.
Premiership Match Day 22 saw a number of local derbies in London, Birmingham,
Liverpool and the NorthEast. It also saw promotion and relegation struggles so
business as usual for the Premiership.
A thrilling Saturday of Premier League action saw
Fulham taking a valuable away point at Wigan elsewhere a number of entertaining games
including Man City holding off a Wolves fightback and a seesaw battle between
West Brom and Blackpool.
|
Weekend Premiership results |
|
Saturday 15th January
|
|
15.00 |
Chelsea |
2-0 |
Blackburn |
|
15.00 |
Man City |
4-3 |
Wolves |
|
15.00 |
Stoke |
2-0 |
Bolton |
|
15.00 |
West Brom |
3-2 |
Blackpool |
|
15.00 |
Wigan |
1-1 |
Fulham |
|
17.30 |
West Ham |
0-3 |
Arsenal |
|
Sunday 16th January
|
|
12.00 |
Birmingham |
1-1 |
Aston Villa |
|
12.00 |
Sunderland |
1-1 |
Newcastle |
|
14.05 |
Liverpool |
2-2 |
Everton |
|
16.10 |
Tottenham |
0-0 |
Man Utd |
|
Top 4 |
Top 5 |
Top 10 |
Bottom Half |
Relegation |
|
Chelsea (0) 2 Blackburn (0) 0
Champions Chelsea put one foot on the road to recovery and it was a much-improved performance against Blackburn on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti has seen his team slip down the table of late but a 2-0 victory will have calmed fears of a possible sacking at Stamford Bridge. Rovers battled valiantly but offered little going forward, as Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka scored to send them back to Lancashire empty-handed.
Even the introduction of new signing Roque Santa Cruz could not inspire Blackburn in the final third, while the Blues can now try and restore order.
Man City (1) 4 Wolverhampton (1) 3
Manchester City temporarily went top of the table on Saturday following a thrilling 4-3 victory over Wolves at Eastlands.
Edin Dzeko made his debut for City following a big-money move from Wolfsburg, but it was Carlos Tevez who stole the show once again after a fine brace, while the Toure brothers bagged one goal each
|
Up-Coming Premiership games |
|
Saturday 22nd January
|
|
12.45 |
Wolves |
v |
Liverpool |
|
15.00 |
Arsenal |
v |
Wigan |
|
15.00 |
Blackpool |
v |
Sunderland |
|
15.00 |
Everton |
v |
West Ham |
|
15.00 |
Fulham |
v |
Stoke |
|
15.00 |
Man Utd |
v |
Birmingham |
|
12.00 |
Newcastle |
v |
Tottenham |
|
17.30 |
Aston Villa |
v |
Man City |
|
Sunday 23rd January
|
|
14.05 |
Blackburn |
v |
West Brom |
|
Monday 24th January
|
|
16.10 |
Bolton |
v |
Chelsea |
|
Top 4 |
Top 5 |
Top 10 |
Bottom Half |
Relegation |
|
to make it 4-1 to the home side, despite Wolves taking the lead through Nenad Milijas.
Mick McCarthy's men showed great fighting spirit to make it an uncomfortable ending though, as a Kevin Doyle penalty and a Ronald Zubar finish ensured they left with their heads held high.
Stoke (1) 2 Bolton (0) 0
Bolton's away from has been poor of late and it continued in that vein at the Britannia Stadium where Stokebeat the Trotters 2-0.
Owen Coyle's men were outmuscled by the physical Potters and Danny Higginbotham opened the scoring in the 37th minute, despite Jussi Jaaskelainen's best efforts to stop the ball crossing the line.
It was not Jaaskelainen's day as he was thwarted by Matthew Etherington's penalty in the second half, the ball trickling in even though the Bolton goalkeeper got a strong touch to it.
West Brom (1) 3 Blackpool (1) 2
The game of the weekend was undoubtedly at the Hawthorns as West Brom beat Blackpool 3-2 in an absolutely enthralling clash.
These two sides came up from the Championship last season but have been impressive so far in the top-flight, and on this evidence both have an excellent chance of avoiding the drop.
David Vaughan gave the Seasiders the lead with a cracking shot from outside the area but Peter Odemwingie and James Morrison turned the tie on its head before Gary Taylor-Fletcher made it two from two to equalise in front of the travelling fans.
