill. So Fuller got up & just about got the penalty home for the equaliser & to earn Stoke a point..
Wigan 2 West Brom 1
The first half was a contested affair with both teams lacking a cutting edge in the final third but it got much better in the second half. West Brom opened the scoring after just 2 minutes of the second half when Titus Bramble make yet another mistake which let in Ishmael Miller to score. But it was a mistake in the West Brom defence that gifted Wigan the equaliser when Paul Robinson’s weak header back to Scott Carson when intercepted by Henri Camara who then produced a great flick over Carson & into the net. Then with just 2 minutes left of the match Wigan got the winner Jason Koumas sent over a great corner & there was Emmerson Boyce to put a powerful header past Carson…
Middlesbrough 0 Newcastle 0
Nothing could separate the two teams in this Tees-Tyne derby so it was predictable that it was going to end in a draw. Newcastle came closest to going in front in the first half when M Martins had his shot clip the top of the crossbar & over. Middlesbrough were much better in the second half & could have also taken the lead through Afonso Alves who fired a low shot past Given & into the goal but there was already a off side flag up for one of his team mates so it was ruled out so the match ended in a hard fought draw..
Premier League Round-Up Sun 23-11-08
Tottenham 1 Blackburn 0
Tottenham are still unbeaten at home under Harry Redknapp as they beat 10 men Blackburn at White Hart Lane. The match started with both team playing well with a good match in store but after only 10 minutes Spurs struck with the opening goal. Aaron Lennon took the ball of Martin Olsson at the half way line rushed down to the by-line & put in a great cut back to Pavlyuchenko who make no mistake & fired home. Blackburn could have got back into the game straight away but Benni McCarthy could only send his shot over the bar & that miss was made even worse after 30 minutes as Olsson was shown the red card for 2 bookable offences for two bad tackles on Lennon. Pavlyuchenko could have made it 2 but saw his header hit a post from a David Bentley cross & Ryan Nelsen had to clear off the line from Ledley King. The Brett Emerton had a chance when he lobbed the oncoming Heurelho Gomes but Woodgate got back to clear from McCarthy getting the loose ball & Samba almost got on the end of a Emerton free kick. The second half was just as good as Blackburn tried to get back in to the game Santa Cruz should have done better but headed a free kick straight at Gomes but that’s the best they got as Spurs where looking for a second. Tom Huddlestone curled a 30 yarder just over & Lennon & Bentley got more involved to try & make the 11 against 10 count. Woodgate should have got the second as he headed over Bentley’s free kick but for all the goal mouth action Tottenham could only win the game with the single goal to move them out of the bottom 3 but Blackburn & now fighting in their…
Sunderland 0 West Ham 1
West Ham got there first win in 8 games as they saw off Sunderland to move up to 13th place in the premiership but left Sunderland down in 16th. Sunderland started the game the better of the two & saw Cisse head over a Andy Reid cross & then Kenwyne Jones had his shot blocked by James Collins but for all the early pressure it was West Ham that took the lead in the 20th minute they had a free kick which was taken by Julien Faubert but it only got as far as Nyron Nosworthy who cleared only as far as Valon Behrami on the edge of the penalty area & his shot deflected on Jones & past the keeper Martin Fulop & into the net. Sunderland should have equalised almost immediately as Cisse again wasted a good chance from a Reid cross & then Reid himself curled a shot off the cross bar but they where left angry at the ref as James Collins got away with what looked like two blatant fouls one on Jones in the box & one on Cisse when he was clean through but got away with both!!. Even though Sunderland was dominating the match they could have bin two down just before half timer as Bellamy was clean through went round Fulop squared it to Behrami who smashed the ball onto the cross bar from 6 yards. The second half was all about Sunderland trying to get back into the match Cisse had 2 good chances but wasted them both Bardsley had a 20 yard shot that went just wide but for all their effort & play they didn’t really give Robert Green in the West Ham goal a severe test & they held on to win there first match in 8 where Sunderland have now lost 4 out of the last 5…
Premier League Round-Up Sat 22-11-08
Arsenal’s title hopes are over after being beaten by Man City, Man United where held by Aston Villa, Stoke won the battle with West Brom, Chelsea where held by Newcastle at home, Liverpool where also held at home by Fulham, Middlesbrough had there unbeaten streak ended by Bolton & Portsmouth where pegged back twice by Hull.
Arsenal’s title hope look all but over as they where handed a 3-0 defeat by Man City. The first half was very disappointing with both teams not really making any impression on the other but that all changed just before half time. Stephen Ireland couldn’t collect Benjani’s pass but Arsenal Defender Gael Clichy sliced his clearance straight to Ireland who then put the ball passed Almunia & into the goal. City went further ahead after half time when Wright-Phillips collected the ball in his own half put a delightful ball to Robinho who chipped it over the advancing Almunia but it was all over & it was final when Daniel Sturridge fired in a penalty after in had bin ruled that he was tripped in the box by Djourou to send Arsenal home with more stories to come…
Chelsea are having trouble scoring at home when they where held 0-0 by a stubborn Newcastle side. The only really piece of goal mouth action was in the first 10 minutes of the second half when Joe Cole stabbed the ball in from close range when Florent Malouda’s shot was parried by Shay Given but you could clearly see that Ashley Cole was offside in the replays. Newcastle defended really well & held there own & got a point for the hard work.
