We review another riveting set of fixtures from the Barclays Premier League, with plenty of excitement in round five’s matches, writes William Geldart.
(LONDON, The Football Blog)-Manchester United stormed three points clear of rivals City at the top of the Barclays Premier League table to maintain their 100% winning start to the season. The Red Devils’ 3-1 defeat of Chelsea at Old Trafford was arguably the most pulsating match of the campaign so far.
The Londoners were made to rue their profligacy, as despite twenty shots on goal, an incredible statistic to register at the Theatre of Dreams, they only had Fernando Torres’ strike early in the second-half to show for their efforts.
United, on the other hand, were blistering in attack. Chris Smalling found space at the back-post on eight minutes to nod home from a free-kick swung in from United’s land-hand side as they attacked the Stretford End.
Nani’s vicious swerving effort after collecting Jonny Evans’ raking cross-field ball gave the champions a two-goal advantage.
Defender Phil Jones then surged into the Chelsea penalty-area and following a block by Terry, the ball kindly ricocheted into the path of Rooney to sweep home just before half-time. In doing so, the in-form striker took his Premier League goals tally to 9 in 5 games.
He later missed a penalty, awarded after a foul on Nani by Jose Boswinga. Rooney slipped on the turf and another of his efforts hit the post as he tried to add to his already impressive haul.
Nicolas Anelka was brought on at half-time for Frank Lampard as Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas looked to salvage something from the game. The Frenchman made an immediate impact with his through-ball finding Torres in space, and the Spaniard lifted the ball past United goalkeeper David de Gea, just thirty-three seconds after the restart.
Any hope that the goal would act as a catalyst for a Torres revival was cruelly extinguished following his initial riposte. He blazed an effort over the bar when no more than 12 yards out and THAT miss has thrust the phrase ‘doing a Nando’ into football’s parlance. One-on-one with De Gea, Torres expertly rounded the goalkeeper before skewing the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
In fairness to the misfiring Spaniard, his wastefulness summed up the profligacy of his team. Ramires also had a golden opportunity to score, however, his weak shot was easily saved at close-range by the outstretched boot of De Gea in the twenty-fifth minute.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2, BBC Sport pundit Alan Hansen was one of the commentators to note Chelsea’s adventurous approach at Old Trafford, as Villas-Boas stuck to his preferred 4-3-3 system. The Scot’s implied criticism fails to acknowledge that had Chelsea not been so careless in front of goal, the Blues could have easily shared or taken the spoils from an extremely open encounter.
Ultimately, United’s young-guns put down another marker of their title credentials by more than matching their more experienced counterparts. Phil Jones’ contribution to the home side’s third goal came after he athletically broke forward and grappled with John Terry, and even though Terry just about managed to hold off the marauding centre-back, Jones and United were ultimately the winners of that particular duel as they rammed home their advantage with Rooney’s goal.
Ashley Cole’s bruising hack on Javier Hernandez is the talking point that has run over into Monday, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson blasting the England left-back.
He told MUTV: “It was a shocking tackle. Ashley Cole is very reckless at times. Being committed, you can sometimes go over the edge a bit.”
The Mexican is likely to be out of action for at least two weeks. Chelsea should not feel too disheartened, as they more than contributed to an enthralling match, one where aided by the extra impetus of Juan Mata, they could have salvaged something from. Meanwhile, United march on having dismissed of two potential challengers in their last three league games.
In the weekend’s other matches, Manchester City surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Craven Cottage with Fulham. Martin Jol’s side were already under pressure and probably fearing the worst when Sergio Aguero had bagged a brace by the 46th minute.
Bobby Zamora’s fine drive into the top corner of Joe Hart’s goal reduced the arrears less than ten minutes later before captain Danny Murphy’s strike from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off Vincent Kompany to nestle in the net and put the home side level with quarter of an hour remaining.
City manager Roberto Mancini had taken off livewire forward David Silva with Fulham pressing for an equaliser, and replaced him with the more conservative Pablo Zabaleta, much to the departing Spaniard’s dismay.
The Manchester club’s failure to hold onto their lead has led Mancini to tell reporters that he needs ‘more midfielders’, with holding players Nigel De Jong, James Milner and Owen Hargreaves all unavailable. The Citizens are now two points behind United but hold onto second-place in the table.
Sunday’s other games included Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-0 demolition of an out of sorts and ill disciplined Liverpool side at White Hart Lane. The Reds were reduced to nine-men after Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtl both received their marching orders for picking up two yellow cards each.
Emmanuel Adebayor marked his home debut for Spurs with two goals, after Luka Modric’s piledriver and a Jermain Defoe effort had put the home side in control.
Sunderland defeated Stoke City at the Stadium of Light by the same scoreline, recording their first clean sheet at home for the first time in 11 games in the process.
The Potters endured a Europa League hangover following their 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday. Tony Pulis’ side found themselves 3-0 down in half an hour as Titus Bramble, a Jonathan Woodgate own goal, Craig Gardner and Sebastian Larsson’s powerful free-kick ruined Stoke’s unbeaten start to the season.