However, their joy was short-lived as Odemwingie notched a second to earn the Baggies a win and move them away from the bottom three.
|
Premiership table |
|
Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
|
1 |
Man Utd |
21 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
29 |
7 |
2 |
8 |
0 |
14 |
12 |
24 |
45 |
|
2 |
Man City |
23 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
18 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
19 |
9 |
18 |
45 |
|
3 |
Arsenal |
22 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
22 |
11 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
23 |
11 |
23 |
43 |
|
4 |
Chelsea |
22 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
24 |
7 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
14 |
12 |
19 |
38 |
|
5 |
Tottenham |
22 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
17 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
14 |
16 |
6 |
37 |
|
6 |
Sunderland |
23 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
15 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
3 |
34 |
|
7 |
Bolton |
23 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
22 |
13 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
12 |
18 |
3 |
30 |
|
8 |
Stoke |
22 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
16 |
12 |
3 |
1 |
6 |
12 |
14 |
2 |
30 |
|
9 |
Newcastle |
22 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
25 |
14 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
18 |
3 |
29 |
|
10 |
Blackpool |
21 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
14 |
14 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
17 |
22 |
-5 |
28 |
|
11 |
Blackburn |
23 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
15 |
10 |
3 |
1 |
8 |
14 |
27 |
-8 |
28 |
|
12 |
Everton |
22 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
12 |
13 |
2 |
7 |
3 |
13 |
14 |
-2 |
26 |
|
13 |
Liverpool |
22 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
19 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
21 |
-4 |
26 |
|
14 |
West Brom |
22 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
16 |
17 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
13 |
24 |
-12 |
25 |
|
15 |
Fulham |
22 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
14 |
14 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
9 |
11 |
-2 |
23 |
|
16 |
Birmingham |
21 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
11 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
-5 |
23 |
|
17 |
Aston Villa |
22 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
15 |
13 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
9 |
26 |
-15 |
22 |
|
18 |
Wigan |
22 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
11 |
21 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
13 |
-15 |
22 |
|
19 |
Wolves |
22 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
15 |
15 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
9 |
23 |
-14 |
21 |
|
20 |
West Ham |
23 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
14 |
19 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
22 |
-19 |
20 |
Wigan (0) 1 Fulham (0) 1
It was an afternoon to remember for Fulham striker Andy Johnson, as he netted an equaliser for his side who drew 1-1 at Wigan.
The Latics took the lead as Hugo Rodallega once more proved his finishing prowess but the home side were undone as Johnson broke a lengthy scoring duck to see his deflected shot beat Ali Al-Habsi in the Wigan goal.
.
West Ham (0) 0 Arsenal (2) 3
Quite what is happening at West Ham is anyone's guess and before kick-off against Arsenal the rumours were flying around that Avram Grant was set to be sacked soon after the final whistle, whatever the result.
The saga continues but on the pitch it was another poor show from the Hammers as the Gunners ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Upton Park. Robin van Persie's fine strike got the ball rolling in East London and as West Ham's defence capitulated, Arsenal took advantage as Theo Walcott and a Van Persie penalty made it an easy triumph.
Derby Sunday produced four pulsating draws including 10 man Man Utd holding off
Tottenham for a 2-2 draw and Kenny Dalglish gaining his first point with modern
day Liverpool.
Birmingham (0) 1 Aston Villa (0) 1
Birmingham and Aston Villa enjoy an intense rivalry but the two teams could not be separated at St Andrews, a 1-1 draw the final score.
Ben Foster almost gifted Villa an early lead after dallying on the ball, letting in Gabriel Agbonlahor who blazed over the bar. Roger Johnson's smart finish raised the roof and it looked like more disappointment for Gerard Houllier's men, but James Collins swept home to level things up in the 73rd minute.
Indeed, Collins nearly made it a superb Villa comeback but he sent a late shot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.
Sunderland (0) 1 Newcastle (0) 1
Derby day was in full flow and Newcastle had already earned a point at the Stadium of Light in an intense Wear-Tyne clash, but they were so close to snatching a win.
Following the Magpies' demolition of Sunderland earlier in the campaign the Black Cats were out for revenge, yet Kevin Nolan returned to haunt them after finishing from close range in the early stages of the second half.
Alan Pardew's side looked to have done enough for the three points but in the dying moments Asamoah Gyan diverted the ball over the helpless Steve Harper to secure a draw, before ugly scenes in the stands marred the day.
Liverpool (1) 2 Everton (0) 2
It was the return of King Kenny to Anfield and what a comeback game it was, as Everton made the short trip across Stanley Park for the Merseyside derby.
All was going swimmingly for Liverpool at half-time, with Raul Meireles firing them one up and Fernando Torres looking back in good nick. But the Toffees showed great fighting spirit and after a frantic start to the second half they were soon on top as Sylvain Distin nodded in before Jermaine Beckford sent the away fans into raptures.
Dirk Kuyt levelled from the penalty spot to salvage a point for Dalglish's men, and a thrilling encounter ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
Tottenham (0) 0 Man Utd (0) 0
Manchester United may have slipped off the top on Saturday but a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane saw them reclaim pole position.
The Red Devils remain unbeaten and on this evidence it is easy to see why, as a previously free-scoring Spurs were unable to break down a resolute defence. Nemanja Vidic threw himself in front of every shot and while Harry Redknapp's men went close through Peter Crouch and Rafael van der Vaart, United did enough to stem the tide.
There was a sour ending to the tie, however, as referee Mike Dean opted to show a red card to Brazilian full-back Rafael for two bookings, the second a seemingly innocuous trip.