Liverpool had the chance to go top on there own but failed to do so with a 0-0 against Fulham. Liverpool never really threatened Fulham in the match as they held firm & didn’t look like conceding or being put under pressure. Liverpool had 2 chances to moan about one was when Robbie Keane was denied by the keeper in the first half & Dirk Kuyt was denied in the second but Fulham overall deserved their point..
Man United where also held at home by a fighting Aston Villa 0-0. There where very few chances in the match but Wayne Rooney had the best opportunity when he lashed his shot over the bar after being put in by Michael Carrick. Villa never really got the keeper into trouble either but should have had a penalty in the 58th minute when Agbonlahor was having his shirt tugged at in the penalty area but the referee failed to spot the incident so it ended all square…
Portsmouth where pegged back at home by never say never Hull City as it ended 2-2. It looked like Portsmouth had taken the lead after only 2 minutes as Papa Bouba Diop sent a header goal wardsfrom a Glen Johnson cross but it smacked the crossbar & bounced on the goal line with the Portsmouth players thinking it was a goal but it was ruled otherwise. But on 21 minutes they did take the lead from a Peter Crouch header from a Younes Kaboul cross. It stayed like that until the second half when Hull came out fighting & where level 10 minutes into the half from a Michael Turner header from a corner but Portsmouthth got there noses in front again on 65 minute from a stunning strike from Glen Johnson who brought the football under control from a Hull clearance & smashed it past keeper Boaz Myhill & into the net all this from 30 yards. But Hull got there rewards in the last minute when Ian Ashbee’s shot was deflected into the air & as it came down it hit Noe Pamarot’s head & bounced into the goal past David James…
Middlesbrough’s five match unbeaten run came to an end when they where beaten at home by Bolton 3-1. Middlesbrough where left stunned when they where behind by two gaols in the first 10 minutes of the match the first was a Steinsson header from a Matt Taylor free kick that actually deflected of Kevin Davies & into the net & the second was Steinsson put in a low winged cross that was superbly controlled by Taylor & he fired it passed Ross Turnbull in off the post. It stayed that way until the 77th minute in the second half when Middlesbrough got themselves back in it from a corner that was sent in & it seemed to ping about the penalty area until it fell to Pogatetz who fired his shot past Jaaskelainen. But it didn’t last long about 60 seconds in fact & it was Johan Elmander who brought the ball under control & smashed a great shot past Turnbull & into the net to seal all 3 points for Bolton…
Stoke got another win under their belts at home with a 1-0 win over West Brom. The game was a very tight affair as it would be for two promoted clubs that are trying to survive in the premiership & it remained that way right up to the 84th minute when Danny Higginbotham played a one two with Michael Tonge & he sent in a swinging cross which was meet by Mamady Sidibe’s head & into the net at the far post to give Stoke all three valuable points…
Premier League Round-Up Sun 16-11-08
Everton could only manage a draw with Middlesbrough & Hull came back to draw with Man City.
Everton had to come from a goal down to earn a draw with Middlesbrough at Goodison Park. Everton seem to struggle at home this season & it showed from the kick off as passes went astray & they were made to pay for it after 8 minutes when they had a counter attack with Stewart Downing breaking down the left pulled the ball back into the box to Gary O’Neil who had plenty of time & space to slot the ball past a diving Tim Howard. Everton could have got back into the game only 5 minute later but Ross Turnball made a good save from Yakubu & Lescotts cross hitting a post. It wasn’t until midway through the second half that Everton got back on terms it was a Arteta free kick into the six yard box & Yakubu tried to back header it into the goal but it actualy hit his back & went it they could have won it later on as Saha nodded down for Yakubu but he dragged his shot well wide & Middlesbrough could have won it at the death but Tuncay Sanli failed to make any use of the opportunity…
Hull City came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Man City at the KC Stadium. Hull started the better & pressured City & it paid off as they were gifted the opening goal Tal Ben Haim back pass to the keeper was a little short & Daniel Cousin nipped in to slot the ball under Joe Hart & into the net. But Hull repaid the favour in the 37th minute when Kamil Zayette for some reason not letting the ball run through to the keeper tried to dribble the ball but he put it to far in front of him & it went to Stephen Ireland who then put the ball into the back of the net. It was Ireland again just before half time when he collected the ball on the edge of the area & curled a great shot round Boaz Myhill & into the net to give City the lead. Hull pressed in the second half & got their rewards when Geovanni’s free kick hit Vincent Kompany & it wrong footed Kasper Schmeichel (on for the injured Joe Hart) & into the net to give Hull the equaliser. They nearly took the lead moments later but Cousin brought a smart save out of Schmeichel Hull then had 3 20 yard free kick in a row but could only find the wall every time & there was a scare at the end as they nearly lost the match when Vassell broke clear & he sent in a fierce shot only for Myhill beat the ball away from his near post to end the match in a draw..
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