Every week in the Premiership we all sit around and make our predictions for the upcoming weekend. We are all sure that the scores we have predicted for each game are well within reach and the only result we can see. Occasionally, when it is our own side, will exaggerate the score. We may even figure a way in our own heads that we could win against a team we have no right winning against. Then Monday morning, usually without fail, we gather around the water cooler and talk about those one or two shock results. This weekend was certainly another weekend for head scratching, and it’s why we love the sport.
The early game on Saturday saw the clash of the Merseyside neighbors in what was an open game and saw Liverpool twice take the lead before half time. Coutinho opened the scoring after just the five minutes before Miralles equalized a few minutes later. The Everton man was lucky to stay on the pitch with a tackle on Suarez clearly over the top, a yellow card was shown but it should have been a red card as the refereeing inconsistencies began early. At this point the visitors were 2-1 up with the Uruguayan netting only 15 minutes earlier.
In the space of ten minutes in the last part of the match Everton took their 2-1 deficit and turned it into a 3-2 lead thanks to two goals from Romalu Lukaku. That looked to give the blue side all three points until that man Sturridge popped up again to tie the game.
The rest of the games on Saturday were pretty much as you would expect. Arsenal won at home to Southampton but had to wait until late on to secure the win. A penalty four minutes from time and converted by Giroud added to his first half strike. Martin Jol’s Fulham side suffered another defeat, this time at home to Swansea. An own goal put the visitors ahead before Scott Parker equalised just after the half hour mark. Jonjo Shelvey popped up with ten minutes left to nab the winner and put more pressure on the Fulham boss.
Crystal Palace got a much needed win in front of their new boss, Tony Pulis. Although he was not in charge for this game he would have been delighted the side kept going to the end and despite being dropped down to ten men with the sending off of Bolaise for serious foul play. Barry Bannan it was who stepped up three minutes after that sending off and tapped home the winner from a Cameron Jerome pass. The win lifts Palace off the bottom and only three points away from safety, just what the new man would have wanted in order to try to keep his own record in tact of never being relegated from the Premiership.
Sunderland followed up their 1-0 win over Manchester City with a 2-0 defeat away to Stoke. To be fair though Wes Brown was given his marching orders with still ten minutes to play in the first half. Harshly maybe but certainly no worse than got Miralles the yellow earlier on and no where near what Rooney would get away with 24 hours from then. Charlie Adam had already given the Potters the lead before the dismissal but it is always tough to play that long with ten men and nine minutes from the end N’Zonzi secured the win.
Another manager under pressure is Norwich City’s Chris Hughton. Going back to his first managerial position at Newcastle he would have expected much more from his players. A great come from behind win against West Ham two weeks ago should have given Hughton’s men the motivation to kick on and up the table. However going to the city once famous for its coal mines is never good when you are a canary and Leroy Fer restored some dignity with a powerful header ten minutes from time. Norwich find themselves being dragged into a relegation battle and questions are to asked as to how much longer Hughton will be the boss in Norfolk.
Last game on Saturday was the two London clubs, West Ham and Chelsea. A penalty in the 20th minute from Lampard gave Chelsea the start they wanted and West Ham a mountain they couldn’t climb. Still waiting for Andy Carroll to return the Hammers are without a recognized striker and when Oscar scored ten minutes before the break even the most ardent of Hammers fans had to concede defeat. Lampard rounded off the day with another strike at the club where not only he began his career but where his Father was, nay is a legend. For Frank Sr the hammers fans would lay down their lives, for junior however, they just wish he’d hurry up and retire.
Sunday arrived with both Manchester clubs in action. City were behind United and although they were at home they did face title challengers Tottenham. It was surprising then when Jesus Navas scored a fantastic goal after only fourteen seconds to put City 1-0 up. Spurs pressured hard but just after the half an hour mark Negredos shot was deflected in by Sandro to make it 2-0. Seven minutes later Aguero made it three and City hadn’t played that well nor got out of second gear.
Half time saw substitutions with Spurs pulling Holtby for the ex Manchester City striker Adebayor. Nastasic is also taken off for Lescott but it is unclear as to why, maybe a slight knock and not wanting to risk further injury is the case.
Either way Spurs are now set up to try to claw their way back into the game but all that extra striker does is allow City to pressure the midfield more. Five minutes in and Aguero scores again to make it 4-0. Five minutes after that and Negredo does get on the score sheet with a fantastic effort to make the visitors 5-0 down and still a good half an hour to play. City had numerous chances to increase the lead with Toure, Nasri and even Fernandinho missing chances. In Nasri’s case it was a fantastic effort which eluded Lloris only to hit the cross bar. Hugo Lloris the Tottenham striker suffering from concussion a few weeks ago was probably feeling just as dizzy on Sunday with all the shots whizzing past him. Eventually City would make it 6-0 with Jesus Navas finishing neatly when through on goal minutes from the final whistle. Pellegrini ecstatic, AVB dumbfounded.
That result meant the pressure was back on United to regain their spot above their noisy neighbors. Eight minutes in and Wayne Rooney should have been sent off after lashing out at Jordan Mutch after the ball had gone. It should have been red but the Englishman was only shown a yellow much to everyone’s disbelief. Seven minutes later and United went a goal up and it had to be that man Rooney who scored. Just over ten minutes left in the first half and ex Manchester United striker Frazer Campbell equalized with a composed finish but it was too much for them to hold on until the break. A Rooney corner was turned in by Evra with seconds remaining until the break. The man who shouldn’t have been on the pitch now had a goal and an assist.
Justice would be done though when everyone thought United would escape Wales with an undeserved three points up stepped Lil Kim who pulled Cardiff back level with only minutes remaining. Justice was somewhat served but I will bet you anything Rooney escapes any further punishment from the FA for blatant, violent conduct.
To Monday now and the midlands derby. Villa traveled about four miles to the Hawthorns and instantly went 2-0 down. Both goals coming from Shane Long, one after three minutes and one eight minutes later. Paul Lambert must have been thinking about a replay of the City v Spurs game 24 hours prior and wondering what cricket score it would end up. Villa did manage to get through the whole first half conceding no more goals, but it wasn’t from their great defending but more from West Broms poor finishing.
With half an hour of the game to go the Villa boss made all his substitutions and instantly Villa became a threat and the Baggies looked scared. Ten minutes after the triple replacement El Ahamadi scored to half the deficit and when Westwood equalized ten minutes later suddenly a Villa win looked odds on and West Brom were hanging on. In the end that’s what they did to share the points, keeping them together in the table, level on points.
