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Everton 1 – 1 Stoke City – 04Oct09

2009-10-05T02:20:55Z

David Moyes’s side was hoping to capitalise on their fine recent run by seeing off a Stoke team who are notoriously poor on the road, but in a game that failed to spark, a point was the fair result. The home side remain 10th on the table following the result while Stoke move up to 12th.

The game started quietly and the first real chance fell to Tim Cahill after eight minutes following a superb through ball from Marouane Fellaini. But the Australian midfielder could not make the most of his position on the edge of the box and shot wide.

Stoke’s ambition seemed to be limited as they regularly got all their men behind the ball in an attempt to starve Everton of chances but that approach also meant they could create little of note themselves. However, Everton did break them down on one occasion and should have scored when Fellaini and Cahill again linked up.

After 15 minutes, the Belgian midfielder delivered a fine cross to the penalty spot and although Cahill was unmarked, he could not guide his free header passed a grateful Thomas Sorensen who managed to smother. Everton had scored 14 goals in their last five matches in all competitions but the determination of Stoke to not concede was simply too strong in the first half.

The home side could not break Stoke down although a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov strike did appear to hit Ryan Shawcross on the hand in the box, only for referee Andre Marriner to wave away Everton’s penalty claims. Just before the break, Osman shot from the edge of the box and although the ball was travelling at speed, Sorensen managed a full length dive to tip the effort over.

Straight after half-time Everton were left to rue their inability to score when Stoke took the lead from a corner. A Matthew Etherington corner floated over Everton’s Sylvain Distin who mistimed his jump and Huth did the rest, crashing his 50th minute header home to put the visitors ahead.

Stoke had not won away from home in the Premier League since they beat Hull City back in April and their hopes of holding on against Everton were soon dashed when Osman produced a moment of brilliance to equalise. Having been put through on goal by Johnny Heitinga, Osman looked up and curled a wonderful effort into the top corner from the edge of the box to restore parity.

With 20 minutes left, Cahill once more headed straight at Sorensen following a wonderful Louis Saha cross to the back-post but other noteworthy moments continued to be few and far between. Moyes brought Ayegbeni Yakubu and Jo on late on to try and find a winning intervention but it never seemed likely as the match drifted out to what seemed its deserved conclusion.
Agence France-Presse

West Ham United 2 – 2 Fulham – 04Oct09

2009-10-05T02:18:22Z

West Ham United were thankful for a late Junior Stanislas strike to seal a 2-2 draw as gallant Fulham rallied from conceding an early goal to nearly pull off an upset with 10 men at Upton Park.

Stanislas, who came off the bench just after the hour mark with West Ham 2-1 down, struck deep into stoppage time when his shot deflected in off Aaron Hughes.

The visitors, who had South African midfielder Kagisho Digikao sent off on his full debut after an altercation with Scott Parker, had recovered from conceding an 16th minute Carlton Cole goal to take an unlikely lead by the 57th minute.

Danny Murphy got Fulham back on level terms from the penalty spot after Diomansy Kamara was hauled down in the box by Matthew Upson just after halftime before Zoltan Gera struck with a beautiful volley.

Arsenal 6 – 2 Blackburn Rovers – 04Oct09

2009-10-05T01:42:06Z

Wenger became Arsenal’s longest serving manager during the week with 13 years’ service, which began in October 1996, and this was the ideal way to mark the anniversary of his arrival in the Premier League.

Back then the little-known Wenger was greeted with ‘Arsene Who’ headlines, but he is now the most celebrated and decorated manager seen in these parts of north London. It was somehow fitting that Thierry Henry, the man most associated with Wenger’s successful recent times, was a guest of honour at the Emirates and the sight of the French international beforehand provided extra inspiration.

But no one did more to inspire than the Cesc Fabregas, who turned in a virtuoso performance to completely unhinge Sam Allardyce’s team. Fabregas has struggled to find peak form so far this season, but as if he owed a debt of gratitude to Wenger, he rose to the occasion in magnificent style, scoring one of the goals and playing a crucial part in four of the others as Blackburn were buried under another avalanche of goals.

