Sunday, October 16 2011
Newcastle v Tottenham
Newcastle are incredibly still unbeaten, after a high scoring draw with Tottenham at St. James' Park.
Goals were always expected in this match, however it took 40 minutes for the first, as Rafael van der Vaart dispatched from the spot, after Emmanuel Adebayor was fouled in the area.
Demba Ba restored parity early in the second half, however shortly after coming on as a substitute, Jermaine Defoe's left-footed drive reclaimed the lead for Spurs, as they went in search of a victory that would have taken them into the top four.
However, as the game neared an end, a Shola Ameobi thunderbolt was too good for Brad Friedel in goal, ensuring the Magpies maintain their unbeaten run.
Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham
Arsenal v Sunderland
Arsenal recorded just their second victory of the campaign, but what a crucial one it was, accounting for Sunderland at the Emirates.
Having drawn on both occasions when they met last term, the Gunners were keen to make amends for that, as well as their recent poor record against the Black Cats, and took just 28 seconds to open the scoring through Robin van Persie.
The hosts were completely dominating possession and dictating the play, until Mikel Arteta gave away a soft free kick just outside the area. Sebastian Larsson stepped up to take the free kick, and sensationally curled it into the top corner, to restore parity completely against the run of play.
The visitors could have doubled their advantage just after the break, had it not been for the goalkeeping heroics of Wojciech Szczeny, and just when all looked lost, van Persie popped up at the other end, with a superb free kick of his own, to record a crucial three points for Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland
West Brom v Wolves
West Brommade light work of Wolverhampton, extending their opponents dismal run of form, following their impressive start to the season.
The Baggies took just eight minutes to open the scoring, as Chris Brunt slotted home the first in clinical fashion, to continue his solid start individually thus far.
Wolves offered little in resistance, and their hopes were effectively killed off 14 minutes from time, when Peter Odemwingie got on the end of a great ball, to finish off a commanding display by the hosts, and attain their second victory of the season.
West Brom 2-0 Wolves
Saturday, October 15 2011
Liverpool v Manchester United
A Steven Gerrard free kick, cancelled out by an opportunistic Javier Hernandez saw one of football's great rivalries end in a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson produced a starting line up which raised many eye brows. Six changes from their latest 2-0 win against Norwich meant the substitute bench included the likes of Wayne Rooney, Nani, Hernandez and Antonio Valencia, with Nemanja Vidic sitting out despite playing for Serbia mid-week. Anfield welcomed back their favourite son Steven Gerrard for his first start in seven months, while Dirk Kuyt made a rare appearance amongst a midfield-heavy starting eleven.
The first half-chance of the match fell to the visitors when Patrice Evra found an unmarked Phil Jones at the back post, the 19-year-old finding the side netting with his ill-directed header.
Just past the half hour mark and Liverpool should have taken the lead. A Charlie Adam deflected shot fell to the feet of Luis Suarez, who shimmied to his right, before striking the ball with his left only to be thwarted by a stern David De Gea.
The second half started in complete contrast to the first, Liverpool stretching United and using the aerial ball to create scoring opportunities. A handball shout against Jonny Evans after a Charlie Adam corner found Dirk Kuyt was waved away by referee Andre Marriner.
On 68 minutes Liverpool took the lead, from none other than returning captain. A charging run by Adam was stopped unfairly by Rio Ferdinand just outside the 18-yard box. Liverpool's favourite son stepped up and clipped the ball through the wall to leave De Gea stranded.
Ferguson acted quickly by bringing on Rooney and Nani for Ashley Young and Ji-Sung Park, then using his third and final substitute replacing Jones with Hernandez, and did it pay off.
United won a corner, which Nani played into Danny Wellbeck, who got the vital flick into the path of an opportunistic Hernandez, slipping defender Martin Skrtel before heading home ten minutes from time.
Only minutes later and Liverpool almost regained the lead. A wonderful Stewart Downing ball found a lunging Dirk Kuyt who forced a great save from De Gea.
Substitute Jordan Henderson had two chances to become an Anfield hero in the dying minutes. Firstly from an improvised lob volley which forced yet another wonderful save from De Gea, then glancing a header just over the bar. Suarez had the chance to head home after a goal mouth scramble but a desperate Rooney showed his defensive qualities by thwarting the Uruguayan.
For the first time in four years, United were able to come away from Anfield with a vital point.
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United
Norwich v Swansea
Norwich won the battle of the newcomers with a 3-1 victory thanks to a brace from midfielder Anthony Pilkington.
In a stunning opening, Norwich took a first-minute through a Pilkington strike after Steve Morrison cleverly found the midfielder with a headed pass. Minutes later and the home side made it two through Russell Martin.
Swansea's Danny Graham ended a remarkable opening 10 minutes with a strike into the bottom right corner to bring the Welsh side back in contention.
Pilkington secured his brace and Norwich's third just after the hour. Some dreadful defending by the Swansea defence allowed the midfielder to strike home from close range to restore a two-goal advantage.
