Plenty of trick and quite a lot of treat this weekend as red cards and goals amount to a glorious horror show.
CHELSEA SET TO CRUISE CONTROL
Having hit five past Blackburn last week and four without reply against Bolton this weekend, Chelsea provide government experts with another symptom of the swine flu; a four-or-more goal thrashing. Perhaps the flu-infested squads had an excuse, and Bolton were looking good until Jlloyd Samuel was sent off for clipping Didier Drogba’s heels inside the box, but you couldn’t hide the quality of Chelsea’s performance.
The league leaders are starting to take on a familiar look under Carlo Ancelotti that mirrors the maturity and professionalism of his glorious Milan side. Chelsea remain three points clear at the summit but as the challengers’ form stutters, the Blues are pulling away in terms of entertainment. Perhaps the most telling factor of this team is the harmony evident in the squad, aptly illustrated by the beautifully crafted fourth goal. On this basis Chelsea will surely remain favourites in all competitions this season.
POMPEY PLAY UP
Portsmouth remain a mess off the pitch yet they are starting to find their game with a performance that defied their sticky league position. Wigan, whose performances so far resemble Jekyll & Hide, could not cope with Portsmouth as Aruna Dindane completed his first hat trick in English football in a 4-0 win. Who would’ve believed that after he contrived to miss last week against Spurs despite being under the cross bar with an open goal at his mercy?
If Portsmouth are to start climbing out of the relegation zone then Dindane’s goals will certainly be a catalyst, and on the evidence of this match there is more to come from the man who partners Drogba up front for the Ivory Coast.
FABREGAS GROWS UP AS SPURS COLLAPSE
Cesc Fabregas went on one of those computer game runs straight from kick-off to kill off Tottenham with a wonderful solo goal just before half time. The goal showed Fabregas’ growing strength and stature and the game resembled that of his team’s supremacy over their fierce North London rivals.
Despite Heurelho Gomes’ brilliant save from Fabregas in the 20th minute, the first half was heading towards ignominy before Robin Van Persie stole a yard on his marker to slot home the first of his two goals, as Tottenham went down 3-0 in a lacklustre display.
HULL FIND TURF MOORE UNFORGIVING
The pressure was all on Hull before kick-off and as usual Turf Moor laid on its typical hospitality, sending the visitors packing as Burnley beat ten-man Hull 2-0.
Phil Brown would certainly have particular words about the referee, Mike Jones (Liverpool fans can identify him by that ‘Beach ball’ goal), who awarded Burnley a dubious penalty, and disallowed a spectacular Geovanni free-kick before giving the Brazilian his marching orders for two bookable offences – the first for dissent after protesting the ref’s decision for cancelling out the strike for apparent pushing in the wall.
Brown is expected to be given at least until the next match to save his job when they take on Stoke under the watchful eyes of the new Chairman Adam Pearson.
EVERTON & VILLA ON A PAR
This game had draw written all over it, so it was no surprise when it ended 1-1 with both teams playing the closing minutes a man short ten after Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was sent off for Everton, followed by Villa’s Carlos Cuellar.
The Russian had given Everton a lead shortly before half time only for John Carew to bring the tie level just after the interval.
It was a third consecutive draw for Villa who will do well to finish ahead of Everton come the end of the season with the Toffee’s squad – stronger in both depth and quality – slowly finding fitness and momentum.
FULLHAM INCREASE RED MIST
The worst culprits of the weekend’s flurry of dismissals were Liverpool who had both Philip Degen and Jamie Carragher sent off in their 3-1 defeat at Fulham.
The Londoner’s showed no mercy to a toothless Liverpool side that lacked the bite displayed in last weeks win over United. Fulham were good value for their win and continue to look impressive under Roy Hodgson.
Are Liverpool better suited as underdogs? Do cup competitions bring out the best in them? Do the players fail to take lesser oppositions seriously enough? Rafa Benitez might consider contemplating these questions as Liverpool find themselves further out of touch at the top with Birmingham up next for the Reds.
SUNDERLAND SHOW FIGHT
Sunderland versus West Ham was another match that ended ten-aside with the result fixed at 2-2. The Hammers will question how they self-imploded having had a two goal advantage and an extra man for almost the entire second half.
Steve Bruce will certainly be pleased with his teams fighting spirit to claw back a point after Kenwyne Jones was dismissed for showing fighting spirit of a different kind with a push on Herita Ilunga that sent the West Ham defender sprawling in rather comic fashion. Is getting an opponent sent off worth looking like an over-exuberant stunt man doubling for a wimp?
Before Robert Kovac saw red for West Ham, Sunderland had pulled goals back via a stunning Andy Reid free-kick and a dramatic Kieran Richardson goal. West Ham failed to put away the chances that came along as a result of a man advantage though, on conclusion, the game could be best summed up as a game of two-halves.
BIRMINGHAM RUE DRAW OF STRENGTH
With a new regime in place at Birmingham, the home team produced a wonderful display of energy and industry with Manchester City feeling relieved to secure a point. Birmingham never gave Man City any time on the ball, immediately applying pressure all over the pitch in a game that was more enjoyable than the 0-0 result suggests.
Birmingham should have taken the lead when Nigel De Jong handled inside the box only for Shay Given to save James McFadden’s penalty. Given was in fantastic form with important saves throughout the match and Shaun Wright-Phillips did his best to unsettle the Birmingham defence.
Barry Ferguson saw red late on in the game for a silly hand ball, the last of a record nine sending offs accumulated during this weekend’s fixtures.
STOKE FIND WOLVES HARD TO PUT AWAY
The 2-2 result proved quite a scrap as Wolves refused to go home without a point. Matthew Etherington tried his best to add some class to the occasion with a wonderful goal just before half time. The former Spurs and West Ham man held the edge of the box and when a clearance arrived he coolly chested the ball before walloping a sweet left foot volley into the back of the net.
Jody Craddock’s first goal will stand despite protest from Stoke and the dubious goals panel as the linesman failed to spot the player in a clear off-side position.
UNITED FORGET TO WIN IN STYLE
Blackburn came to Old Trafford and proved stubborn and content to play in their own half as United managed to eke out two goals to remain two points behind Chelsea.
In losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, United certainly lost the bulk of their attacking quality. However, the Champions proved they still have the knack to win games despite another display short on style and creativity.
In fairness, the finishes from Berbatov and Rooney were quality, however, United remain unable to produce the high tempo, fluid attacking football typically reserved for putting visiting teams to the sword.
Whilst the Bulgarian can draw confidence from his strike, his overall performance remains short of endeavour and penetration. Meanwhile, the £17.5m spent on Antonio Valencia is yet to bear fruit as United begin to look predictable going forward.
Halloween may have intensified the feelings but are United and Chelsea undertaking a metamorphosis of some sort? It will be plain to see this coming Sunday as the two clash head-to-head.
GOAL OF THE WEEK
Take your pick:
Fabregas’ FIFA 10 solo goal.
Drogba finishes off a slick Chelsea move.
Etherington’s classic chest and volley.
Andy Reid’s text book free kick.
They will all find this effort hard to beat though: Manager Dragan Stojkovic Scores A Belter
Tags: Premier League