After the midweek success over Olympiakos and Manchester United’s slip-up against Sunderland, Wenger knew this was an opportunity to make another bold statement of intent about the club’s title chances, and they can go into the international break with a six-game winning streak under their belt and confidence at an all-time high among his players and staff.

Wenger believes there is a resolution about Arsenal’s youngsters this season that has been missing in recent seasons, and the manner in which they twice came from behind, was vindication of that belief. Blackburn’s first goal was anti-football to Wenger, all brawn and no brain as Steven N’Zonzi’s header from Paul Robinson’s 60-yard punt looped over Vito Mannone, who will not have been too happy with his positioning.

There was little the Italian could do about Blackburn’s second and it was swift counter-attacking of which Wenger would have been proud. El Hadj Diouf started it deep inside his own half with a wonderful pass to release Brett Emerton. The Australian’s pass left David Dunn with plenty still to do before the midfielder’s shot deflected off William Gallas and defeated a wrong-footed Mannone.

The response to the aberrations in front of Mannone were swift and clinical, inspired by the wonderful vision and awareness of Fabregas. It was the Spaniard’s pass that Thomas Vermaelen launched past Paul Robinson from 25 yards for Arsenal’s first equaliser and his fifth goal of the season.

Fabregas’s subtle passing on the edge of the area also led to wonderfully taken goals from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin, and if it had not been for Robinson it would have been far worse than six. Robinson pulled off saves to deny Van Persie, Fabregas and was in excellent form in front of watching England coach Fabio Capello, but there was little he could do to resist the irresistible.

Fabregas thumped in a volley from the edge of the area for Arsenal’s fourth and provided the flick for substitute Theo Walcott to score with virtually his first touch, before Nicklas Bendtner rounded off the celebrations in perfect style with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.
Agence France-Presse

Chelsea 2 – 0 Liverpool – 04Oct09

2009-10-05T01:35:02Z

Carlo Ancelotti’s side opened up a two-point gap over second placed Manchester United. But perhaps more importantly, the victory over another of the main title contenders restored the Blues to winning ways after their 3-1 defeat at Wigan last weekend.

After a tight first half, former Liverpool striker Anelka opened the scoring when he converted Didier Drogba’s cross. Drogba was the provider again in stoppage time as he over-powered Jamie Carragher and crossed for Malouda to slide home.

Defeat leaves Liverpool six points behind Chelsea and Rafa Benitez’s side have now lost three times in their first eight league games after losing just twice through the whole of last season.

Chelsea was without first-choice goalkeeper Petr Cech, who served his suspension following his red card against Wigan, so Hilario was between the posts. But while Ancelotti’s side were without Cech, they were buoyed by the return of Drogba.

The Ivory Coast striker missed the 1-0 win in the Champions League over Apoel Nicosia in midweek owing to his European ban. Drogba’s value to Chelsea is best illustrated by his return of six goals in seven league games going into this fixture.

And he looked invigorated after his break when he chased down Deco’s through-ball in the third minute forcing Carragher into a last-ditch tackle. But the visitors started this match brighter with Steven Gerrard whipping in some dangerous crosses from the right.

Chelsea, though, had the first shot on target in the 25th minute when Jose Reina was forced to save from Drogba’s header. Reina then needed to be alert moments later when Anelka tried his luck with a neat header.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard also tried his luck, but his free-kick from distance was a long way off target. But just as Chelsea were beginning to find their feet in this match, Albert Riera’s free-kick in the 43rd minute nearly squeezed past Hilario at the far post.

After the restart it was Chelsea who looked most likely to make the breakthrough, and so it proved in the 60th minute. Anelka finished off a neat move after Lampard had disposed Javier Mascherano and fed Deco. The Portugal midfielder in turn played the ball for Drogba and his cross from the left was perfect for Anelka to poke home.

Drogba came close to adding a second with a long-range free-kick which skidded past Reina’s right post. But substitute Malouda did add a second in the 90th minute when he turned in Drogba’s cross at the far post.
Agence France-Presse

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 – 1 Portsmouth – 03Oct09

2009-10-04T03:18:39Z

With Portsmouth apparently close to financial meltdown, the three points secured by Hassan Yebda’s first-half header represent a welcome tonic for the crisis-hit club.