Norwich 3-1 Swansea
Wigan v Bolton
Bolton lifted themselves off the bottom after a vital 3-1 victory away from home to Wigan.
Nigel Reo Coker gave the visitors the lead on 8 minutes when he struck home a Chris Eagles cross, before
Wigan levelled on 40 minutes through Mohamed Diame. The midfielder sent his right footed shot from outside the box into the top right hand corner.
Just before half time and Bolton regained the lead, this time through David N'Gog. The ex-Liverpool striker accepted a pass from Kevin Davies, shook off defender Gary Caldwell and fired home past Ali Al Habsi for just his second goal in 35 games.
on 72 minutes Bolton were awarded a penalty when defender Caldwell fouled Dedryck Boyata. Kevin Davies stepped up and hit it straight at 'keeper Al Habsi, before the rebound went flying over the bar.
Wigan tried desperately to salvage a draw, but the Wanderers provided a sucker punch to secure all three points when midfielder Chris Eagles struck home late.
Wigan 1-3 Bolton
QPR v Blackburn
Queens Park Rangers ensured their winless home record continued when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
QPR manager Neil Warnock stamped his authority by starting Adel Taarabt on the bench after the playmaker expressed his desire to leave Loftus Road last week.
it was striker Heidar Helguson who gave the West Londoners the lead on 16 minutes when he struck home into the top left corner following a corner kick.
Just eight minutes later and Blackburn levelled. Towering defender Christopher Samba climbed high to head home from a Jason Lowe corner.
Despite several attempts by the home side, fans left Loftus Road yet to see a home victory this season.
QPR 1-1 Blackburn
Manchester City v Aston Villa
Manchester City went top of the league after a 4-1 trouncing of Aston Villa to line up a mouth watering contest at Old Trafford next Sunday.
City started the match well, controlling possession and looking dangerous through the creativity of Mario Balotelli.
Italian Balotelli was rewarded for his early influence when he gave the home side the lead on 28 minutes by striking high into Shay Given's net following a Micah Richards pass. His fifth goal in three games against Villa was also his fourth in four for the Sky Blues.
Just minutes after the break and City doubled their lead. Yaya Toure put through winger Adam Johnson who made no mistake sending his left foot shot into the bottom left corner.
Captain Vincent Kompany added a third for his side in a devastating five minutes after the restart. The defender rose high above the Villa defence to glance home a header from a Johnson cross.
Villa defender Steven Warnock pulled a goal back for the visitors just after the hour mark with a strike that hit the underside of the bar, Charles N'Zogbia providing the assist.
ex-Villa midfielder James Milner made it four on 71 minutes when he willingly accepted a David Silva square pass to drill his shot into the top left corner.
Manchester City 4-1 Aston Villa
Stoke v Fulham
A late flurry from Stoke City saw them overcome a Fulham side by two goals to nil at the Britannia Stadium.
Jermaine Pennant had the home side's best chance of the first half after playing a one-two with Peter Crouch, before slipping a defender, only to send his shot passed Mark Schwarzer and the upright.
Bobby Zamora almost gave the visitors the lead minutes before the break when his header from a Chris Baird cross went agonisingly wide.
Stoke peppered the Fulham goal throughout the second half but could not find a lucky break, Schwarzer and his defence holding firm.
However, against the run of play the Cottagers almost took the lead. A two-touch free kick lead to a venomous John Arne-Riise strike that thundered against the cross bar.
The pressure valve finally released just ten minutes from time when Stoke midfielder Matthew Etherington's cross found striker Jonathan Walters who struck home from six yards.
Minutes before full time the Potters put the game beyond doubt through Rory Delap. The midfielder headed home another Etherington set piece to secure three deserved points for the home side.
Stoke 2-0 Fulham
Chelsea v Everton
Chelsea closed the gap on second-placed Manchester United to one point with a convincing 3-1 victory over Everton at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea opened the scoring against the run of play on the half hour mark when Ashley Cole's first-time cross found Daniel Sturridge at the back post to nod home the simplest of headers. Juan Mata the architect in Cole's forward movement, Sturridge completing the interplay with his fourth of the campaign.
The Blues doubled their lead virtually on the half time whistle when a Frank Lampard diagonal ball from a set piece found the head of captain John Terry. Questions must be asked of Everton 'keeper Tim Howard's ownership of his six yard box who failed to meet the cross with any conviction.
Everton began the second half with a flurry and almost pulled one back when midfielder Leon Osman struck the outside of the post with a curling effort.
Just after the hour and Chelsea made it three. A swift counter attack that began with Mata, who continued his run to receive the return ball off Didier Drogba before squaring for Ramires to tap home the easiest of finishes.
Everton pulled one back ten minutes before time when Royston Drenthe found space on the left before delivering a low cross to meet a lunging Apostolos Vellios, who despite being on the pitch for twelve seconds, was able to direct his touch into the bottom right corner.
Chelsea 3-1 Everton
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