Still as late as a Michael Brown lunge but the same time as last week which means that consistency, that maxim of all teams, is our claim. Next up is continuous improvement - we’ll get there!
The Games
Everton 2 Wigan 2
A hard fought, yet entertaining match with goals aplenty and chances for both sides. Everton may consider themselves unfortunate but their slipshod defending allowed Scharner in twice. Andy Johnson scored again and Beattie got one from the spot after the wind blew Osman over.
Goals: Johnson, Beattie. Scharner 2
Assists: Osman 2, Cahill. Kilbane, Johansson
YC: Neville. Kirkland, Baines, De Zeeuw, Heskey, Valencia
RC:
MoM: Kirkland
Middlesbrough 0 Bolton 0
These 2 sides are the epitome of style, panache and finesse. They draw the supporters in from all over the world with their entertaining play. I am course being entirely economical with the truth and this was dull fayre for all present.
Goals:
Assists:
YC: Johnson
RC:
MoM: Woodgate
Charlton 0 Portsmouth 1
Charlton are normally strong starters but poor finishers to the season and their faithful must hope that the opposite applies this season if they are to avoid a rendezvous with their neighbours and Dowie’s former employers, Palace next season - in the Championship. Pompey just keep going and it was LuaLua with the only goal in a tight match.
Goals:
Assists:
YC: Kanu, O’Neil
RC:
MoM: Campbell
Sheff Utd 1 Reading 2
2 promoted sides, yet you would suspect they should still be in different divisions. On current form they may well be next season. Reading zipped the ball about like an established side yet Sheff Utd toiled, huffing and puffing and chasing shadows. Seol and Doyle netted 2 to Hulse’s 1. Doyle’s a bit special coming within the first 20 seconds.
Goals: Hulse. Seol, Doyle.
Assists: Armstrong, Akinbiyi. Convey
YC: Little
RC:
MoM: Doyle
Watford 0 Aston Villa 0
Honest endeavour continues to keep Villa in the top 6 and Watford in the bottom 3. Odd really given there wasn’t too much between these sides on this showing. Watford still chasing that first win and Villa still awaiting their first defeat. Which will come first?
Goals:
Assists:
YC: Mackay
RC:
MoM: Sorensen
Tottenham 0 Fulham 0
2 teams that have swapped a number of players over the last couple of years, inevitably know each other very well. Malbranque, Routledge, Brown have all switched recently. Spurs plugged their recent leaks but look lost in front of goals despite their riches, although Berbatov now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines - get rid of him now - don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Goals:
Assists:
YC: Mido, Chimbonda, Murphy. Boa Morte, Bocanegra
RC:
MoM: Knight
West Ham 0 Newcastle 2
Take a decent team and add to it 2 world class players to it and you have a team pushing for top 6 - right? Well not really. Not much from Tevez and Mascherano thus far. But don’t blame, the rest of the players must take some of the blame. The Hammers in truth were duff and Duff duffed them up with the first and Martins helped himself to the 2nd. A rare away win in London for the Mags.
Goals: Duff, Martins
Assists: Martins
YC: Konchesky, Mears, Harewood. Parker, Moore, Babayaro.
RC:
MoM: Parker
Blackburn 4 Man City 2
Last year Morten Gamst Pedersen bewitched opposition keepers with his swerving delivery - Man U notably affected - but this year he’s been keeping himself to himself, hiding on the left wing. Suddenly he made his appearance this season with 2 assists and a trademark goal. This game was also peppered with defensive errors including 2 own goals (1 from Sinclair and 1 from Ooijer - oohyah indeed). Other goals from Barton, McCarthy and Gallagher. City under pressure.
Goals: McCarthy, Gallagher, Pedersen, o.g. Barton, o.g.
Assists: Pedersen 2, Emerton. Sinclair, Dickov, Corradi
YC: Savage, McCarthy. Richards, Hamann, Corradi
RC:
MoM: Pedersen
Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0
The new Man U-Arsenal of the premiership as tempers flare throughout this match. The one real moment of quality came from an unexpectedly cracking strike from Drogba, that whistled past Reina before he knew it had been struck. The first part of Grand Slam Sunday (whatever!) was a bit of a let down.
Goals: Drogba
Assists: Lampard
YC: Drogba, Cech, Bouhlarouz. Warnock, Sissoko
RC:
MoM: Alonso
Man Utd 0 Arsenal 1
With the niggle all but gone (Keane, Vieira) from these matches they are not quite what they used to be. Some niggles remain but Rooney looks out of sorts after his enforced sabbatical. The winner in a mid mannered contest came from an unlikely source - Adebayor, aka Kanu the younger and Man U’s unbeaten start to the season came to a halt.
Goals: Adebayor
Assists: Fabregas
YC: Scholes, Brown. Toure
RC:
MoM: Fabregas
The Points
GK
9 Sorensen
6 James Niemi, Lehmann, Foster, Robinson, Jaaskelainen, Schwarzer
DEF
10 Scharner
9 Campbell, Knight, Woodgate
MID
16 Pedersen
8 Osman, Fabregas
7 Barton, Duff
STR
10 Doyle, Martins
7 Johnson, Hulse, Seol, Adebayor
The Table
Top of the table is still Dude Where’s My Shoes, now with a commanding 12 point lead from Oh For an Aston Martin. Ruel Fox powers into the top 10 along with Hot Potato Football Club. Other movers are Vicar in a Tutu, The Sons of the Rock, Rough Draft Testimonial XI, Canadians Cant Play Soccer, The ThrillSeekers, Dizzy Deezers Part 2 and Papa Dave’s Hairy XI. OK, that’ll do and next weeks will be this week if that makes sense!
Simon