But it was a close run thing with Wolves denied what appeared to be a blatant penalty after the interval and only a superb David James save denying the home side an equaliser in the dying seconds of the match.

Wolves had fit-again right-back Kevin Foley back in their line-up for only the second time this season in the only change from the side beaten 5-2 at Sunderland last weekend. Hart handed Steve Finnan his first start of the season and also drafted Yebda into his side.

Scotland international Christophe Berra might have given Wolves an early lead but his header from Greg Halford’s long throw-in was directed straight at James. But Portsmouth were soon knocking the ball around with a confidence that belied their lowly position and Wayne Hennessey was forced to make a good save from Kevin-Prince Boateng’s shot on the turn.

Matt Jarvis lifted the home fans with a powerful run from inside his own half that carried him into the Portsmouth box, but a tame shot failed to seriously test James. Ireland striker Kevin Doyle was off target with a volley from the edge of the area for Wolves.

But Portsmouth continued to look the better side and Aruna Dindane, with a 25-yard drive that whistled just over, and Jarvis, whose shot was cleared off the line by Jarvis, both went close before Yebda put the visitors ahead. Boateng delivered a fine cross from the right and Yebda, who was born in France but has opted to represent Algeria in international football, steered a confident header past Hennessey.

The Wolves goalkeeper then had to pull off a full-stretch stop to prevent Dindane, who had been released by Smith’s through pass, from doubling the lead. The loose ball fell to Smith, who cut inside to get an angle for a shot but failed to hit the target.

Wolves rallied after that scare and Doyle had a shot deflected wide before heading over a Jarvis corner. There was more frustration for the Ireland forward in first-half injury time when his close-range effort was blocked after James had produced a fine reflex save to deny Andy Keogh.

Portsmouth had a huge let-off soon after the restart, when the referee failed to spot that Wilson had handled Michael Kightly’s cross from the right. Generally, however, Hart’s men coped well with the limited threat posed by the home side although they had reason to be grateful for James right at the death.

The veteran, who will be hoping to be restored to England’s starting line-up in the Ukraine next week, did his cause no harm by turning Halford’s volleyed effort away.
Agence France-Presse

Hull City 2 – 1 Wigan Athletic – 03Oct09

2009-10-04T03:13:02Z

Brown’s side has been in freefall since the New Year and last weekend’s 6-1 thrashing at Liverpool brought a deluge of criticism raining down on the Hull boss.

But goals from former Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Brazilian midfielder Geovanni at the KC Stadium lifted the gloom temporarily as Hull climbed out of the relegation zone by scoring twice in a league game for the first time since January.

Scott Sinclair got one back for Wigan in the final minutes but it was too little too late. Hull were looking for only their third victory in 30 league outings and had a penalty appeal turned down in the second minute.

Stephen Hunt crossed from the left and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland scrambled back to claw it away from under the crossbar. The ball fell to Nick Barmby six yards out but his powerful shot rebounded off Maynor Figueroa and referee Mark Clattenburg dismissed claims for handball.

Wigan threatened for the first time when Charles N’Zogbia’s corner was pushed out to Hugo Rodallega by Boaz Myhill but the Colombian striker shot over. Myhill then pushed away a low shot from Mohamed Diame and dived at the feet of Rodallega before Jason Scotland fired narrowly wide.

Wigan had won the corresponding fixture 5-0 last season but there was never any chance of a repeat. Hull came closest before the break when Vennegoor of Hesselink met Geovanni’s cross with a glancing header that bounced just wide of the far post.

Vennegoor of Hesselink didn’t live to regret that miss as he opened the scoring on the hour. The Dutchman diverted Dean Marney’s cross past Kirkland with a firm header at the near post. Geovanni notched Hull’s second goal in the 68th minute after good work by Kamil Zayatte.

Emmerson Boyce gave the ball away on halfway and Zayatte powered into the area and clipped in a fine cross for the unmarked Geovanni to turn in from six yards. Sinclair gave Wigan hope when he pulled a goal back three minutes from time when he converted the rebound after Jordi Gomez’s shot was saved.