Queens Park Rangers, aided by feisty midfielder Joey Barton, thrashed Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 at Molineux on Saturday.
Barton set Neil Warnock’s men on their way to their second win of the season against an uninspired Wolves side, lambasted by manager Mick McCarthy. Alejandro Faurlin struck soon after the Hoops took the lead, to put the away side 2-0 up after just ten minutes. DJ Campbell completed the rout late on.
Swansea City earned their first ever Premier League win in emphatic style, seeing off West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium. It was an emotional afternoon for the home crowd, as a minute’s silence was observed for the four miners who perished underground at the nearby Gleision Colliery and for the death of manger Brendan Rodgers’ father.
Scott Sinclair’s penalty gave the Swans the lead on 14 minutes after Paul Scharner’s clumsy tackle on Joe Allen. Leroy Lita then headed in from close-range before Nathan Dyer added the third goal early in the second-half.
Roy Hodgson’s Baggies now prop up the table while Swansea climb to 14th position. An injury to Neil Taylor following a collision with Peter Odemwingie threatened to overshadow the Swans’ maiden victory. The Welsh left-back required oxygen and a neck brace after the Nigerian striker clattered into him from behind but thankfully he later regained consciousness in the dressing room.
Everton’s new signings sparked into life to help them record a 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic at Goodison Park.
With the game seemingly heading for a draw, Greek striker Apostolos Vellios met Tony Hibbert’s pinpoint cross to direct his header past Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi six minutes from time. Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe added the gloss to the scoreline, racing onto a long-ball forward to fire past Al-Habsi and score his first goal for the Toffees.
Wigan striker Franco Di Santo’s deflected effort had given the away side the lead just after half an hour but Everton quickly replied. Phil Jagielka headed in after his initial effort hit the crossbar to level the score just two minutes after going a goal down.
Bolton Wanderers were left shell-shocked by visitors Norwich City, completing the trio of victories for the recently promoted sides over the past weekend.
The Trotters fell to their third successive defeat as the Canaries returned to Norfolk with all three points following their 2-1 victory at the Reebok Stadium.
Anthony Pilkington’s close-range opener and Bradley Johnson’s precise header put Norwich firmly in charge before half-time. Norwich now hold the record for the most penalties conceded in consecutive games (five) after Martin Petrov’s strike from the spot midway through the second-half gave Bolton hope. Eventually it proved to be just a mere consolation despite late pressure from the home side.
To sum up a miserable afternoon, Ivan Klasnic saw red for Owen Coyle’s team for directing a headbutt towards Norwich defender Marc Tierney who fell theatrically, despite minimal contact.
Aston Villa and Newcastle United both remain unbeaten but they had to settle for a point at Villa Park on Saturday following their 1-1 draw.
Villa goalkeeper Shay Given proved to be a fantastic last line of defence, frequently thwarting the Magpies. French midfielder Yohan Cabaye saw a dipping volley kept out by the Irishman and he hit the crossbar in an entertaining game.
Gabriel Agbonlahor is enjoying his return to prominence following a difficult period at the club under previous manager Gerard Houllier’s stewardship.
The striker put Villa ahead against the run of play after 13 minutes with a low shot from about 10 yards out. Leon Best has also re-emerged from the shadows and he grabbed a deserved equaliser for Newcastle just before the hour mark, scoring from a close range rebound after Given had saved his initial header.
And finally, the misery continues for Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger. The Gunners threw away their 2-1 lead at half-time to capitulate to Blackburn Rovers and lose the game 4-3.
A small group of Rovers fans held a protest pre-match, demanding the replacement of maligned boss, Steve Kean.
The Scotsman had the last laugh as his spirited charges refused to surrender to defeat and hauled themselves back into a game that Arsenal should have made safe.
Ivorian striker Gervinho proved to be a hero and a villain, putting the away side ahead after 10 minutes but later his selfishness in front of goal cost his side dear when they failed to press home their advantage.
New signing Yakubu levelled for Rovers fifteen minutes later, neatly poking the ball past Wojciech Szczesny from David Hoilett’s through-ball.
Mikel Arteta grabbed his first goal for Arsenal on 34 minutes. The midfielder’s rising shot from Aaron Ramsey’s cut-back soared past Paul Robinson and into the Blackburn goal.
The home side’s resolve and muscular approach terrified meek Arsenal in the second period and they got their reward when Alex Song’s own goal handed them a lifeline back into the match.
Yakubu completed his brace before an hour was played; tapping in from a marginally onside position after Steven Nzonzi had fired in a mis-placed shot.
Laurent Koscielny’s calamitous own goal extended Rover’s lead before Marouane Chamakh pulled a goal back with a fine header from Robin van Persie’s cross. The Gunners could have snatched an underserved equaliser at the death but Rovers held on, and Steve Kean’s position in the managerial hotseat is safe-for now.
We’ve witnessed another pulsating round of Barclays Premier League fixtures. Now it’s time to give your opinions by leaving a comment below!
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