But Hull survived a nerve-shredding five minutes of stoppage time to give Brown something to smile about at last.
Agence France-Presse

Burnley 2 – 1 Birmingham -03Oct09

2009-10-04T03:08:49Z

Second half goals from Steven Fletcher and Andre Bikey ensured Burnley maintained their unbeaten record at Turf Moor with a 2-1 win over Birmingham City.

Burnley had not beaten Birmingham in the last five meetings at their home ground going back 33 years, when both clubs were in the top flight. But the Clarets’ defence proved watertight despite gale force winds making life difficult on the pitch where they saw off the likes of Manchester United and Everton.

Fletcher and Bikey ensured the home side took three points which could prove valuable in the battle to stay in the top flight. The two promoted sides drew 1-1 both times when they met last season in the Championship. But meeting each other for the first time in the Premier League Birmingham failed to worry their hosts.

Lee Bowyer missed a great chance to put the Blues ahead six minutes from the break when Roger Johnson hit a shot across goal and Bowyer missed the chance to finish off on front of an open net. But Fletcher made no mistake when he fired in from inside the penalty box high into the middle of the goal after 53 minutes.

Burnley had a chance for a second after 58 minutes but Fletcher’s effort hit the post. But the hosts didn’t have to wait long for another with defender Bikey, playing in midfield after a poor game last week, finding the net after 62 minutes.

The Cameroon international won the ball with a great tackle and then played a one-two with David Nugent to finish off with ease. The visitors struggled to get back into the game before Sebastian Larsson pulled one back from a free kick just outside the penalty box before the final whistle.

Burnley have lost all of their away matches but their success in turning Turf Moor into a fortress has left the top-flight newcomers comfortably positioned in mid-table as Birmingham fall to just one point above the relegation zone.

Manchester United 2 – 2 Sunderland – 03Oct09

2009-10-04T03:22:02Z

Goals from Darren Bent and Kenwyne Jones had put Steve Bruce’s side within moments of their first win at United for 41 years despite Kieran Richardson’s late red card. But Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who had gone into the match looking for their ninth successive victory, earned a point when Ferdinand – brother of United defender Rio – deflected a Patrice Evra shot into his own net.

The draw left United one point clear of Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League, but the champions will be knocked off top spot if the Blues beat Liverpool on Sunday. Sunderland opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Bent hit his seventh goal of the season.

Lee Cattermole knocked a simple pass to Bent on the edge of the penalty box, who, noticing that John O’Shea had given him too much space, turned and rifled a low shot past Ben Foster. United looked uncharacteristically poor on the ball following Sunderland’s early goal with neither Paul Scholes or midfield partner Darren Fletcher influencing the game as they can.

United’s frustrations were perfectly summed up by Scholes’s booking after 25 minutes for a deliberate trip on Bent – there was no malice there but the midfielder did have a little kick out in order to stop Bent from launching an attack. Although the pace was relentless, clear cut opportunities remained at a premium as the half progressed although Nemanja Vidic’s intelligent cross into a packed Sunderland box should perhaps have found a United shirt.

At the other end a long-range effort from Jones was easily smothered by Foster. Anderson replaced Scholes at half-time, a tacit admission from Ferguson that he had produced little of note in the first half. United then had their first real opportunity of the game courtesy of a defensive mix-up from Sunderland.

Ferdinand’s weak header back towards his own goalkeeper Craig Gordon did not quite reach, allowing Danny Welbeck to threaten but Gordon dived at his feet and although the ball landed at Rooney’s feet, Ferdinand had then recovered enough to block his effort.

However, nobody could then have stopped Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov as he produced a stunning moment of magic to equalise. After Sunderland only half-cleared a goalmouth scramble, O’Shea delivered a deep cross and Berbatov thought he would try his luck with an acrobatic bicycle kick which flashed into the far corner of the net.

However, United’s hopes of capitalising were then dashed as Sunderland took a 2-1 lead through Jones. Andy Reid floated a ball towards the penalty spot and Jones out-jumped Vidic and crashed into Foster to head into an empty net.

United continued to push but found a resilient Sunderland defence in the way although they were not helped when Richardson was dismissed for a second bookable offence with five minutes left for kicking the ball away. And they were left to rue his absence as the clock ticked down as Evra hit a long-range shot that was going comfortably wide until it bounced off Ferdinand to gift United a point.

Bolton Wanderers 2 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur – 03Oct09

2009-10-04T02:55:17Z

“Tottenham at the same time (after eight games) last year had just two points, so we are one better than they were. We know we have our work cut out to rise up the table.”

Tottenham, which has recovered this season to the extent that the team is in the top four, came from behind twice at Bolton on Saturday to earn a 2-2 draw.

Croatian pair Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka produced equalisers to cancel out Ricardo Gardner and Kevin Davies’s strikes for the home side, who will feel they missed out on an opportunity to claim what would have been a third win in four matches.

Redknapp opted to start with Peter Crouch up front and the in-form Jermain Defoe on the bench with protective strapping around the two fingers he dislocated this week.

Bolton, looking to build on a run that has lifted them out of the relegation zone, made one change from the side that claimed a valuable away win at Birmingham last weekend, Lee Chung-Yong Lee coming in for injured Swedish striker Johan Elmander.

And Gary Megson’s men got off to a perfect start with Gardner firing them into the lead with only three minutes on the clock. Tottenham’s defence failed to clear J Lloyd Samuel’s long throw and, after Lee’s goal-bound effort was blocked, Jamaica international Gardner was on hand to fire the rebound past Carlo Cudicini.

A swirling wind was making life difficult for both sides but it was Bolton who initially mastered the conditions better, with both Tamir Cohen, with a shot that was deflected wide, and Gardner, with a long-range effort, threatening to double the lead.

On 34 minutes, Spurs were level thanks to Kranjcar’s first goal for the club. Crouch knocked down a Wilson Palacios cross and the Croatia midfielder lashed a superb shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Matt Taylor should have restored Bolton’s lead just before half-time, when he got clear of the Spurs’ back four but failed to score with only Cudicini to beat.

Tottenham had an equally good chance just after the restart, when Palacios lashed a close-range shot wide after Aaron Lennon’s shot had been parried by Jaaskelainen.

Defoe was thrown into the fray midway through the second half but it was Bolton who took the lead two minutes later, Davies heading in at the back post after a neat chip from Cohen.

Defoe made his presence felt for the first time with a shot that Jaaskelainen spilled into the path of Crouch, who fired his effort against the crossbar.

Tottenham’s second equaliser arrived a minute later and Bolton only had themselves to blame. Vedran Corluka was left completely unmarked as Kranjcar delivered a corner and the defender accepted the invitation to score with a powerful header.

Portsmouth 0 – 1 Everton – 26Sep09

2009-09-27T03:12:30Z

Louis Saha condemned Portsmouth to a seventh successive Barclays Premier League defeat as the France striker’s clinical finish gave Everton a 1-0 victory at Fratton Park.

Saha’s seventh goal of the season in all competitions came following an error by Younes Kaboul that summed up Portsmouth’s dismal start to the campaign.

Paul Hart’s team had already made their worst opening to a Premier League season and their fortunes show no signs of improving despite a spirited second-half showing against Everton, who have now won four games in a row.

Everton striker Ayegbeni Yakubu was left on the bench as the Nigerian struggled with a groin strain picked up in the midweek League Cup win at Hull.

South African midfielder Steven Pienaar and Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo both passed fitness tests and were able to start.

Saha led the Everton assault from the start and drove a long-range effort just wide. Then Pienaar crossed for Tim Cahill but the Australian glanced his header over the crossbar.

Portsmouth finally threatened when Tommy Smith threaded a perfectly-weighted pass to Aruna Dindane. The Ivory Coast forward pulled the trigger only for Tim Howard to produce a fine save.

But Everton were back in the ascendancy when Marouane Fellaini’s header forced David James to save.

David Moyes’ team made the breakthrough in the 42nd minute. A high ball into the penalty area was completely misjudged by Kaboul and Saha pounced to lash past James from close range.